"REFLECTIONS"

On Hope

INTRODUCTION
  1. We continue our "Reflections" on things that are...
    1. True, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report - Php 4:8
    2. Virtuous and worthy of praise - ibid.
  2. Three such things are faith, hope, and love...
    1. Virtues joined together in several passages - 1Co 13:13; 1Th 1:3
    2. Virtues worthy of praise and careful reflection

[In our previous study, we reflected on faith. Now let us turn our reflection toward hope...]

  1. HOPE DEFINED
    1. THE GREEK WORD...
      1. elpis - "favorable and confident expectation" - Vines
      2. "desire of some good with some expectation of obtaining it" - The Complete WordStudy Dictionary
      3. It has to do with the unseen and the future - Ro 8:24-25
      -- A simple definition: desire plus expectation of the unseen
    2. CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD...
      1. It is not a mere wish for something
      2. But a strong confidence that is placed in God - Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
      3. According to its Christian meaning, it is inseparable from faith (1Pe 1:21) - ibid.
      -- Not a " hope to" receive something, but an "expect to" receive it

    [For what, then, does the Christian hope? There are several things we can list...]

  2. HOPE DESCRIBED
    1. THE HOPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS...
      1. Paul writes of waiting for the hope of righteousness - Ga 5:5
      2. The context of which involves justification - Ga 5:4
      3. Justification and righteousness come from the same Greek word (dikaiosune)
      4. Paul is talking about the hope of being made right (not guilty of sin)
      5. A hope based in Christ, that sustained Paul in his last days - Php 3:9; 2Ti 4:8
      -- A strong desire plus expectation of being declared guiltless before God
    2. THE HOPE OF REVELATION...
      1. The revelation (appearing) of Jesus when He returns - 1Co 1:7; Ti 2:13
      2. In which we shall receive praise, honor, glory, grace and joy - 1Pe 1:7,13; 4:13
      3. Whereby we too shall be revealed as the sons of God - Ro 8:19; Col 3:4
      -- A strong desire plus expectation of Jesus' revealing, and ours as well!
    3. THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION...
      1. Paul also wrote of eagerly awaiting the redemption of our bodies - Ro 8:23-24
      2. This pertains to the hope of the resurrection - Ac 23:6; 24:15
      3. In which our mortal bodies will be raised and put on immortality - 1Co 15:42-44,50-54
      4. Made possible by the coming and power of our Lord Jesus Christ! - Php 3:20-21
      -- A strong desire plus expectation of being raised from the dead to eternal life!
    4. THE HOPE OF A NEW CREATION...
      1. The faithful hope for a heavenly city whose builder is God - He 11:10,16; 13:14
      2. They look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells - 2Pe 3:13-14
      3. As shown to John by Jesus Himself - Re 21:1-7,10-11
      -- A strong desire plus expectation of spending eternity with God in His new creation!

    [How wonderful to live with such a multifaceted hope! But how is such hope developed...?]

  3. HOPE DEVELOPED
    1. THROUGH GRACE...
      1. It is God who loved us that gives us good hope by His grace - 2Th 2:16
      2. Justified by faith in Christ, we have access into His grace - Ro 5:1-2
      3. Such grace makes us heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Tit 3:7
      -- Hope, like all of God's gifts, begins with His grace!
    2. THROUGH THE WORD...
      1. The Old Testament provides hope - Ro 15:4
      2. The Gospel of Christ provides hope - Col 1:5,23
      3. The apostles wrote that we might know the hope of God's calling - Ep 1:18
      -- Hope, like faith, comes through the Word of God!
    3. THROUGH EXPERIENCE...
      1. Experience that involves even tribulations - Ro 5:3-4
      2. For it produces perseverance, which leads to confidence - Jm 1:2-4
      3. And it shows the genuineness of our faith - 1Pe 1:6-7
      -- Hope strengthens the longer we live for Christ!
    4. THROUGH THE SPIRIT...
      1. We through the Spirit eagerly wait for our hope - Ga 5:5
      2. Hope does not disappoint, for it is the consequence of God's love poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit - Ro 5:5
      3. Thus we can abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Ro 15:13
      -- Hope is strengthened by the power of the indwelling Spirit!

    [Finally, a few thoughts on how a vibrant hope is demonstrated in the life of a Christian...]

  4. HOPE DEMONSTRATED
    1. EAGERLY WAITING...
      1. The Corinthians were eagerly waiting for the revelation of Jesus - 1Co 1:7
      2. Paul also was eagerly waiting for Jesus from heaven - Php 3:20
      3. For those who so eagerly await Him, Jesus will bring salvation - He 9:28
      -- A vibrant hope is one with a strong desire for what is to come!
    2. PATIENTLY WORKING...
      1. True hope joins perseverance and patience with eagerly waiting - Ro 8:25; 1Th 1:3
      2. Especially in regards to growing in holiness - 1Jn 3:3; 1Co 15:58
      -- A vibrant hope is one in which work is being done!
    3. REJOICING IN HOPE...
      1. As Paul commanded - Ro 5:2; 12:12
      2. Even when persecuted, as Peter commanded - 1Pe 4:13
      -- A vibrant hope is one filled with joy!
CONCLUSION
  1. What is the hope of the Christian? Desire plus expectation of...
    1. The righteousness found only in Christ
    2. The revelation of Jesus and our glory with Him when He comes
    3. The resurrection of the body from the dead to eternal life
    4. The heavenly city in the new heavens and new earth
  2. What is the hope of the Christian? Desire plus expectation made possible by...
    1. The grace of God
    2. The Word of God
    3. The experience of Christian service
    4. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit
  3. What is the hope of the Christian? Desire plus expectation manifested by...
    1. Eagerly waiting
    2. Patiently working
    3. Rejoicing all the while

What then is the hope of the Christian? It is truly the helmet of our salvation (1Th 5:8; Ep 6:17) and the anchor of the soul (He 6:19), for which we should certainly praise God:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, - 1Pe 1:3
Have you been born again to "a living hope"...? - cf. 1Pe 1:22-23; Jn 3:5; Tit 3:5