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A Purifying Hope - Acts 26
A Purifying Hope - Acts 26
Paul explained to Agrippa why he was on trial: "And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews” (Acts 26:6-7).
He had worded this differently in Acts 24:15 stating that he had “a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked”.
This was the promise made by God. This was not only Paul had hope in but ‘the twelve tribes’ (i.e., all the faithful Jews).
Again, as we read yesterday, such a realization of a coming judgment and faith in God brought about an ‘earnest serving God night and day’.
Such hope for OUR resurrection is firmly based upon the fact of the resurrection of Jesus:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
"who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:21).
Such trust in His resurrection should produce a strong resolve to serve God even as it did the faithful of the 12 tribes and also Paul. John expressed this: “ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
Is your hope causing YOU to purify yourself before God?
Hugh DeLong
