Hope Revived

So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be. Rom 5:1-2 L.B

I often wonder why God still loves me! There are countless times when my faith has not lived up to all the high hopes I had for myself when I first became a Christian. The numerous prayers of repentance and my promises to God to do better can leave me utterly discouraged. I bring myself back to His word and there and only there, the Lord revives my hope and renews His strength in my weary heart to press on.

Our justification is entirely above the fluctuations of Christian experience. It knows nothing of degrees or the rise and fall of our emotions. You are either justified by faith or you are condemned. We are “in Christ” and He is “the same, yesterday, today and forever.”

If a right standing depended upon my faith or my faithfulness I would have no hope. It depends upon Christ’s righteousness accepted as His gift by faith. It does not depend upon my endeavors, but upon the finished work of Christ. “You are complete in Christ.”

How can this be true? We know ourselves all too well. We are imperfect and we fail. Yet God’s word says that we are complete in Christ.

Dear Christian woman, if your hope needs to be revived look again at Jesus! When it comes to your acceptance and standing before a righteous God, God sees nothing from His throne but Christ Jesus alone and Him crucified. And since you are in Him and one with Him, you share Christ’s place in the Father’s heart. No matter how unworthy we are in ourselves, we can know without a doubt that we are “accepted in the Beloved.”

Jesus Christ presents us to the Father clothed in the garments of His own righteousness. Is 61:10

Jesus represents us to God. We see God in Christ. God sees us in Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. We in Christ are reconciled to God. 2 Cor 5:21

The Christian can never pray, “O Lord, look how pure and holy I am; look at me and preserve my soul, for I am holy.” That would be utter nonsense. We can only come into His presence and with humble gratitude accept His grace saying, “nothing in my hand I bring only to the cross I cling.”

Moreover, the steadfastness of our joy and the stability of our spiritual growth depends upon our keeping our gaze fixed immovably upon the one Blessed Object upon which the Father’s gaze is always fixed (Heb. 12:2).

For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God’s plan of salvation; He was the one who made us acceptable to God; He made us pure and holy and gave Himself to purchase our salvation. As it says in the scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast let him (her) boast only of what the Lord has done.” 1 Cor 1:30-31

Hope revived indeed!