Christ our only Hope

Romans 15:8-13

In the English Standard Version Bible it has this title over these verses “Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles” and what a great synopsis.  Beginning in the 8 verses, “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.”

You may be wondering what were the promises given to the patriarchs, so let’s look at a few.

·      Who were the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or Israel.

What was the promise made to Abraham: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:7-8 ESV)

·       What was the promise made to Isaac: “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Genesis 26:3-5 ESV)

·      What was the promise made to Jacob: “ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

Do you recall God speaking to Moses at the burning bush and how He announced His title: “And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”  Now let us go to the New Testament and we find it was faith, not works that brought God’s favor on Abraham as found in Romans 4:3,  ^“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”  And look at Romans 4:13, “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.” 

Now it is important to understand you and I received grace and were grafted into the true olive tree that is Christ, it was always the will of the Father that you and I would come into a relationship with the Father and His Son our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.  Turn to Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

I must end this with Romans 15:9-13, “and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”  Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”  And again “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”  And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice