Hope
1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”
There are only three attributes here. But why is hope included among them?
For these three are the foundational attributes of any Christian. Like the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow….they combine in our lives to manifest the many varieties of beauty in Christ’s character.
These are all given to us by God….that is important for us to understand, for though we must….yes, must….use them to manifest them; still they are gifts to us from God.
Faith is brought to us by the Holy Spirit, at new birth. It sees God, and gives substance to Him in our lives. We know God is in charge….we know God is Almighty….we know God sees us, and cares for us…and our.
Charity (love) is God’s gift to us….for we love Him, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) The supply of love we have to use comes from God….for He is love. (1 John 4:7-8)
Hope,…. and I have put this last, although it is second in the text….because this is what this post is about.
Hope is of the Holy Spirit, and it is that confident expectation that God will do what He says.
(Faith looks to God, Hope hangs on to God’s Word, and Charity [love] manifests God’s willingness to see to us for now, and all eternity. These are the foundation of attributes that yield the fruit of the Spirit and good works. Gal. 5:22-23)
Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
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.”
Here again we see the three foundational gifts of…faith, hope, and love….in our life as Christians…having been born again.
Hope then is an extremely important gift. As Paul says:
Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
This “saved by hope” here is the salvation or sanctification from our self life…to God’s life in us (Matt. 16:24-25). We are saved from our own emotions and thoughts, because we hang on to God’s Word about this situation, promise, or person……and wait for it.
At the end of Romans, Paul prayed to God for these Christians, as the God of hope:
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Again, let me say that hope is a foundation that leads to other characteristics of God in us. We never will have the “peace that passes understanding”….or “the joy of our Lord is our strength”,…without hope.
Hebrews 6:17-20 “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Simply said, God wanted us, as His heirs of promise, to be established (anchored) in His Word about HIs Son, Jesus Christ….Who has entered “within the veil” with His own blood, and secured a place “in Christ” for us! (notice the wording: “God, willing more abundantly”....How overflowing His care for us!
“We might have a strong consolation”….not just know about it, but be wrapped up and upheld in Him!
“Sure and stedfast”…this sure is safe, secure…and steadfast is stable, something you can really stand on in assurance!)
Hope is all of the Holy Spirit….working in us to hang on to God’s Word, and patiently wait for the fulfillment of it. It will assuredly happen.
In the Old Testament, the Book of Psalms is an experience book. It sets for in poetry and song the experiences of David and others…with God. Of course there is praise….and confession…for both of these are in our experience with God.
Twenty-two times “hope” is used. They hoped in God, because of His Word about Christ coming, and about themselves before Him.
Psalm 38:15 “For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”
In the New Testament, the Book of Romans sets forth the excellency of faith in Christ. Fourteen times “hope” is used.
Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Hope leads us to follow our Lord wherever He leads….dropping all else, and leaning against Him for our all.
1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
Faith, hope and charity (love)….is our foundation from the Holy Spirit. Let us look to Christ,….let us hang on to His Word, and patiently wait for it,for He will fulfill….and let us receive His love, and let it flow through us to others.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 