Rejoicing in Hope

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Romans 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When we believed Romans 10:9-10, God justified us. He pronounced the legal judgment that we are righteous before Him. We are made right in Christ. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are no longer separated from God. We are no longer enemies of God. We have been given access into God's grace in which we stand. We have received God's divine favour. Because of all of God's goodness toward us we rejoice in hope of the glory of God that will be ours at the return of Christ. We do not need to be filled with worry or fear at the thought of Christ's return. The hope of God's glory to come fills us with joy and rejoicing.

Romans 12:2, 12
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. . .
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

   The Word of God declares that we are to renew our minds in order to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. One of the things that we must do to walk with our minds renewed to God's will is "rejoice in hope." The hope that we have for the return of Christ and our gathering together unto him is made known in 1 Corinthians 15 , 1 Thessalonians 4 and Philippians 3.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54
   Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
   In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
   So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Philippians 3:20-21
   For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
   Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
   For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
   For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
   Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
   Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

   What a joy to know that at the return of Christ we shall receive a new spiritual body like Jesus Christ's resurrected body and we shall be gathered together with all those who have believed in Christ. We are to comfort one another with these words.

2 Corinthians 1:13-14
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The presence of those who have taught us God's Word and those to whom we have taught the Word at the return of Christ causes great rejoicing to our souls. We rejoice that together we shall all share in the glory of God at that day.

Philippians 2:14-18
   Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
   That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
   Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
   Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.
   For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

We are the sons of God holding forth the word of life together in this evil world. We rejoice in the believing action of those who share in our labour to hold forth His wonderful word. What a day that will be when we share the glory of God with those who have listened to and believed the Word of God we have spoken.

1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
For ye are our glory and joy.

What greater glory and joy could we possibly have at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ than to see those to whom we have spoken God's Word standing in the presence of the Lord!

1 Peter 1:3-9
   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
   To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
   Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
   Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
   That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
   Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;

The wholeness that will be ours at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ includes a new spiritual body like his resurrected body and an inheritance reserved for us in heaven. We may face pressure as we believe God's Word and stand in this evil day, but our believing will result in praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Christ. In light of that day, we rejoice with joy unspeakable - full of glory!