THE Christian life is never easy, and never more so when we are zealous for the Lord. The more our service for the Lord is honoured by God, the more difficult things become in many ways. The reason for this is that the more active we are in glorifying Jesus, the more angry will the devil become and more virulent will be his attacks against us, and the whole work of Christ's church. If we have little conflict in our lives as Christians, little temptation, and little affliction, it may well indicate that our service for Jesus is weak and poor. The devil does not waste his time on such Christians. This verse faces this battle in the Christian life, and this is why I have entitled this sermon "Fighting the fight of faith." However in saying this I do not want to give the wrong idea about the Christian life. Although the narrow way that leads to life is narrow and rugged, yet it is a way to heaven and to God, and to be on it is to know the joy of salvation, God as our Father, Jesus with us by the operation of the Holy Spirit, and joy in believing, and peace which passes all understanding. With Paul we can say that the sufferings of this life cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. Let us look at these three statements and exhortations in turn.

BE JOYFUL IN HOPE.

Paul speaks of this first because it is the exercise in life which lifts us up whatever our circumstances, whether easy or difficult, tranquil or troubled. This is the joy that can never be taken away from the true believer in Jesus, and is there in all circumstances. However this joy needs to be exercised and developed, so that it is strong and full in our heart and mind.

So in the first place led us notice that Paul speaks an exhortation. He says there is joy for the believer, and that joy is found in the hope all Christians have, and so a believer can be joyful by filling heart and mind with this hope.

What is this hope? Hope is something we all have some experience of in normal life, but hope in normal life is something that is pleasant to look forward to, and which is in the future. We look forward to it with anticipation, and this uplifts us because the thing hoped for is full of promise, but it has an uncertainty about it because some circumstance may prevent the realisation of the hope. An example of this may be hope of a lovely holiday. We look forward to it as promised by some friend or benefactor. The holiday has been promised and in normal circumstances it will become a reality, however at the last minute something may occur which upsets everything. The benefactor may be taken ill and can't do their part. We may have an accident which makes the holiday impossible. Then again we may hope for a job that has been promised to us, but then the company offering the job runs into difficulties and has to reduce staff, and the job vanishes.

The hope Paul is speaking about is nothing like this. It is a sure and certain hope. It is sure and certain because it is founded on the word and promise of God. God does not lie. There is no power in earth or heaven that can overthrow him or prevent him executing his sovereign will and pleasure. Satan can't prevent the execution of the will and purpose of God. So we may be sure his word and promise is sure.

Further the hope is based on the work of God in Christ. There is no condition that has to be fulfilled by us for the promise to be realised. The promise, the hope, is based on the perfect, and all-sufficient, work of Christ. God purposed in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to choose out of this fallen multitude of people born into the world, a people for himself, to dwell with him in his eternal glory. Paul tells us this in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 4-6. In the light of this eternal purpose God sent his only begotten Son into the world to redeem this chosen number of people. Christ came, and perfectly worked redemption for the people he tells us in John 17 God has given him. God testified to this perfection by raising Jesus from the dead. God exalted Jesus to glory in order that he may gather in this elect number whom he has redeemed, and for this He sent the Holy Spirit to be his agent in the world. The whole hope, therefore, which the Christian has is founded on the almighty purpose of God, and the perfection of the work of Christ for us. Because of this it is a sure and certain hope.

So what is this hope? The Scriptures talk of this hope as everlasting life in the glory of heaven in the presence of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the main and first understanding of this hope, and in essence the focus of Christian hope. All hope that we have is centred and comes from, this great hope. It is the promise of the Gospel. Whosoever believes on Jesus has eternal life. It is the hope of being received into the presence of God in eternity to dwell with God for ever, and enjoy the glory of that heaven.

Paul speaks of it in Romans 5: 2b where we read “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” In the first place this speaks of everlasting life when this life is over. It is the gift Jesus was sent by God the Father to secure for all sinners who believe on him as the one who bears their sins, achieves for us full forgiveness of all our sins, and membership of the family of God. In the second place, this hope is not simply eternal concious existence. Of itself this is not particularly attractive. No! It is the hope of glory. It is this word glory which reveals the substance of this hope. Yes, we receive eternal life, but this is no bare existence, it is 'life'. It is the sharing in the life of God, and enjoying the glory of God.

The glory of God speaks of the perfection of the life that is in God. That holiness, that total fulfilment, that contentment, that purpose and interest, that peace, all of which is found in God. It speaks of life which is fulfilled and happy and full and blessed. It is a life where perfect beauty and perfection is known and enjoyed. It is completely beyond us in this earthly life, spoilt by sin, to understand this glory. We will not be able to begin to appreciate it until we enter that glory. However, the Bible has not left us without some picture which enables us to be ravished by a spectacle of wondrous proportions and perfection. We have this Revelation 21 and 22, where we have streets of gold, everything new, the glory of the presence of God shines all around us, where life, not only in quantity but also in quality, flows like a river from the throne of God. Of course this is only a picture, an illustration. Words, and earthly emblems and things, can't do anything to do justice to heaven's glory, but it gives us images so delightful and so rich, that we can't help but appreciate that heaven will be and is a place of perfection and beauty, totally giving contentment and joy to each one of us who truly believe in Jesus for life.

Because of this hope of glory, the life of the true believer is filled with hope here in this life on earth. This hope of glory is based on the election of God before the world was made, and on the work of Christ, on earth when he came to give his life a ransom for us, and now in heaven as he ever lives to make intercession for us. Christ reigns in the heavenly glory, and all authority has been given to him by the Father, so that he can apply the salvation he has won to those whom God has given him in this world.

From this we know that our lives are hid with Christ in God. We know that we have been reconciled to God. We know that we have been born anew into the family of God, and we have the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry 'Abba, Father'. So this is our sure and certain hope while this earthly pilgrimage continues, that we are in the hands of our heavenly Father, and he is ordering all things for our good. God's plan for each believer commenced in eternity, and it continues in this life, and as he has purposed our salvation in our place in his heavenly realm, he will see that we get there. So in the ups and downs of this life, in the temptations and difficulties, and in afflictions and sufferings, we know all things are being worked by God for our good. We know that 'he who has begun a good work in us, will continue it unto the day of Jesus Christ.' This means the day when Christ will return to this world, to judge the living and the dead, and when he comes to gather his redeemed people into the heavenly inheritance he has won for them by the price of his precious blood.

This is the hope that enables us to rejoice in all circumstances. This rejoicing is not in the present suffering, but because we know in Christ that the suffering has an end, and that suffering can't be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

As we are brought through all the circumstances of life, and see our heavenly Father's hand working in our life, our hope grows stronger. The hope of glory is strengthened, and from this God pours into our hearts the love of God through the Holy Spirit that he has given us.

All this confirms to us why Paul tells us in our text to be joyful in hope. The hope of Glory, which confirms in us that we enjoy here on earth the blessing of the everlasting arms of God around us, is something that grows stronger as we continue in faith and obedience to Jesus. Hope grows stronger as we nurture it with growing understanding and application of the word of God to our lives and hearts. Paul tells us to dwell on this hope, and all that we have learnt in Scripture and by the Holy Spirit which confirms this hope. As we do so, the hope of glory, and the certainty of it, will mature and strengthen, and because of this we will be stronger in our faith in Christ, in trusting him in all the changes in life, and so we will learn to be joyful in a deeper way.