THE HOPE OF THE HEIRS

Text: Romans 8:17-25
Theme: Inheritance
Thesis: The Marks of the Heirs

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Cliche for Hope "Habang May Buhay May Pag-asa"

• What does this cliche pertaining to?
• good life
• wealth
• good relationship
• cars, house and lot, career
• Ask the common people what is their hope in their life
• Being with Christ is not on the list
• To be like Jesus Christ is not on the list either
• To enjoy the eternal promise of God of future glory after this life is also not on the list

B. The Problem of People Inside the Church

• Some put their hope on the same things (worldly things)
• The promise of God of future glory is not valued

C. The Mindset of the People of God

• God has a promise of inheritance and it is sure.
• They are the co-heirs of the Lord Jesus 
• The Father is pleased to give this inheritance to His people

II. BODY

Thesis: 3 Marks of the Heirs of the Blessed Hope

 They are the One Who Have..

1) The Right Perspective of the Future (v.17-18)

• There is a future blessed hope
• that is sure because God promised this
• that is not worth comparing to the suffering
• Only the heirs have this kind of perspective of the future
• they are holding on this promise of longing God
• they value the eternal things rather than the temporal things here in earth
• they will stand in the midst of suffering because of this hope

2) The Right Passion for Freedom (v.19-23)

• Definition of freedom
• freedom is not about doing what we want
• freedom is a change of master from wicked from a good and perfect Master
• The Creation is Groaning for Freedom
• All creation living and non living are under cursed because of sin of the first man
• The angels are not part of it nor the unbeliever because they don't long for freedom
• Angels are in their position
• Unbelievers enjoy their slavery in their sin - to them that is freedom
• The Believers are Groaning for Freedom
• Death is the entrance to that future hope-the inheritance of every believer
• Since the body is subject to sinful desires, believers wanted to be free from the body like Paul
• This is what the believers are waiting - the coming of Christ will fulfill this
• Being absent in the body is a great gain because this is being with the Lord
• The new body (glorified body) is the freedom and hope of every Christian

3) The Right Practice of Faith (v.24-25)

• Hope and Faith are Inseparable Things
• Hope is unseen
• the future glory is unseen - that is hope of every Christian
• that is the only legitimate hope - the hope promised by God
• Faith is the instrument to see the unseen (Hebrews 11:1)
• Right practice of faith will have a focus on the blessed hope
•  Right practice of faith will stand against the sufferings because it focuses on the blessed hope. 

III. CONCLUSION

• Believers put in mind that you are the heirs of the blessed hope 
• It is a promise of God to you and He will never ever disappoint you nor frustrate you
• The promised freedom will be at hand
• Stand in faith that will lead you to focus on the unseen thing - OUR HOPE

                                                                                                                                                   First Mount Zion Baptist Church - Paliparan

                                                                                                                                                                               10/28/12