The Hope of Salvation 1 Thess. 5:8-10

Christians must live in the expectation of eternal salvation.

1. This is an age of fear and despair.
   1. The world has already in the 20th century been ravaged by two world wars and many lesser wars.
      1. There is the fear of hunger.
      2. Fear of war.
      3. Fear of disease.
      4. Fear of a number of things.
   2. The threat of nuclear destruction is ever present. Think of the nuclear problem in Russia a number of years ago.
2. The acute need of the Christian is hope.
   1. Hope anchors the soul: Heb. 6:19-20.
      1. Without this anchor one may drift away from the Lord. Heb. 2: 1, 3.
      2. Without this anchor the storms of life may sweep one away: 1 Thess. 2:14; 2 Thess. 1:4-7.
   2. Hope is the helmet to protect the Christian. 1 Thess. 5:8.
3. There are three things according to 1 Thess. 5:8-10 which give the Christian hope of eternal salvation.

SALVATION IS BY GOD’S APPOINTMENT – 1 Thess. 5:9.

1. Salvation is not an accidental, haphazard, “hit-or-miss” matter with God.
   1. God works in His people, through His word, so they will and do His good pleasure. Phil. 2:12-14.
   2. Saints are kept by God’s power. 1 Peter 1:5.
2. God has not appointed His people to wrath. 1 Thess. 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9.
   1. Christians have been “delivered from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:10.
   2. Those who reject the gospel shall experience God’s wrath. 1 Thess. 2:16; 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
3. God has appointed His people to eternal life. 1 Thess. 5:9.

CHRIST DIED FOR US – 1 Thess. 5:10.

1. The death of Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves.
   1. Sin condemns, but we are justified by the blood of Christ. Rom. 5:9-10.
   2. Sin alienates, but we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Rom. 5:10.
2. The blood of Christ keeps on cleansing us from sin as we walk in the light of God’s truth. 1 John 1:7-9.

WE LIVE WITH CHRIST – 1 Thess. 5:10.

1. Christians live with Christ now. Rom. 6:8.
2. Christ is our High Priest. Heb. 4:14-16.
3. Christ is our advocate / attorney in heaven. 1 John 2:1-2.
   1. He knows the nature of temptation. Heb. 4:15-16.

CONCLUSION:

We are saved by hope. Rom. 8:24

Hope is based on faith. Heb. 11:1

Faith is based on and nourished by God’s word. Rom. 10:17.

the late Wayne E. Holland

a sermon preached at:

Hiawassee, GA (05/18/1986)

Henderson, NC (11/02/1997)