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"…[W]e should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2.12-13). The grace of God that brings salvation teaches the believer a number of things, among them how we ought to look for the second coming of Jesus and the things that will accompany His return. Our focus today will be to look at the phrase "the blessed hope" as it appears in the quoted verse.

Hope is born of grace. To say it another way, without grace, we would have no hope. The sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on Calvary was the price that had to be paid but which none of us could pay. The precious and spotless Lamb of God was offered there with one objective in mind and that was the payment of the ransom that justice required in order to secure the release of those held captive by sin. With that feat accomplished, God had done for man what man could not have done for himself. No amount of trying could remove the reality of our brokenness when it came to righteousness hence the need for another sacrifice; Jesus and Jesus alone fit that bill!

Hope that is realized is not hope, or as Paul wrote, "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?" (Romans 8.24). The believer, just as Paul did, stands "… in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." (Titus 1.2). The hope of eternal life was and is just that, hope! We do not possess eternal life as it is used in this text otherwise we would not stand in hope of it! Down goes the argument that we have eternal life in the absolute and complete sense here in this world. Either this is true or the point that we do not hope for that which we see is completely invalid and nonsensical.

The hope which believers possess is modified by the word blessed; it is that "blessed hope!" It is blessed because of the price that was paid to secure the forgiveness of our sins. It is blessed because of the preparation that went into the previous dispensations. It is blessed because of the reward that awaits those who remain faithful to the Lord, namely a place of endless bliss. It is blessed because the courts of heaven have achieved their purposes in setting the captive free and by restoring fallen man to his state of former glory… and more!

Now to a more specific application of these verses: This heavenly hope is a precious commodity and one of which many in today’s world are bereft. Many hope for worldly things (a bigger house, more money, more fun, etc.). TV ads, magazine ads, radio announcements and all forms of public communication promise wonderful things to those who will simply use their products. One can attract a member of the opposite sex and procure more money than one could ever use in this present world… if only one will use their product. The harsh and ugly truth is this: If you don’t use their product, you do not have any hope!

The blessed hope is not like this at all; there is no magical potion and nothing to buy: the work has been done! What a great privilege to serve our Lord and look for this unsurpassed hope; this is the Good News!

Questions for Discussion:

1. What is hope?

2. Is it possible to hope for that which we already have?

3. What hope does the world offer?

4. When will we realize (come to possess the promises of) the hope which God offers?

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart