In Biblical Hope Part 1, it was discussed that Biblical Hope Opposes Political Expectation, Do You Believe That?
In Biblical Hope Part 2, it was emphasized that Biblical Hope Offers Eternity in the Person of Jesus Christ; and that a believer’s Biblical Hope is focused upon the return of the Person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Biblical Hope Offers Permanent Eternal life with Christ. (emphasis mine)
Do you believe that?
The Hebrew word for hope in the Old Testament is tiqvah; Strong’s #8615: Hope; expectation, something’s yearned for and anticipated eagerly; something for which one waits. (KJV Spirit Filled Life Bible, Word Wealth, page 1218) (emphasis mine)
The following passages of scriptures are found in the Psalms and Proverbs using the word ‘tiqvah’: Psalms 16:9; 22:9; 31:24; 33:18; 33:22; 33:15; 39:7; 42:5; 42:11; 43:15; 71:5; 71:14; 78:7; 110:49; 119:81; 119:14; 119:116; 130:5; 130:7; 131:3; 146:5; 147:11; Proverbs 10:28; 13:12; 14:32.
One of the most quoted texts in the Old Testament regarding hope is Jeremiah 29:11. These words were spoken by the prophet to the nation of Israel when they were in Babylonian exile. (see Jeremiah 29 for context) (emphasis mine)
” ‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.‘ ” (Amplified Version) (emphasis mine)
In Biblical Hope Part 3, the topic for consideration is emphasizing the knowing that the Word of God has many ‘hope filled’ verses for our encouragement to focus our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ; so that we have a right ‘frame of mind’ as we walk with the Lord daily in this darkened world; we are a vessel of light that manifests the glory of God that dwells with in us. (emphasis mine)
The Greek word for hope in the New Testament is elpis; Strong’s #1680: Hope, not in the sense of an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking without any foundation, but in the sense of confident expectation based on solid certainty. Biblical Hope rests on God’s promises, particularly those pertaining to Christ’s return. So certain is the future of the redeemed that the NT sometimes speaks of future events in the past tense, as though they were already accomplished. *Hope is never inferior to faith but is an extension of faith. Faith is the present possession of grace; hope is confidence in grace’s future accomplishment.*” (KJV Spirit Filled Life Bible, Word Wealth, page 1791) (emphasis mine) (*meditate on these words)
Do you believe that?
Biblical Hope Offers Peaceful Existence
How?
Consider this: Hope (is a confident assurance) Offering (a) Peaceful(internal) Endurance until the return of Jesus Christ.
Do you believe that?
Linking our definitions together, and looking into the Word of God, we find God’s promises are buoyed with hope.
These hope filled verses allow us to focus on the Word of God that undergirds our mindset so that we can have a right ‘frame of mind’.
(for comments about a right ‘frame of mind’, see the previous post and Cortan Carter’s analysis of Edward Mote’s hymn)
Strong’s Concordance, nous – pronounced ‘nooce’; probably from the base #G1097; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication, meaning-mind, understanding.
Romans 12:1,2 Amplified Version instructs us regarding our ‘mind’(#G1097).
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And to not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” (emphasis mine)
So how do we believers Keep A Right ‘frame of mind’ ?
We read the Word of God.
We meditate on the Word of God.
We memorize the Word of God.
We obey the Word of God.
(The following passages of scripture are from the Amplified Version.)
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is to be reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,[Matthew 28:1-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6; John 20:1-18] (1 Peter 1:3) (emphasis mine)
“But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy–acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance[elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. [Isaiah 8:12,13] (emphasis mine)
Did you notice that there is a confident assurance attached to hope?
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews explains to us the connection.
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality-faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]…”But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and ] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”(Hebrews 11:1,6) (emphasis mine)
“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people); because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing] that which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the Gospel [regarding salvation] which has come to you indeed.” (Colossians 1:3-6a) (emphasis mine) {notice the three words-faith, hope, love}
“For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity–the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son), and through [the intervention of] in Him (the Son), and through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say]. whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, or order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach–[and He will] do this] if you continue in the faith, well grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the Gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.” (Colossians 1:19-23) (emphasis mine)
God [in His eternal plan] chose to made known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.” (Colossians 1:27) (emphasis mine)
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises…Again Isaiah says, “There shall be a root of Jesse, He who arises to rule [as King] over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope,” [Isaiah 11:1; Revelation 5:5; 22:16] “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peach in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.” (Romans 15:4,12-13) (emphasis mine)
Do you believe this?
Q: What is settled in Paul’s confidence?
A: The ‘knowing’ his Savior Jesus Christ, and the surety of the Gospel?
Paul writes to the Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Paul’s security, identity, and belonging is identified in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Therefore, in Christ, he is “a new creation in Christ Jesus” and the Lord Jesus Christ, lives in him.
Paul is fully persuaded of his living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, he seeks to live by faith in His Lord; knowing that no matter what he must endure as a believer here on earth; his mindset is fixed on the sure hope that anchor’s his soul; knowing he will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine)
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (who I personally believe is Paul) encourages believers with these words.
“But, beloved, even though we speak to you in this way (context is Hebrew 6:1-8), we are convinced of better things that accompany salvation. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have for for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do. And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are now inheriting the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, He swore an oath [an oath] by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” [Genesis 22:16,17] And so, having patiently waited , he realized the promise [in the miraculous birth of Isaac, as a pledge of what was to come from God]. Indeed men swear [an oath] by one greater than themselves, and with them [in all disputes] the oath serves as confirmation [of what has been said] and is an end of the dispute. In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him} for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]–a safe and steadfast hope that enter within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells] , [Leviticus 16:2] where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. [Psalms 110:4] (emphasis mine)
Now comes the ‘mindset’ challenge.
We unite the meanings of our highlighted words; and their intersection becomes the essence of our walk with the Lord, that will keep us in a right ‘frame of mind’. (emphasis mine)
Do you believe that?
Those words faith; hope–confident assurance, a safe and steadfast hope, love
Do you believe these words have been given to us by the grace, mercy, and love of God the Father; promised to us through the Lord Jesus Christ; and emboldened in us by the Holy Spirit; enabling us to live each day of our live?
Let me share some new acronyms.
F.A.I.T.H.: Faith Assured Is True Hope
Hebrew 11:1,2,6 “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed) and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality-faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. For by this kind of faith the men of old gained [divine] approval…But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever [comes] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek HIm.:
H.O.P.E. : Hope : Hope Observed Purifies Everyone
I John 3:2-3, “Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children ] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory]. And everyone who has this hope [confidently placed] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (holy, undefiled, guiltless).” (emphasis mine)
I encourage you to re-read these verses and see the intersection of thought between faith and hope, working in us as we walk with the Lord and are made ready for His appearing.
Biblical Hope does not rest in a politician.
It does not rest in the strength of nations.
It solely rests in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can be absolutely certain that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth in all His glory.
That is a certainty.
It is interesting to see in the Word of God, the mindset of the Jewish leaders, as well as, the mindset of Jesus’ disciples.
The Jewish leaders and Christ’s disciples both put their hope in a Messiah that would come and set up a kingdom.
They had political expectations.
Luke, the author of Acts identifies this very thought that was embedded in the mindset of Jesus’ disciples.
Luke writes, Acts 1:1-11 (Amplified Version)
“The first account I made, Theophilus, was [a continuous report] about all the things that Jesus began to do and teach [Luke 1:1-4] until the day when He ascended to heaven, and after He had by the Holy Spirit given instruction to the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen. To these [men] He showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God. While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised “Of which,” He said, you have heard Me speak. [John 14:16; 15:26] For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.” So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” “
It is not hard to understand why they asked Him repeatedly about the reestablishment of the Kingdom.
Jesus had been talking to them about the things of the kingdom of God over the course of 40 days .
As I see it, they were mentally fixed upon an earthly kingdom like the Jewish nation; and like its religious leaders had had for centuries before the coming of Christ Jesus to the earth.
Jesus was not talking about a literal Jewish nation being reestablished at that time; He was talking about the heavenly Kingdom of God being established within them; and I assume of its coming at the end of the Age. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
The Kingdom of God within them was not new to their hearing; they never properly understood it. (Romans 14:17)
Jesus, when standing before Pilate, was asked by him, if He were a King?
Jesus replied that His Kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:28-40)
Do you believe that?
What began at Pentecost continues to this day!
And it will continue until Jesus Christ’s Second coming!
Jesus said so.
Do you believe that?
The writer to the Hebrew community encouraged them with these words.
“Therefore (Context, see Hebrews 10:1-18), believers, since we have this confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of the Jesus, by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful to His word; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. (Amplified Version) (emphasis mine)
Do you believe that?
Our closing thought.
Q: Did you see the progression of faith, hope and love in the previous passage?
Q: Did you see the explanations of these words in the passage? a) verse 22, ‘unqualified assurance’-faith; b) verse 23,’confession’ of our hope; verse 25, encourage one another as the return of Christ draws near; c) verse 24, encourage one another to love-and to do good deeds.
All of this happens in Christ, in the relational community of believers-the Body of Christ.
I Corinthians 13:13 “And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces] but the greatest of theses is love. (Amplified Version)
Do you believe this?
As we walk with our Lord Jesus Christ, being an ‘ex-Algebra teacher’, I propose the following Biblical algebraic equation.
F.A.I.T.H. + H.O.P.E = *GOD’S LOVE
Romans 5:1-5 Amplified Version reads,
“Therefore, since we have been justified[that is acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ[the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying]the glory of [of great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. And not only this, but (with joy) let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character(spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance[of eternal salvation]. Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because (*) God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Q: When did that begin?
The Day of Pentecost.
It is still happening.
Q: Did you notice that ‘God, the Father’; ‘Jesus Christ, the Son’; and the ‘Holy Spirit’ are all involved in our spiritual growth?
Q: Did you notice that our three words, [faith, hope, love] are embedded in this passage?
I submit to you again that F.A.I.T.H + H.O.P.E = the manifestation of *GOD’S LOVE in your life.
Let me say it this way.
The gift of God’s saving faith + the hope of the Gospel in Christ Jesus = the manifestation of the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Can you envision living this equation as the foundation of your right ‘frame of mind’?
This is the essence of the lifestyle of the Body of Christ.
This is the maturity that we, as believers in Jesus Christ, are to grow up into, and become learning to walk as Jesus walked.
Ask the Lord to make these truths real in your experience as you follow Him.
“So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the flesh], you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit of producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba Father!” The Spirit testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.” (Romans 8:12-16 Amplified Version) (emphasis mine)
May the Lord richly bless you,
a brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 