its relation to us in the present time

1 John 3:1-5. The first point to emphasize is that the hope of Christ's coming is a purifying power in the present time. The aspect of the hope given in this passage is that of the believer entering upon the full meaning of being a child of God. The Father in His wonderful love has called those who believe His children. But it is not that they are so called in prospect of future realization, they are now in that blessed relationship. However, it does yet appear what they shall be. Though in the relationship already, they are still in the circumstances incident to the fallen condition of man. On the other hand the world knoweth us not, any more than it knew Him whose life and nature we possess. Thus the inward spring of Christian life, its purposes and aims, is entirely foreign to the world, and as so governed we are strangers to this world. But when as to both circumstances and condition, that which accords with our present and known relationship is manifested, God's children shall be found like His Son, that is, conformed to His image and revealed in glory. Then, "When Christ who is our life shall appear we also shall appear with Him in glory." We shall then bear the image of the Heavenly One. Now he who has this hope in Him (that is, Christ), purifies himself, even as He is pure. This hope as known and enjoyed will sanctify, since it engages heart and mind with Christ. Being the objects of the Father's love, it is His purpose that we should be conformed to His Son, and now knowing this and being occupied with Him, enjoying the Father's love revealed fully in the Son, we shall be purified in our daily living according to the purity we find in Him. If this is our occupation, we will seek to be increasingly like Him to whose blessed image we are to be conformed. It is thus we abide in Him and learn to walk even as He walked. This is the present moral and spiritual relation of the hope to the believer.

James 5:8. As to present circumstances, it bears relation to us as an incentive to patience in view of oppressive world conditions. Then we shall receive the full fruit of our labor and the answer of God to any measure of injustice or oppression experienced at the hands of men. Thus we are to run with patience the race set before us, knowing that we have fulness of joy in prospect. Let us find present strength and establishment of heart in knowing that the coming of the Lord has drawn near (Greek perfect:"Hath [already] drawn near, and is therefore at hand," Alford).

Hebrews 10:23-25. In this passage we are exhorted not to forsake our present opportunities to assemble together. The urge to this is to be found in the approaching day, that day of appraisal of and reward for the present course, into which the second coming of Christ will usher all who believe. If we as God's children are neglectful or careless as to present privileges, how will this appear in that day? We are to steadfastly confess our hope (ver. 23, New Trans.), we are to exercise continuous care to incite one another to love and to good works, to which end the assembling of ourselves together is of vital importance, for it is thus in a very real way that we are able to encourage one another."And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all intelligence, that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent, in order that ye may be pure and without offence for Christ's day, being complete as regards the fruit of righteousness, which is by Jesus Christ, to God's glory and praise" (Phil. 1:9-11).

1 Cor. 11:26. This blessed hope is connected with the remembrance of the Lord. We show forth His death until He comes. While primarily in the breaking of bread we look backward to the cross where our blessed Lord's holy body was given for us as an offering for sin, and His precious blood shed for our redemption, we may also look forward to the moment when, seeing Him at His coming, the feast of remembrance will be needed no longer. We may thus think of and keep in close relation the thought of the price paid for our salvation and the glorious consummation of God's redeeming purpose at the Second Coming. Both are of present sanctifying power to the Christian who maintains them in his soul. "Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own, for ye have been bought with a price:glorify now then God in your body." "Wherefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope with perfect steadfastness in the grace which will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as children of obedience, not conformed to your former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who has called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye invoke as Father Him who, without respect of persons, judges according to the work of each, pass your time of sojourn in fear, knowing that ye have been redeemed… by precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ." "But you may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also toward you, in order to the confirming of your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints" (1 "Cor. 6:19, 20; 1 Pet. 1:13-19; 1 Thess. 3:12,13, New Trans.). 1 Thess. 5:8. This scripture enforces the fact that since we are of the day, no longer being in the darkness, we are responsible to be watchful and sober in our lives, putting on as a helmet "the hope of salvation." We cannot be in this world for God apart from conflict; for this, armor is needed. There is the breastplate of faith and love-faith which reaches up to God, love which reaches out to one another-this guards the vital processes of spiritual life; and then the helmet-that part of the soldier's armor which protects the head, the seat of government and direction for the activities of life, the " mind which is to be girded about with truth, and in particular the truth of "the hope of salvation." This refers to our actual salvation or deliverance out of this present evil world, for the wrath which is to fall upon it is no portion of ours, we are appointed to salvation from it by our Lord Jesus Christ. This will take place at His coming. The Son for whom we wait to come from heaven is "our Deliverer from the coming wrath" (1 Thess. 1:10, New Trans.). But if this is our glorious prospect then we are to walk in separation from the course of this evil age. For the grace of God which has brought us salvation, teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, justly, and piously in the present course of things, awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14, New Trans.). John Bloore