HOPE IS FAITH FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE....

                   TERMS OF SALVATION – HOPE

             

HOPE is the forward look of faith. FAITH is “the evidence of things not seen (past, present or future). It is also “the substance of things hoped for…” (Heb. 11:1). Hope eagerly anticipates a future prospect. Hope denies a philosophy that says reality is only the here-and-now. There is not an afterlife. All we have is what we have presently. (Therefore, live it up. You only go around once!) But the Scriptures declare stridently that “surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18). The salvation given by God’s grace and rooted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ abounds in hope. And so, the Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians at Rome: “Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

THE PAST ORIGINATION OF HOPE

Unger says “the fountainhead of hope is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.” And, the Holy Spirit fosters hope in our breasts.

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Romans 8:16-18 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

THE PRESENT OPERATION OF HOPE

As we walk by faith we are full of hope. Faith focuses on God, and He cannot fail. Hence, hope! As faith increases, so does hope. Hope is one of the three main characteristic of the Christian life.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Hope is optimistically imbedded in the Gospel.  Because of what Christ has unbelievably accomplished for us, will He ever not be able to carry out all He has promised?  “Hope does not disappoint.”

Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

THE FUTURE OPTIMIZATION OF HOPE

Colossians 1:24-29 “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ²⁸ Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ²⁹ Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

rdc