05/30/22 Daily Devotion – The hope that SAVES you!

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:22–23, NIV84)

There are many aspects to the hope we have as Christians, but none more important than the one Paul addresses in these verses.  The hope we have in the Gospel is core to our Christian faith.  Jesus came into the world to reconcile us to the Father through His death and resurrection.  Jesus bore our sins on the cross and has made us holy and righteous in God’s sight.  All that is broken and tainted within us has been washed clean by the blood of Jesus.  Paul says in 2 Cor, 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin on our behalf so that, through Him, we might become the righteousness of God.”  He says in Roman 6, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Finally, He says in 1 Peter 3:18, “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God.”  There is no greater hope than this, that we can stand before God sinless because Jesus took our sins upon Himself.  This hope of redemption is not just a wish; it is a certainty.  It is “established and firm”.  Paul says that our hope in Jesus should be immovable.

Should we have hope in God for today?  Yes!  Should we have hope in the fact that He has a plan for our lives?  Yes!  Should we hope in the promise that He goes with us every day of our lives?  Yes!  These promises are also certain and true.  But only one hope assures you of the salvation of your soul, and that is the hope of the Gospel.  Only the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection gives you the freedom and peace that your soul longs for.  Our days should begin and end at the cross of Jesus Christ.  Everything changes there.  Life gets redefined and one gets born again at the cross of Jesus.

May all your hopes today fall under the one great hope of grace and forgiveness found in the gospel.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church

About the author: Tom Donnelly