New Hope Church

WE AND THIS WORLD ARE PASSING AWAY For the present form of this world is passing away. —I Corinthians 7:31 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. —Psalms 144:4             How sobering it is to know that we are like a breath and our lives are like a passing shadow— here for such a short time and then gone.  This present form of this world is also passing away.  It is winding down and soon it will no longer exist as it is.             It is so joyful and comforting to read these words— Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the…

ACTIONS OUR LORD EXPECTS I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. —I Corinthians 5:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the…

BUILDING FOR THE BUILDER! Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. —I Corinthians 3:12-15             It is so sobering to think that, one time in the future, we will “we must all appear before the judgment…

DON’T BE A GROUPIE QUARRELER For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? —I Corinthians 1:11-13             Are you a personality follower?  Or, are you a denominational follower?  That is not necessarily wrong, unless of course you argue with others that your personality or denomination is the “right” one.             Paul was addressing this problem as the Corinthians were quarreling…

BEWARE… DON’T BE NAÏVE! I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. —Romans 16:17-18             As followers of Jesus, we are to cling to what God says.  Beware of “those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.”  There will be those who will cause divisions because they do not adhere to the Word of God, but to their…

HE KNOWS!  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. —Romans 13:14 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. —Romans 14:8 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give…

SERVING BY HIS MERCY AND GRACE! So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. —Romans 11:5-6 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. —Romans 11:32 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is…

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS! Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. —Romans 10:17 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. —John 20:30-31             Faith comes from hearing or reading the Word of God as His Word reveals who Jesus is.  But… “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe…

TOTAL FREEDOM TO BE REALIZED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS AND FOR ALL CREATION For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. —Romans 8:20-23             All of creation is not…

ETERNALLY LASTING PEACE Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ —Romans 5:1             Peace… our world is in search of it, or so it says, but it will never find true peace.  There may be times of calm, but there will never be true peace until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is reigning on earth after this age.  Do you want peace? https://youtu.be/YnZ-9BDeTFM?t=4557                         What joy there is to be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!  This is a peace that can never be taken away.  Once I was an enemy of God’s, but I…