INTRODUCTION - AS PAUL TURNED TOWARD JERUSALEM, HE HOPED TO MINISTER TO ROME, SO HE WROTE OF HOPE

• As Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian Liberty- so Romans is the Constitution of Christian
• The word Hope- 15 times in Rom. - 5 in Rom.15, it is the hidden theme of the epistle-
• On this Memorial day-America sees what its heroes died for endangered- we need hope-

If the Roman Christians could lay hold of Hope- so can we- We must! - or perish

I. THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE " - Rom 15:4

The purpose of the scriptures- OT, and certainly -NT- is to give us Hope! Not Condemnation-but hope

THE NEED OF PAUL FOR HOPE - v. 4 - A MAN ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF, DIFFICULTY, DANGER - HOPE

• Paul was in Corinth- Acts 20:1-3, Jews chasing him around Europe- trying to kill him
• He wanted to go to Jerusalem- wanting to tell his countrymen about Jesus- Lion's mouth
• He sent Phoebe -Rom 16:1 - to carry his letter to Rome that he might give them hope

THE NEED FOR THE ROMAN CHURCH FOR HOPE - Rom 1:11 - PAUL WANTED TO IMPART A SPIRITUAL GIFT

• Who started the Church? - those from Pentecost?- Anyway, Paul knew many of them- Cf. Rom 16-
• In Rome 12 mile circle-lived 2 Mil people-slaves, misery, vice, folly,-look to Rome for man's hope?
• The Jews and Christians lived in Ghetto-between mountain & river, fire & flood, was swamp

THE NEED FOR OUR GENERATION TO LEARN HOPE! UNLESS WE LEARN HOPE, WE WILL DROWN IN DESPAIR

• America has had no Ghetto's until just recently- and Worst is ghetto of mind- Despair!
• The 20th Century liberals have preached how horrible we are-burn it down so will get better
• In the greatest time of opportunity- our smallest problems destroy us cause we have no hope

We need HOPE, With it we can solve any problems, without it we are doomed- IT IS OURS TO GIVE USA

II. IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILE HOPE - Rom 15:12b - not trust- hope.

Is there anything written in 58 AD that is relevant for our time that will work today?

WE NEED A HOPE THAT IS BEYOND HOPE, AND WE ARE TOLD OF A MAN WHO HAD JUST THAT - Rom 4:18

• Paul did not tell them to riot against Caesar, nor build dikes, nor flee Rome, escape slavery
• Paul told them how Abraham believed God Rom 4:3, and how he hoped against hope- & won
• If Abram staggered not - Rom 4:20 - why should Roman Christians, and why should we today?

FOR WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE - Rom 8:24- THERE IS A SALVATION, AND IT IS AVAILABLE TO SLAVES

• The message of the Gospel- power of God unto Salvation to everyone Jew & Gentiles-Prejudice
• They were to become likeminded Rom 15:5, receive one another v.7 miracle of love
• They were to Glorify God together v.6 Many nationalities, races, customs, -Brotherhood

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HOPE, I TIM 1:1, AND BY FAITH WE CLAIM HIM AS OUR OWN! SO WE HAVE HOPE

• Our only hope- not the government, armed might, wealth, wisdom,-nor worldly good- but Christ
• It is the Lord who is our Hope - in today's cloudy culture-as then- He is our only hope!
• And it is His glorious return that is the "Blessed Hope"- Titus 2:13- is it yours?

If our hope is in Christ, we have security- and an anchor- nothing can shake us today

III. "THAT YE SHALL ABOUND IN HOPE" - Rom 15:13

Where sin abounds- grace much more abounds- Rom 5:20 - God will make Hope abound too!

"NOW THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU" - Rom 15:13a - THE CLOSING BENEDICTION* PRAYER FOR CHRISTIANS

• We certainly need to pray for ourselves, that God's hope flood down into our hearts
• It is God that can give us hope in the very darkest hour- He touches the human heart
• In a world of theories- I am not here to argue Theology- but to ask God to touch your heart

"GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING" - Rom 15:13b - secret of happiness

• You owe it to God to be cheerful-full of Joy - Likewise you owe your neighbor, & yourself
• In a world in torment- about to blow up- the only joy and peace -HIM, turn to Him
• Men seek peace wrong way- surrender/or fight; but Peace comes from God -Believe

IN BELIEVING THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST - Rom 15:13c

• We need an abounding hope- so that we can see light through the darkness of despair-
• When we believe God's word- He touches us through the power of the Holy Ghost-
• When the troubled world is like a sea in storm- God's ship is buoyed up - float and not sink

Paul stood in chains in Rome - Acts 28:17 - for the Hope of Israel- Christ- is He Yours?

CONCLUSION - DO YOU HAVE THE ABOUNDING, BLESSED HOPE, AS AN ANCHOR FOR YOUR SOUL? - Heb 6:19

• There is no hope apart from Jesus Christ- no peace, no joy, no hope apart from believing
• You want to abound in Hope- you have to be empowered by the Holy Spirit- walk with God
• If you have need- drink deeply of this Hope- and He will see you through!