“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12
The hope Paul describes in 2 Corinthians is the unchanging truth of the gospel. Jesus’ death atoned for our sins and His righteousness became ours.
Think about this amazing reality for believers: God forgives our sins. He completely removes them from us. God clothes us with righteousness. That’s powerful hope. It’s hope that changes our thinking, hope that makes us bold.
Hope in Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice makes us boldly live with unveiled faces (2 Corinthians 3:13,18). We don’t hide who we were, because the change Jesus makes in our lives brings God glory.
Hope in Jesus, our righteousness, makes us boldly say no to sin and live godly lives through the Holy Spirit’s power.
Hope in Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5-6) makes us boldly proclaim the gospel. God uses every believer, regardless of age, education or ability, to share the good news of life in the Spirit.
Hope in God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus moves us to boldly live joyful lives, standing firm in the truth, in the midst of trouble and hardship (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).
Holy God, thank you for reminding me of the great hope that I have in Jesus. May I always keep that hope in the forefront of my mind and may that hope make me bold. Amen.
Further Reading
• Random Acts of Kindness it is amazing how random acts of kindness affect those around you.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! “ 2 Corinthians. 5:17
The old year is gone and the new has come.
It is a blank slate. Last year is history and this year is a mystery. Who knows what the New Year will bring? God does! Perhaps your best act would be to place the right foundation on the face of the New Year in your life. That foundation is the Gospel message plain and simple.
God so loved the world He created that He gave sinful man a second chance by sending His only Son as our Savior, not only for us, but for the whole world.
- God has a plan for our lives in this coming year and for all years to come. His plan is for us to believe in Him and have everlasting life.
- Not only does He have plan, but, He has a provision. He sent His only son as a provision for us. We can take that to the redemption center at the foot of the cross and have everlasting life, gloriously in eternity.
- Lastly, He has a promise. We all make and break promises, especially at this time of the year, but God’s promise of eternal life is written in blood and cannot and will not be broken. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (John 3:17)
No other verse in the Bible so succinctly summarizes God’s relationship with humanity and the way of salvation than does John 3:16 revealing God’s plan, provision and promise. Some consider John 3:16 as the “theme verse” for the entire Bible. John 3:16 tells us of the love God has for us and the extent of that love—so great that He sacrificed His only Son on our behalf. John 3:16 teaches us that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, will be saved. John 3:16 gave us the glorious hope of eternal life in heaven through the love of God and death of Jesus Christ.
There is no more powerful way to deliver this message than to let John 3:16 speak for itself. God so loved the world (you and me) that He sent His only begotten Son so that all who believe shall not perish, but have everlasting life.