2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us… I. THE GIFT. 1. What is this good hope? (1) Hope is sometimes put for the thing hoped for (Proverbs 13:12; Colossians 1:5) such as (a) The coming of Christ to our comfort (Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:13). (b) The resurrection (Acts 2:26; Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6-8). (c) The vision of God (1 John 3:2). (d) Our heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1:4; Titus 1:2; Romans 5:2). (2) Sometimes hope is put for the reasons and causes of hoping; and so he who gives me solid reasons for hoping gives me good hope (Hebrews 7:19; Romans 15:4). (3) The act or grace of hope is good in respect of itself (Lamentations 3:26) or the measure of it. That is good hope which is most able to do its office (1 Peter 1:3; Hebrews 6:11). Briefly the grace of hope is two-fold. (a) There is a hope which is the immediate fruit of regeneration, and is a constitutive part of the new creature (1 Peter 1:3). (b) There is a hope which is the fruit of experience, and belongs to the seasoned Christian, who has approved his fidelity to God, and made trial of God's fidelity to him (Romans 5:4).. 2. The effects of this hope. (1) Support in troubles. When we are persuaded of a happy issue, we are the better kept from fainting (Philippians 1:19, 20). (2) Encouragement in working. It is hope that sets the whole world a-work (1 Corinthians 9:10) and the Christian (Acts 26:7). 3. This hope is the free gift of God. (1) It is His gift. He not only gives us objective grace — the mercy of the gospel, or its warrant in the promises, but subjective grace by His Holy Spirit whose work is necessary. (a) By way of illumination that we may see what is the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18; 2 Peter 1:9). A short-sighted man cannot see things at a distance; not from any defect in the object, but through the fault in his eyes. (b) By way of inclination that one may seek after these things as our portion and happiness (Acts 16:14; Galatians 5:5). (c) By way of excitation (Romans 15:13). (2) It is free gift. (a) The matter of hope is God's free, undeserved mercy (Psalm 130:7). Without this there were no hope, and therefore the saints make this their anchor hold (Psalm 13:5; Jude 1:21). (b) The grace of hope is the fruit of the Lord's mercy; such are our ill deservings that nothing else could incline Him to give it us (1 Peter 1:3). II. WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT IT IS TO PRAYER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US A GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE. 1. God would not invite and raise a hope to disappoint it (Psalm 119:49). 2. He who gives us the hope will give us all things necessary to the thing hoped for (1 Peter 5:10). 3. Those who have received good hope through grace have these to rest upon. (1) God's nature as He is merciful and gracious (Judges 13:23). (2) His promise, so that we may trust His faithfulness (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 32:40). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, |
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