In the previous post, the topic was Biblical Hope Opposes Political Expectation, Do You Believe That?
That question is still a valid question today and each day of our lives as believers in Jesus Christ.
The Word of God explicitly renounces putting our hope and trust in anything, or anyone apart from the Living God as followers of Jesus Christ.
The main issue throughout the Old Testament, regarding the nation of Israel, was that they were putting their trust for their safety and security in other nations, instead of the Lord their God; the God of their fathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
Such was their abandonment of following their God, that He had to punish them according to His covenant with His people.
God’s punishment of His people is always balanced with His grace and mercy to restore His people if they will confess their sin, and return to Him.
This is the essence of the cross where the intersection of God’s judgement against sin and His grace and mercy to provide life took place where Jesus, the Lamb of God was crucified for the sin of the world.
The nation of Israel’s God is a jealous God.
He loves His people with His whole heart; but the problem is that His people did not love Him with their whole heart.
They had a divided heart.
Q: Does your expectation from politics create a divided heart in you for God? (See the post Biblical HOPE OPPOSES POLITICAL EXPECTATIONS, Do You Believe That?)
If it does, then you must go before the Lord, confess your sin, and ask Him to give you an undivided heart for Him.
When you study Israel’s exodus from Egypt; their journey in the wilderness; and their refusal to enter the land; the heart of the nation’s people is clearly exposed.
The nation of Israel’s heart was focused on Egypt.
They never surrendered their heart fully to God.
They struggled with coming out from under the ‘government’ of Egypt and submitting to the ‘government’ of God.
This is exactly the same struggle that took place in the early Church after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
The beginning Church was filled with Jews. They struggled with the new ‘government’ that was instituted by the coming of the Holy Spirit; they were resistant to set aside completely the Law of Moses; they did not want to abandon the traditions of the Jewish nation; they sought to keep their preconceived ideas about the temple worship; and they did not let go of their political expectations of God’s Kingdom on earth.
These are some of the same struggles that new believers face in our day too; especially learning about the ‘government’ of God.
The old has passed away; behold all things have become new.
Jesus unequivocally had said that all authority was given unto Him.
So, who is in charge?
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit is C.E.O. of the Body of Christ.
This means that the Holy Spirit is the Chief Executive Officer of the Church.
The Holy Spirit ‘governs’ the Church as the Head of the Church directs.
There is a new King governing all the affairs of the world.
His name is Jesus.
Jesus has instituted true Biblical Hope.
True Biblical Hope Offers People Eternity.
True Biblical Hope comes because of the ‘finished work’ of Christ on the cross.
The foundation of true Biblical Hope is clearly enunciated in the words of a well known hymn.
The hymn, ‘My Hope is Built on Nothing Less’ was written by Edward Mote around 1834.
This hymn is understood to be based on the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 7:24-29.
The context of this parable is found at the end of what is known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount”, Matthew 5-7.
Jesus’ parable posed this question in the ears of the ‘hearers’ of His teaching.
Q: Is it wiser to build your house on a foundation of rock or on a foundation of sand?
Q: What is the obvious answer?
A: build on rock, not sand.
This parable concluded the teaching that Jesus had shared with a large crowd on a mount.
The chorus of this well known hymn, says, “On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. ” (emphasis mine)
According to AI overview, “God is explicitly compared to a rock (or rocks) approximately 23 times in the King James Version of the Bible. These comparisons are primarily used to convey God’s strength, stability, and unwavering character, emphasizing His role as a refuge and a source of protection.” (emphasis mine)
In the Psalms, the Lord is referred to as a Rock. (emphasis mine)
See the following: Psalms 18:2; 18:31; 18:46; 27:5; 28:1; 31:2; 31:3; 40:2; 42:9; 61:2; 62:2; 62:6; 62:7; 78:16; 78:20; 78:35; 81:6; 89:26; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1; 105:41.
It is not stretching the truth to categorically say that the Word of God is a solid rock of our foundation as believers in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our cornerstone. (Psalm 118;2; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20)
The effect of Jesus’ teaching elicited this response from His ‘hearers’.
“When Jesus finished [speaking] these words [on the mountain] the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one who had authority [to teach entirely of His own volition], and not as their scribes [who relied on others to confirm their authority]. (Matthew 7: 28-29 Amplified Version)
In the text of the hymn, Edward Mote theologically penned the correct Biblical understanding of Hope, as expressed in the Word of God, centered in Christ Jesus.
The first stanza reads, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
These words are the message of the Gospel.
These words are the foundation of being born again.
These words are the rock upon which we build and live our life following Christ Jesus. (emphasis mine)
The aforementioned stanza is our sure foundation, our cornerstone.
This stanza is a vivid picture of the cross.
This stanza gives us a clear explanation of John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.”
The remainder of the hymn is a continuation of theological excellence.
l recommend that you read the entire hymn.
Examining the commentaries, there are differences of opinions as to what the wording ‘the sweetest frame’ refers too.
I would like to offer the following thought.
Because, Biblical Hope Opposes Political Expectation, and the Word of God clearly tells us not to put our hope and trust in mankind; the words ‘sweetest frame could easily refer to humanity, i.e., any human being.
As one person wrote, “the sweetest frame’ means the best person you could ever find. I dare not trust that person (no matter how dependable, clever, strong they are) but wholly lean on Jesus’ name (because He is the One who is truly faithful, good, perfect and He became my sin bearer at the cross.)”
I agree with this observation.
I recommend that you read Corton Carter’s analysis of Edward Mote’s hymn.
It is found at kings-table.com. It is entitled “I Dare Not Trust the Sweetest Frame”; dated February 5, 2016.
His analysis presents this personal conclusion.
I quote, “We are all familiar with this idiom. When we are off a bit, we are not in our right “frame of mind”. “
“This use of ‘frame’, Corton says, is referring to our joy and affections for Christ, how our souls are rejoicing in Christ.”
(Personal note, I am not sure I am comfortable with his thought, however-)
Quoting Carter, he continues, “We must heed the warning of Paul to “take heed, lest we fall”. God given maturity is mature and should be enjoyed. But the moment we lose sight of the gospel as the source of both our justification and our sanctification, we are close to denying the Gospel.”
He continues, “I think this is what the author (Mote) is getting at. We are not even to trust our sweetest period of life in Christ. How easily it is for a believer to think of himself, more highly than he ought to think, and not to think soberly.” (insert mine)
I think what Carter is talking about is how easily we can exalt ourselves, and take credit for our spiritual position in Christ.
Does not the enemy of our souls seek to take our eyes off Jesus, to focus upon ourselves, and to have us revel in ‘look at me’ and ‘what I have done’?
Absolutely.
Deuteronomy 8 teaches this very principle and shows the subtle progression of changing the center of our attention from God and re-centering it upon ourselves as the one who achieved our greatness.
( I recommend that you read Deuteronomy 8.)
At the end of Carter’s article, there are comments from individuals.
One individual, named David, said this “the sweetest frame…(frame = human body)
I concur with David’s thought.
Why?
Our focus needs to be centered upon Jesus Christ, no one else, not even ourselves, so that we maintain the “right frame of mind”.
I propose that Mote’s hymn, Carter’s article, and David’s thought intersect with my previous post.
How?
Biblical Hope Opposes Political Expectation; because political expectations rests in an elected official exercising his/her authority.
Biblical Hope is not centered in humanity; but in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ is the focus of our Biblical Hope.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
The Word of God defines Biblical Hope.
Q: What is the hope of the Gospel?
A. Biblical Hope Offers Personal Expectation of the fulfillment of the Gospel to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
Please read the following: Titus 1:1-3; Titus 2:8-14; Titus 3:4-8
Titus 2:12-13 is the most direct understanding of what Blessed Hope is for a believer in Jesus Christ.
Quoting Titus 2:11-15, The Tree of Life Version,
“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men, training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age (now). We wait for the blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds. So communicate these things, and encourage and correct with complete authority. Let no one look down on you.” (Inserts mine) (emphasis mine)
Reminding ourselves of another chorus, we need to ‘turn our eyes upon Jesus and look into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Please read Hebrews 12:1-3.
Waiting for the return of Christ, our blessed hope of the Gospel,
Our Blessed Hope also reminds us that we need to keep the “right frame of mind”.
Come Lord Jesus.
Your brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 