Opening Prayer: How precious is the hope of man, it ascertains us of Heaven. One touch of Your anointing hand, And all our sins, forgiven. The stony road on which we walk Will lead us to a fiery grave. The words of life will not be mocked, For You alone can save. Help us live a life of hope; make this rocky road. Lead us as we try to cope; fill us with Your love, O Lord. Amen!
Today’s Bible Verse: Romans 8:24 and 1 Peter 1:21
We were given this hope when we were saved.
Through Him (Jesus), you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Associated Scriptures:
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It (Hope) enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19-20).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Correlative Quotes:
Mercy is as ready for her work as justice can ever be. Needy souls fear that they are forgotten; well, if it is so, let them rejoice that they shall not always be so. Satan tells poor tremblers that their hope shall perish, but they have here the divine assurance that their expectation shall not perish forever.[1] – Charles Spurgeon
But it (hope) could not be blessed if it was not sure. If any guilt remained on the conscience, fear would dampen hope. Hence the justification here described by the Apostle is considered by him as full, perfect, and complete. We have peace with GOD. We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. And in consequence, we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD, that glory which shall be revealed..[2] – Robert Hawker
We wait and wait in hope, so does our creation wait on God, groan, yearn for the revealing of the sons of God. …The vanity to which it was subjected, the mockery of aim, the frustration of purpose, this was all "in hope." And as by a man came the curse, by a man comes the blessing..[3] – J. R. Dummelow
Author’s Notes:
INTRODUCTION
There was a small pond on the campus called Mirror Lake on the property of the college I attended. It was theorized and actively publicized that if a student made a wish as they threw a coin into the water, their dreams would come true.
Many male and female students wishing to find a spouse at college, tossed pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters into the pond. They are hoping for a miracle that will find them a mate.
As a result, there were a sizeable number of first kisses and many engagements sealed at the “Lake”. However, most of the students who participated in the coin and wish ritual graduated without a special person and left the university disappointed.
Mirror Lake was also a very busy place around finals week. Students, even those who studied, would toss in a coin before each week of finals hoping they would be “lucky” on the next exam. Many of those students also left college disappointed.
Human, worldly hope has its foundation in serendipitous notions. Some people believe hope is hit or miss. Others believe the events of life happen by luck or chance. Many think hope is rooted in fate. If I ask resolutely or believe ardently, I will cause the need to be eradicated. Their optimism generated in a vacuum.
Hope in Jesus is different from the empty hope promised by society. We have a living hope. 1 Peter discusses the assurance of the believer’s hope when he is led to write: 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. Our hope is secure (Hebrews 6:19). It is the anchor, held riveted, held fast, and immovable by the Rock. Psalm 78:35 denotes: “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.”
GOD’S HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
In Romans 5:5, Paul teaches, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. The whole of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, are all involved in providing confident expectation.
The resurrection of Jesus is the tool of hope. Through the payment, we were justified (John 14:13-14). By overcoming death, Jesus proved there is life after death (John 10:10). With the ascension to the right hand of God (1 John 2:1-2), He offered us the hope of eternity through the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Romans 15:13 explains that God fills us with joy and peace because He is the God of hope. He gives us these gifts that we may “overflow” with hope. This hope exists to impact the believer and that others might see it and want what we have. The entire process is accomplished through or “by” the power of the Holy Spirit.
God’s hope is a dimension of His character. Hope describes the magnitude of God’s nature and the depth of His love for us. It is all-encompassing and never-ending within man’s earthly existence. 1 Corinthians 13:13 states: And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. Our faith ignites our salvation. His gift of hope continues our faith and His love for us. Hope never disappoints us (Romans 5:5).
Faith and hope are short-termed (1 Corinthians 13:13a). Only love is eternal (1 Corinthians 13:13b). We will not need faith once we see Jesus face to face. Once we experience heaven, we will not need hope. The hope of heaven is God’s ultimate promise.
We have faith in the resurrection since we know Jesus had the power over death. In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul tells us that more than five hundred witnesses had access to the risen Christ. Thomas, the doubting disciple, was challenged by Jesus to: Reach out your hand and put it into my side (John 20:27). We believe due to the abundant evidence of the resurrection.
Hope is based on an optimistic reality that something will happen in the future. Both faith and hope rely on trust. The truth of the resurrection bases itself on the Christian’s hope of eternal life. Salvation requires faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The believer’s walk depends on their hope for a blessed life. The truth of the resurrection gives us the hope of eternal life.
Spiritual Application:
The believer’s faith is based on the evidence of those things which have happened in the past. Their hope has its foundation in the promises God has given us in His word.
Christians must practice both their faith and hope to maintain a deep and abiding relationship with God. Faith assures us of our present condition. Hope protects our faith for the future.
Lessons within the Lesson:
Explain faith and hope using Hebrews 11:1 as a guide.
Why are these two terms confusing to many believers?
What is the significant difference between the two?
Why is the resurrection of Jesus important in any discussion of these two biblical terms?
[1] Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Psalm 1, Vol. 1, Public Domain, Public Domain, Fund and Wagnalls, 10 and 12 Dey Street, New York. P. 161.
[2] Robert Hawker, The Treasury of David, Psalm 1, Vol. 1, Public Domain, Public Domain, Fund and Wagnalls, 10 and 12 Dey Street, New York, P. 173.
[3] J. R. Drummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible, Public Domain, The MacMillan Company, New York, 1909, P. 325.
[4] James Strong, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, © 1890, Public Domain, Copy Freely, New York: Eaton & Mains Cincinnati: Jennings & Graham, P. 28.