HE Is Our Only HOPE!
Shepherd boy, turned anointed king while still a child-man, turned valiant giant-slayer, turned hunted man, turned warrior, turned King of Israel, turned sinful man, turned repentant one, turned man after God’s own heart—Spoke these words:
“Oh LORD, our Lord,
(Psalm 8: 1-9 NASB)
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
- GOD knew people would need a Savior—so HE sent JESUS.
- GOD knew people would need the Messiah—so HE sent JESUS.
- GOD knew people would need a Redeemer—so HE sent JESUS.
- GOD knew people would need a Friend—so HE sent JESUS.
- GOD knew HIS creation needed an intimate relationship—so GOD sent us JESUS.
- GOD knew—so GOD sent HIS ONLY SON, JESUS, into the world.
- GOD KNEW—SO GOD SENT US HIS GIFT OF SALVATION FOUND ONLY THROUGH JESUS!
There is a word found in the Bible, a word used in the church, and a word many find difficult to define. ‘Propitiation.’ There, we have the word, and now for the Scripture & definition.
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;
for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying,
“I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,
IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”
And again,
“I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”
And again,
“BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered,
He is made to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2: 11-18 NASB)
- Jesus clothed Himself as a man!
- Jesus came voluntary as a babe born to a virgin & placed in a lowly manger!
- Jesus allowed Himself to live a regular, ordinary life in the unknown place called Nazareth!
- Jesus suffered with the devil’s temptation YET JESUS NEVER SINNED!
- Jesus handed Himself over to the torturers & willingly went to the cross!
- Jesus remained dead in the tomb, revealing to the world that He Truly Died Just As He Said!
- Jesus raised from the grave three days later!
- Jesus brought salvation to humanity!
- Jesus made the only way for mankind to come to receive forgiveness of sins.
“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
(Hebrews 2: 17 NASB)
to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Propitiation, the definition—
- Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary satisfied the wrath of God against our sin!
- Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary appeased God’s just judgment against our sin!
- Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary propitiated God’s justice against our sin!
We call this God’s Amazing Grace!
We live ordinary lives, and even though we do, God can always find us in the ordinary parts
of creation. As we are walking through our days, God reminds us how Great HE Is!
- Become in ‘awe’ of God, of who HE IS!
- Begin to focus less on our present situation, our present life.
SING & PRAISE & WORSHIP GOD, thanking HIM for JESUS—OUR ONLY HOPE!
It is a truth:
GOD WILL NEVER FORCE HIMSELF ON US!
GOD SPEAKS CLEARLY & PROFOUNDLY TO US!
GOD IS NOT SILENT, NOR QUIET; HE DESIRES TO GUIDE US, TO REVEAL TO US HIS HEART & TO SHARE LIFE WITH US.
In order to share an intimate relationship with Father God, then we need to be daily down on our knees listening, speaking, and being together with our heavenly Father.
WE NEED TO PRAY!
- It is our task to remain in constant conversation with the Father, to walk in relationship, to follow the Son & to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
JESUS WILL NEVER DEPART!
JESUS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN!
JESUS IS IMMANUEL!
“Amazing Grace” by Chris Tomlin speaks through melody what I struggle to describe that God has done for us when He sent His Only Begotten Son. Please pause to listen to this melody.
JESUS—OUR ONLY HOPE!