Faith and Hope

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Faith is the substance of things hoped for.

And both faith and hope take the things of the Holy Spirit, in our spirit, and make them real to us.

Faith deals with God;  making Him real to us—in us.

Hope deals with God’s Word;  placing confidence in it, even though we have not yet experienced it.,

We must exercise our wills with the Holy Spirit within, and  then faith and hope become strong helps in our walk with God.

If you are born again, then you have this peace with God by Christ Jesus, and we are ready to proceed further.

Romans 5:2 ” By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

“Access”,  think of the doors of heaven opening; and power, strength, encouragement, whatever you need; coming down to you.

This is this access that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ gives us.  For it opens into “grace”.

“Grace” is the unmerited favor of power.   

Grace is the power of God to save, of course.

But it is also the power of God to keep,  change,  to do what He has called you to do in your life.

Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that  ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

This is the grace we have access to, through faith, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the grace  that empowers us to stand.

We seek it from Him, or we never stand.

And if you are experiencing this grace,  you should also be experiencing:

“And rejoice, in hope, of the glory of God.”

This hope is from the Holy Spirit…you can’t work it up,   it is given.

It is the confident expectation that God will do what He said.

He will work glory out of my life, as I yield to Him, and stand with Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me,  My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.   Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Paul was rejoicing in that power, even though it meant his prayer was not answered the way he wanted.

Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation  worketh  patience;”

When you are kept–sustained is a better word.  Kept is taken care of like we are still babes in Christ.

Sustained is upheld, and that is for maturing Christians.

Our Rock is Christ…and He is always strong for us.

So when you are sustained by this faculty of hope (that confidence from the Holy Spirit that God will do what He said),  you can indeed glory in tribulations–for you see that they are all to the glory of God.(though you may not see how at the time)

Tribulations work patience within us.   These tribulations aren’t just those which lead to martyrdom.  No, they are also the trials,  which are really trials of the way.

Places so hard to overcome (they are often called mountains in Scripture) that they are seen as impossible to us.

But they work patience with in us, by waiting on God to do the impossible.(and how many times He has done so for us!)

“Worketh”.  That doesn’t mean we will be instantaneously patient—Oh, No.

But worketh patience.

If we are having a “fit”;  or rebelling against a certain set of circumstances; you need to go back and “access” more grace.

For you can not be experiencing that hope that will enable you to gain patience in these circumstances, for you have given up that confidence in God.

Grace is enabling; and how much we need enabling in our work, and life.

And God does do the impossible;   If not for us the way we want….then in us, to yield in a mighty way to these circumstances and have the victory in them.

Romans 5:4 “And patience, experience;  and experience, hope:”

And how much experience we will have in our walk with God!   That patience that He has worked within us,  will gain us such experiences that will increase our dependence on God, Who gives us hope.

You will know as you receive from your Father’s Hand, all that comes to you; His grace abundantly,  and His love.

Romans 5:5 “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.”

This confidence that God will do what He says,  has been proved again and again;  and the Holy Spirit within us lights up the love of God within us,  so that we are blessed by His Presence in all circumstances.

We are not ashamed of our God and His working in us,  though the way be rough or smooth….God’s love encourages us to have more of His boundless joy, peace, and love.

All of this is by the Holy Spirit within.  Stifle not the Holy Spirit.  Yield to Him, and enjoy His gifts of faith and Hope.