Faithful Keeping A Firm Grip On My Hope

Our Theme Verse Provides Me With…

1. An ________________ ___________________ – “Let’s hold firmly…”

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NIV)

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)

2. An ____________ _______________ – “the confession of our hope…”

“Everyone who confesses me before others, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 10:32-33 (EHV)

• An affirmation of Jesus’ Lordship with my ________.

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. Matthew 7:21 (VOICE)

“So why do you call me ‘Lord’ when you won’t obey me? Luke 6:46 (TLB)

• An affirmation of Jesus’ Lordship with my ________.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 (NIV)

…and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ… 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV)

3. An ___________ ______________ – “for He who promised is faithful”

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:11-12 (NIV)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.  2 Corinthians 1:20a (NIV)

Reminders to Help Me Keep a Firm Grip on Hope

1. Remember That Jesus Christ Is ______________!

• He is superior to the _____.

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. ² And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe… When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NLT)

• • I need to remember that Jesus is superior to the _____.

This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. 5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” 6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him…” 14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:4-6, 14 (NLT)

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

What in My Life Threatens the Supremacy of Christ?

However, real threats often come not from angels but from within our own lives.

Not Angels But ______________                 Not Angels But ______________
Not Angels But ______________           Not Angels But ______________
Not Angels But ______________                 Not Angels But ______________

2. Remember: The Price for Not ____    ____   Is Severe

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:1-4 (NIV)

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV)

• The gospels say to the potential follower, ____________________.
• Hebrews says to the forgetful follower, _______________________.

Two Threats That Keep Me From Paying Attention

1. ______________________ Wins & I __________

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

2. ________________ Wins & I ____________ God’s Word.

“…how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?…” Hebrews 2:3a (NIV)