Hope Through Grace: A Gift from God
Summary
In our journey of growing in hope, we have explored how hope originates from God and is accessed through Jesus Christ. Today, we delve into the profound truth that hope is also a gift of grace. Grace, by its very nature, is unearned and freely given by God. It is not something we can achieve through adherence to the law or by our own efforts. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, emphasizes that our hope is a result of God's love and grace, not our own merit.
The law, represented by Moses, serves as an accuser because none of us can perfectly adhere to it. Setting our hope on the law leads to a cycle of pride when we succeed and despair when we fail. It leaves us haunted by questions of whether we have done enough. However, hope through grace liberates us from this cycle. Grace assures us that our hope is not based on our performance but on what Christ has done for us. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not and died the death we deserved, and through His life and sacrifice, we are clothed in His righteousness.
This grace transforms our relationship with God from one based on law to one based on love. When we relate to God through grace, we find hope even in our failures because our standing with God is secure in Christ's accomplishments, not our own. This understanding of grace should lead us to stop counting our good deeds as a measure of our worthiness and instead rely on the perfect work of Jesus. As we receive this grace by faith, it fills us with hope, joy, and peace, enabling us to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Grace also compels us to reflect God's love in every good work and word. It is not a license for complacency but a catalyst for action. Grace motivates us to do more for love than we ever could for law. As recipients of grace, we are called to be conduits of hope and grace in a broken world, reflecting the love and mercy we have received.
Key Takeaways:
- Hope Through Grace: Hope is a gift from God, given through grace, not earned by our adherence to the law. This grace liberates us from the cycle of pride and despair that comes from trying to earn God's favor through our own efforts. [11:51]
- The Law as an Accuser: Setting our hope on the law leads to condemnation because none of us can perfectly keep it. The law highlights our shortcomings, but grace offers us hope by covering our failures with Christ's righteousness. [06:21]
- Christ's Perfect Life: Jesus lived the life we could not and died the death we deserved. His perfect life and sacrificial death are credited to us, providing a foundation for our hope that is not based on our performance but on His finished work. [14:38]
- Receiving Grace by Faith: Grace is a gift that must be received by faith. As we believe in the grace offered through Christ, we are filled with hope, joy, and peace, enabling us to live a life abounding in hope. [29:09]
- Reflecting Grace in Action: Grace compels us to reflect God's love in every good work and word. It motivates us to act out of love rather than obligation, leading to a life that naturally overflows with good deeds and words of hope. [32:35]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Growing in Hope
- [00:55] - Hope Through Faith in Christ
- [02:31] - Hope by Grace
- [04:26] - The Law as an Accuser
- [06:21] - Setting Hope on Moses
- [08:36] - The Cycle of Pride and Despair
- [11:11] - Grace Overcomes the Law
- [13:02] - Christ's Righteousness Credited to Us
- [15:22] - Applying Christ's Life to Our Failures
- [18:35] - Hope in Christ's Accomplishments
- [20:06] - Relating to God Through Grace
- [22:34] - Strategies for Growing in Hope
- [27:54] - Receiving Grace by Faith
- [32:35] - Reflecting Grace in Action
- [35:02] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
- John 5:45
- Colossians 1:27
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, what are the sources of eternal comfort and good hope? How does this passage describe the role of grace in providing hope? [03:07]
2. In John 5:45, Jesus mentions Moses as an accuser. What does this imply about the role of the law in relation to hope? [06:21]
3. How does Colossians 1:27 describe the presence of Christ in believers, and what is its significance for hope? [01:12]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between grace and the law in the context of hope? [11:51]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of grace, as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, change the way believers should view their relationship with God? [03:07]
2. What might be the implications of setting one's hope on the law, as discussed in John 5:45, for a believer's spiritual life? [06:21]
3. How does the sermon explain the transformation that occurs when believers receive grace by faith, and how does this relate to their daily lives? [29:09]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that grace motivates believers to act out of love rather than obligation? [32:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt trapped in a cycle of pride or despair due to your own efforts. How can embracing grace help you break free from this cycle? [11:51]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be setting your hope on "Moses" or the law. How can you shift your focus to grace instead? [06:21]
3. How can you actively remind yourself of the love of God and the grace offered through Christ in your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this mindset? [24:05]
4. Identify a specific area where you struggle with feelings of unworthiness. How can you rely on the perfect work of Jesus to find hope and peace in this area? [27:02]
5. Think of a recent situation where you acted out of obligation rather than love. How can you allow grace to transform your motivations in similar situations in the future? [32:35]
6. How can you be a conduit of hope and grace in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to reflect God's love in your interactions. [34:37]
7. What is one way you can stop counting your good deeds and start relying more on the grace of Jesus in your spiritual journey? [25:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Hope as a Gift of Grace
Hope is not something we can earn or achieve through our own efforts; it is a gift from God, given freely through His grace. This grace liberates us from the cycle of pride and despair that comes from trying to earn God's favor through adherence to the law. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, reminds us that our hope is rooted in God's love and grace, not in our own merit. When we understand that hope is a gift of grace, we are freed from the burden of trying to prove our worthiness and can rest in the assurance that our hope is secure in what Christ has done for us. [11:51]
"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's favor? How can you begin to rest in the grace that has already been given to you?
Day 2: The Law Highlights Our Need for Grace
The law, represented by Moses, serves as an accuser because none of us can perfectly adhere to it. When we set our hope on the law, we find ourselves in a cycle of pride when we succeed and despair when we fail. This cycle leaves us questioning whether we have done enough to earn God's favor. However, grace offers us hope by covering our failures with Christ's righteousness. Through grace, we are liberated from the condemnation of the law and can find hope in the righteousness of Christ that is credited to us. [06:21]
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the law as an accuser change your perspective on your own shortcomings? How can you embrace the grace that covers your failures today?
Day 3: Christ's Perfect Life as Our Foundation
Jesus lived the perfect life we could not and died the death we deserved. His perfect life and sacrificial death are credited to us, providing a foundation for our hope that is not based on our performance but on His finished work. This understanding of Christ's accomplishments allows us to relate to God through grace rather than through the law. Our standing with God is secure in Christ's accomplishments, not our own, and this gives us hope even in our failures. [14:38]
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from your own performance to Christ's finished work? How does this shift impact your relationship with God?
Day 4: Receiving Grace by Faith
Grace is a gift that must be received by faith. As we believe in the grace offered through Christ, we are filled with hope, joy, and peace, enabling us to live a life abounding in hope. This grace transforms our relationship with God from one based on law to one based on love. When we receive grace by faith, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that reflects the hope we have in Christ. [29:09]
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively receive and embrace the grace offered to you today? What steps can you take to live a life filled with hope, joy, and peace?
Day 5: Reflecting Grace in Action
Grace compels us to reflect God's love in every good work and word. It is not a license for complacency but a catalyst for action. Grace motivates us to do more for love than we ever could for law. As recipients of grace, we are called to be conduits of hope and grace in a broken world, reflecting the love and mercy we have received. This call to action is a natural overflow of the grace we have received, leading us to live lives that abound in good deeds and words of hope. [32:35]
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you reflect God's love and grace in your actions today? How can you be a conduit of hope and grace to those around you?
Quotes
Hope does not come from the law. It's not earned by what we do. It does come through Grace, and in the light of that, we're going to look at some further strategies as to how we can grow in Hope. First, then, hope does not come by the law. [00:04:26]
If you set your Hope on Moses, on obedience to the law of God, if that's your hope, you're in for a rude awakening. That's the point of what Jesus is saying. The law is not on your side. It's not your friend. It's your accuser. So hope does not come by the law. [00:08:36]
Hope does not come through the law, but God gives Hope by Grace. That's the central point of the text that we're looking at today. Do you remember at the beginning of John's gospel, John says the law came through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. [00:11:11]
Hope comes from God through Christ, and it's by Grace. Now, when I think about Grace, the first thing that comes to my mind is that Jesus died for our sins. Our sins were laid on Jesus. He gave his life as a sacrifice so that our sins would not be charged against us. [00:13:02]
Jesus died the death that we should have died, and Jesus lived the life that we should have lived. In other words, Christ did what we have failed to do, and he lived his life for us. So when our hearts condemn us in regards to what we have failed to do, we find hope. [00:14:38]
Hope does not come from the law. Hope does not come from what we do for the Lord Jesus Christ. It comes from what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, the perfect life that he has lived for us, and the sin-bearing death that he has died for us. [00:20:06]
Every person relates to God in one of two ways. The default, of course, is that we relate to God on the basis of Law, and as we've seen, there is absolutely no hope there whatsoever. The law is our accuser, and if your hope is set on your accuser, well, you are in deep trouble. [00:22:34]
If you have a relationship with God that is based on Grace, well then, when you succeed, you will be just so thankful because you know that what has been done is the effect of God's grace working in your life. And when you fail, you will still have hope. [00:27:54]
Hope is yours by Grace. It is a gift. It is given. God gives this gift by Grace, but you see, a gift that is given also has to be received, and Grace is the way that God gives the gift. Faith is the way that we receive the gift. [00:29:09]
Hope and joy and peace and comfort in the Christian Life are all gifts of God. They are all offered to us freely by grace, and they are all received by faith. Believing is the means by which you receive what God gives. As you believe, you will have hope. [00:30:39]
Grace will take you further than the law ever could. You will do more for love than you would ever do for law. I mean, think about it. Taxes are a matter of Law, and what do we all do? We all follow the path of minimal compliance. [00:32:35]
When you receive Grace, you want to reflect it to others. You really do, and it won't be because you're trying to prove something, and it certainly won't be because you're trying to gain something. Grace means that you've received already, and having received, you now really do have a desire to give. [00:35:02]
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