Hope for the Hopeless

God's Revelation (Part 2)

Have you ever felt hopeless? Has there ever been a time when it seemed the world was crashing in on you or a loved one and though you wanted to do something about it, there was (seemingly) no way to avoid it? Imagine if that hopelessness involved the loss of your or your loved one’s soul? The Bible does mention people who were without hope (Eph. 2:12 cf. 1 Thes. 4:13). Yet, their hopelessness was not God’s fault, for He made it possible for all to have hope. This possibility of hope came through God’s revelation. The hope bringing revelation of God consisted of two parts: the incarnate Word and the written word. In last week’s bulletin, we examined the former part. In this study, let us consider the latter of these revelations.

The Written Word

For God to bring hope to the hopeless, not only did He have to come to this world, but He also had to leave behind a record of His coming along with information, instructions, and promises concerning His way. All this is involved in the written word of God. The Bible is not the product of mere men, but is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16 cf. Gal. 1:11-12; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). There is a section of the written word of God that is particularly relevant to our study of hope for the hopeless. It reads, “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:3-6, NKJ). These verses summarize Ephesians 2:11-22, where Paul declared that the Gentiles had “no hope” because they “were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise...and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). The coming of Christ and His mission on the cross made it possible even for the Gentiles to now have hope (Eph. 2:13-22)! In Ephesians 3:6, Paul gives three terms that reveal the new relationship between Jews, Gentiles, and Christ that give hope for the hopeless!

"Fellow Heirs"

Paul said that the Gentiles were “fellow heirs” with Jews in Christ. The Greek means “sharing together God’s blessings.” Examining this word in other contexts further emphasizes the hope found in Christ. First, the word is used in a general sense of co-heirs with all those of like precious faith. In relation to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were “the heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11:9). One of the ways husbands are to dwell with their wives is “as being heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7). Second, the word is used of those equally sharing the blessings of sonship. Christians are co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Gentiles are co-heirs with the Jews in God’s kingdom (Gal. 3:29; 4:7). Being a fellow heir is a blessing attainable by all who render obedience to the Son (Heb. 3:6; 5:9). This is hope for the hopeless!

"Same Body"

Paul also said that the Gentiles were now “of the same body.” Some translations render this “fellow members of the same body” (NAS; ESV; ASV). This shows that there is an equal relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the kingdom of God, which is His church (Mt. 16:18-19), and His body (Eph. 1:22-23 cf. 1 Cor. 12:13). Jew and Gentile being in the same body, the church, means that they are both under the same head, Christ (Eph. 4:15; 5:23). Unity and hope go hand in hand. The only true unity comes when we are all one with Christ and His word (Jn. 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6). When such unity exists, hope for the hopeless is certain!

"Partakers"

Paul further said that Gentiles were “partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” The word translated “partaker” means sharer, or participant (Eph. 5:7). The point Paul makes here is that Gentiles partake equally with the Jews in the promises of God (cf. Eph. 1:10). This is quite a contrast from the Gentiles’ previous relationship (Eph. 2:12 cf. Rom. 9:4). They went from “no hope” to being “partakers” of Christ’s promise through the Gospel!

Conclusion

The feeling of hopelessness is very bleak, especially when it concerns our spiritual state.  There are many today who are spiritually hopeless but do not even realize it or, for that matter, even care...at least for the time being. Others, however, realize their hopelessness and are looking for answers (Rom. 7:24 cf. Acts 2:37). Thank God that He revealed His incarnate Word and His written word. The cross of Christ is the answer to our hopelessness (Eph. 2:12-22)! Have we appropriated the blessings of His cross to our lives? Do we have hope for our hopelessness?