October 26, 2013
A defining quality of Phyllis is that she was a woman of faith. If you knew Phyllis, then you also know that she lived out her faith. It was not something abstract or theoretical, but practical and life defining. Phyllis shared her time, her resources, her talents,her home, and her family with others. She shared her life and her heart with those the Lord brought across her path. Her faith was not sterile or dead, but was always “working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)
Because she was a woman of faith, I know that there are certain things she would want you to know, that she would share with you if she were here today.
Phyllis would want you to know that she had a hope. Not just any hope, not a wishful thinking kind of hope, but a sure and solid hope. Her hope was described by the Apostle Peter in writing to suffering believers in Jesus.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
(1 Peter 1:3-6)
Peter calls this hope a “living hope” to differentiate it from an uncertain hope, a wishful thinking kind of hope. This hope is based in reality. It is based in history. It involves a “sure thing.” Notice the language; an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled; does not fade away; reserved in heaven; kept by the power of God.
As I said, Phyllis had this hope. I used the past tense quite deliberately. She no longer has this hope. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
(Romans 8:24-25)
Phyllis no longer hopes because now she sees the hope fulfilled. The fact that it is not seen does not make it any less certain. As we have read, it is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God. If it depends on us, it is uncertain. But it does not depend on us. Because God has done it, it is absolutely certain. But not being seen introduces an element of faith. As Peter wrote, you are kept by the power of God through faith.
A second thing Phyllis would want you to know is that this hope is the ONLY hope. There are many hopes being offered today, but a false hope is in reality no hope.
The Bible says that all men sin. Our news media and our experience tell us the same thing.
The Bible says that because of sin all men die. Our news media and our experience tell us the same thing.
In spite of great advances in medicine, the death rate remains at 100%.
The Bible says that there is one and only one Savior.
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
(Acts 4:12)
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11)
Preachers and churches cannot provide this salvation for you. God has established both, but this hope only comes through a personal, one on one, relationship with Jesus.
Some say that Jesus’ followers are the ones who invented and promoted the idea that He is the only way to heaven. But He is the one who made exclusive claims to be the only savior.
He said that all who came before Him [claiming to be the savior] were thieves and robbers. [John 10] There are many who have come after Him who have proven unable to offer what He freely offers. He warned about false prophets and false saviors who would come after Him. He warned against being deceived.
All of these other ‘saviors’ seek to make Jesus less than He is.
Jesus said to him (Philip), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)
Others claimed to know the way. Jesus said I AM THE way.
Others claimed to speak the truth. Jesus said I AM THE truth, and that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth,
Others claimed to tell us how to find eternal life. Jesus said I AM THE life.
He said He is THE door to salvation. [John 10] He claimed to be the only way to be reconciled with the Father. The only way to share in HIs conquering of sin and death.
Jesus is the only one who offers this hope. He said that He came to give His life as a ransom for many. [Mark 10]
That is, He died the death that is the due penalty of our sin, and He was raised from the dead to show the acceptability of His offering to make men and women right with God. This is the major message of the entire Bible. One promised to come to pay the debt and rise from the dead.
You may recall the old song lyric: “I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe.”
Many may cling to a different hope. But a false hope is no hope at all.
Someone may say, “but all you have are the words in a book.”
That’s true. But Jesus said the words in this book are God’s truth and that they can never fail. Jesus said of His own words that heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will by no means pass away. In the words of the apostle Paul once more, we have this faith
“in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,”
(Titus 1:2)
From a believer’s perspective, we might say, ALL we have are the promises of God. That’s all!
Finally, Phyllis would want you to know that this hope is available to ALL. If you don’t have this hope this evening, it is a simple matter of coming to Jesus and placing your faith in Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for your sins. He said:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
If you are afraid of being rejected, Jesus said:
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
(John 6:37)
And Romans again says,
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”
(Romans 10:9-13)
if you place your faith in Jesus, come to Him, call upon His name this evening, you shall be saved. That’s the testimony of the Old and New Testaments, and of Jesus. And you too will have the living hope that Phyllis had and now sees fulfilled. Notice that Peter said “He has begotten us again to a living hope.” This a new birth, a regeneration to a new life, forgiven of sin and overcoming death.
You also need to know that, while available to anyone, this is a limited time offer. For example, if you had a ticket to ride on the space shuttle that was due to depart on July 1st and you show up at Cape Kennedy on July 2nd, 4th, 10th, or even at blastoff, it would be impossible for you to get on the shuttle.
The offer of this hope also has a deadline. It certainly expires no later than at the death of the individual.
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
It’s important not to put off this decision until it is too late.