Jesus Is The Light Of The World

The latest message from Griffith First Christian Church in Griffith, Indiana. This message is based on John 8:12.

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No One Else Like Jesus

Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Why? Why would He endure such a thing as the excruciating pain of crucifixion. The word “excruciating” literally means “out of the cross.” It was a word invented to describe the pain of crucifixion. Why would the perfect Son of God willingly go through the cross? Peter writes:

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:24-25 (NIV)

Through the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus, we are set free from the power of sin. We are healed by His wounds. We are able to return to a right relationship with God. We no longer live for sin, but we live for Jesus. We find rest and hope and joy and peace through Him. We find our true home in Him. We can live the life we long to live through Jesus. No one else is like Him.

Hope And Faith In God

God the Father chose His Son, Jesus, to be the One who would save humanity from our sins. In His infinite knowledge, He knew that Jesus would save us when the time was right. Peter wrote:

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)

God the Father raised the Son from the dead and through Jesus has made faith in God possible. Our faith is based on this incredible event – the Resurrection of Jesus. Our hope is based on the Resurrection. Without it, our faith is futile and our hope is dead. But we have a living hope because we have a risen Savior! He’s alive and we who put our trust in Him for forgiveness will be raised from the dead as well. This is our hope…

Where Is Our Hope?

One of the themes of Peter’s first letter is the theme of hope. Our hope is not in anything in this world. Rather, we should be alert and ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Peter wrote:

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. – 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

By God’s grace, Jesus will return one day to take us to be with Him and live in His presence forever. Instead of getting caught up in the things of this world, we should be alert and ready for Christ’s return. That means that we renounce the sins of this world that pull our focus away from Jesus. It means that we turn away from the cares of this life that make us forget about the greater purpose to our lives. It means that we do not hope for the things of this world. Our hope is found in Jesus. Our hope is the hope of Heaven. Instead of being distracted by what’s down here, let’s be focused on the things of Heaven because that’s where we’re headed.

Rejoicing In Trials

Peter wrote his first letter to a persecuted church. He told them about the inheritance that awaited them in Heaven. He told them that no matter what trials and tests of their faith may have come, nothing could take their inheritance away. This inheritance was their reason for joy. Peter continued:

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. – 1 Peter 1:6 (NIV)

The promises of God are our reason for joy. If we face trials of various kinds that test our faith, we can still have joy. Joy is different than happiness. No one is happy about trials and tests, but they can be a reason for joy. Happiness usually depends on circumstances. Joy depends on our Savior. Circumstances change, Jesus doesn’t. His love and our hope are eternal. Whatever trial or circumstance you’re going through, it can change for better or worse. Jesus won’t change on you, though. Your hope is secure.

A Living Hope

According to the Apostle Peter, the resurrection of Jesus gave us two things: a new birth and an inheritance. He writes:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. – 1 Peter 1:3-​4a​ (NIV)

This new birth and inheritance are given to us by God’s mercy through the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead means that our hope is real. Our hope is alive because Jesus is alive! The hope we have is not some wish or a dream. It is real and it will not die or fade away. For nearly 2,000 years Christians have held on to this hope that we have in the resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ. If you feel like you’re at the end of your rope and at the end of your hope, know that Jesus is alive and because He is alive, you have a living hope in Him.

The Hope We Have

As children of God, we have hope in Christ that when Jesus appears, we will not only see Him, but we will be taken to our heavenly home to be with Him forever. John wrote:

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. – 1 John 3:2-3 (NIV)

What is your hope that you have? Is it the hope of Heaven?  Or is it merely a hope that things may get better in this life? Do you know where you’re going when you die? If you are a child of God who has been saved and forgiven through Jesus, your hope is in Heaven. Don’t forget that today! When you face trials and tests, remember that there is so much more waiting for you beyond this life. These things will pass, but your hope will remain.