PODCAST
Living in Hope
September 22nd, 2017
Galatians 5:1-12
Paul’s world was teeming with pagan gods and goddesses, and with religious systems intended to aid individuals in their desire to manipulate the heavy hand of Fate. Whether by magic or luck, they dreamed of controlling their destiny. Our far more secular world uses power, money, influence, and reason in an attempt to control the future.
The body of Christ has a different perspective on the future. Those who believe in Christ are convinced that the future, with its promise of righteousness, belongs to God. In the New Testament, hope is more than our desires grounded in a quest for self-fulfillment. For believers, hope expresses certainty because it is grounded in the character of God, a hope in the promise of the resurrection.
Our spiritual location is worth noting: In Christ we anticipate the future through the Spirit as we await the hope of righteousness by faith. The presence of the Spirit empowers us to live in hope against all odds.
Author: Robert W. Smith
