Romans 15:13
A Definition of Hope
What is hope? Is it a wishy washy maybe or a kind of unsure optimism? The modern idea of hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much, but with no real assurance of getting your desire.”
In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words
translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an
indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident
expectation.” Though archaic today in modern terms, hope is akin to trust and a
confident expectation.
Hope may refer to the activity of hoping, or to the
object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope
stresses two things: (a) futurity, and (b) invisibility. It deals with things we
can’t see or haven’t received or both .
Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but
hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25
But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for
it.
Biblically, from the standpoint of the object hoped for, hope
is synonymous with salvation and its many blessings, past, present, and future,
as promised in Scripture. This is true even with what we have already received
as believers because these blessings come under the category of what we cannot
see. We may see some of the results, but it still requires faith and hope. For
example, we do not see the justifying work of God, the imputation of Christ’s
righteousness to our account, nor do we see the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
when we are saved, nor our co-union with Christ. We believe this to be a
reality, but this is a matter of our hope. We believe in the testimony of God in
the Word and hope for the results in our lives.
In summary, hope is the confident expectation, the sure
certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, and or
will in accordance with God’s sure Word.
Hope has its Rewards and Blessings
(1) It gives us joy and peace.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our
introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of
the glory of God.
(2) It gives us protection.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those
who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
(3) It gives us strength, courage, boldness.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take
courage, All you who hope in the LORD.
(4) It gives us endurance, comfort, confidence in the face
of death.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be
uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do
the rest who have no hope.
(5) It gives us confidence in ministry.
1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and
strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, especially of believers.
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