In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Before the world began God who cannot lie promised eternal life, so the hope set before believers is certain and dependable to be received and acted upon in every part of life. The promise was made according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus, with the Father pledging to give the loyal in faith and repentance all the love He bestows on Christ, Christ answering as surety with His perfect obedience and righteousness, and the Holy Spirit working with human agents to make salvation certain. God cannot lie means He always acts truthfully and follows the straight course of truth and righteousness, unlike Satan who advances his claims by fraud, misrepresentation and deception. Jesus the Saviour Himself is that hope of eternal life held out in the doctrine of the atonement, purchased as forgiveness and immortality to be received by faith in His atonement and intercession, becoming a sure and steadfast anchor keeping the soul firm amid temptation. This hope must rest not on mere supposition but be firmly established by God's Word and settled personally between God and the soul, and those who hold it keep Christ uplifted in word and deed with tenderness and courtesy so souls are drawn to Him and won.
God's Sure Ancient Promise
The hope set before believers is eternal life promised before the world began by God who cannot lie, and for that reason it is certain and dependable. It is to be received and acted upon, shaping every part of life, with God standing behind its promises and counsel so that His infallible Word gives help for every circumstance of life. That promise was made according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus, not according to works, bringing blessing with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ from the unfailing Fountain of life. It is for those who acknowledge the truth that leads to godliness and who return to loyalty in faith and repentance. To them the Father pledged to Christ to give all the love He bestows on Christ, with Christ as their surety answering to God with His own perfect obedience and righteousness for everyone who wears His yoke, and with the Holy Spirit working with human agents to make salvation certain. What was promised before the world began was manifested in due time through preaching committed according to the commandment of God the Saviour. The faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth that produces godliness stand in this hope, which rests on a promise made ages ago by God whose character makes lying impossible. No human fountain is offered for godliness, but only God's Word of eternal life manifested through preaching, to be preached in purity so that many are made sound in the faith. This true presentation stands against the work of a second class who bring in a spurious religion to counterwork what God said must be done. That God cannot lie means He acts truthfully and directly and always follows the straight course of truth and righteousness. This stands in contrast to Satan, who uses fraud and misrepresentation and deception to advance his claims and pursue his purposes. God's truthfulness was shown in just dealings that gave Lucifer repeated opportunities to repent before rebellion ended in expulsion from heaven, and the contrast exposes Satan's false claims about God. Because God cannot lie, what He makes known is true and certain, so His testimony is trustworthy authority about human duty. By that authority those who had abundance should have shared it to support the work in a new field until it was firmly established.
Receiving and Sharing Hope
Jesus the Saviour Himself is the hope of eternal life promised by God, and He is to be kept uplifted in word and deed before the sick and the afflicted. The doctrine of the atonement holds out that hope of eternal life which God has promised.
This hope is set before believers in the gospel as God's promised gift, in which they can rejoice and live with hope and trust. Christ purchased forgiveness and immortality for sinful people, and these gifts are to be taken hold of by faith in Christ and received by faith in His atonement and intercession. Those who share His sufferings will share His glory.
Faith in His atonement and intercession makes this hope a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul, keeping believers firm amid temptation. It gives confidence in God's favor now and in the heavenly world.
The hope must not rest on mere supposition but be firmly established by God's sure, unchanging Word, because God cannot lie. The question of having this hope must be settled personally between God and the soul, because it concerns eternal destiny, and God's Word gives the testimony by which a person can see what is required to become a Christian. Satan works to discourage the soul and unsettle confidence by claiming this hope has no true foundation and rests on false premises. Christ works to inspire faith and hope and fill the heart with faith and hope in God's promise, and trust in Jesus enables the tempted to resist discouragement, hold to God's Word, and persevere in the struggle until victory and triumph are found in the Redeemer.
Those who hold this hope present the truth as it is in Jesus in all its solemnity yet with simplicity and tenderness, so souls are drawn to Him. This work allows no harsh word and no selfish act, but requires kindness to all with gentle and loving speech and true modesty and Christian courtesy that wins souls to Christ.
Before the world began God who cannot lie promised eternal life, so the hope set before believers is certain and dependable to be received and acted upon in every part of life. The promise was made according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus, with the Father pledging to give the loyal in faith and repentance all the love He bestows on Christ, Christ answering as surety with His perfect obedience and righteousness, and the Holy Spirit working with human agents to make salvation certain. God cannot lie means He always acts truthfully and follows the straight course of truth and righteousness, unlike Satan who advances his claims by fraud, misrepresentation and deception. Jesus the Saviour Himself is that hope of eternal life held out in the doctrine of the atonement, purchased as forgiveness and immortality to be received by faith in His atonement and intercession, becoming a sure and steadfast anchor keeping the soul firm amid temptation. This hope must rest not on mere supposition but be firmly established by God's Word and settled personally between God and the soul, and those who hold it keep Christ uplifted in word and deed with tenderness and courtesy so souls are drawn to Him and won.
God's Sure Ancient Promise
The hope set before believers is eternal life promised before the world began by God who cannot lie, and for that reason it is certain and dependable. It is to be received and acted upon, shaping every part of life, with God standing behind its promises and counsel so that His infallible Word gives help for every circumstance of life. That promise was made according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus, not according to works, bringing blessing with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ from the unfailing Fountain of life. It is for those who acknowledge the truth that leads to godliness and who return to loyalty in faith and repentance. To them the Father pledged to Christ to give all the love He bestows on Christ, with Christ as their surety answering to God with His own perfect obedience and righteousness for everyone who wears His yoke, and with the Holy Spirit working with human agents to make salvation certain. What was promised before the world began was manifested in due time through preaching committed according to the commandment of God the Saviour. The faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth that produces godliness stand in this hope, which rests on a promise made ages ago by God whose character makes lying impossible. No human fountain is offered for godliness, but only God's Word of eternal life manifested through preaching, to be preached in purity so that many are made sound in the faith. This true presentation stands against the work of a second class who bring in a spurious religion to counterwork what God said must be done. That God cannot lie means He acts truthfully and directly and always follows the straight course of truth and righteousness. This stands in contrast to Satan, who uses fraud and misrepresentation and deception to advance his claims and pursue his purposes. God's truthfulness was shown in just dealings that gave Lucifer repeated opportunities to repent before rebellion ended in expulsion from heaven, and the contrast exposes Satan's false claims about God. Because God cannot lie, what He makes known is true and certain, so His testimony is trustworthy authority about human duty. By that authority those who had abundance should have shared it to support the work in a new field until it was firmly established.
Receiving and Sharing Hope
Jesus the Saviour Himself is the hope of eternal life promised by God, and He is to be kept uplifted in word and deed before the sick and the afflicted. The doctrine of the atonement holds out that hope of eternal life which God has promised.
This hope is set before believers in the gospel as God's promised gift, in which they can rejoice and live with hope and trust. Christ purchased forgiveness and immortality for sinful people, and these gifts are to be taken hold of by faith in Christ and received by faith in His atonement and intercession. Those who share His sufferings will share His glory.
Faith in His atonement and intercession makes this hope a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul, keeping believers firm amid temptation. It gives confidence in God's favor now and in the heavenly world.
The hope must not rest on mere supposition but be firmly established by God's sure, unchanging Word, because God cannot lie. The question of having this hope must be settled personally between God and the soul, because it concerns eternal destiny, and God's Word gives the testimony by which a person can see what is required to become a Christian. Satan works to discourage the soul and unsettle confidence by claiming this hope has no true foundation and rests on false premises. Christ works to inspire faith and hope and fill the heart with faith and hope in God's promise, and trust in Jesus enables the tempted to resist discouragement, hold to God's Word, and persevere in the struggle until victory and triumph are found in the Redeemer.
Those who hold this hope present the truth as it is in Jesus in all its solemnity yet with simplicity and tenderness, so souls are drawn to Him. This work allows no harsh word and no selfish act, but requires kindness to all with gentle and loving speech and true modesty and Christian courtesy that wins souls to Christ.