The Power of Hope: Energizing Your Faith Journey

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Risk to Hope Again

Last post, I explored the concept of “risking” hope. This week, I encourage you to grow in hope and faith! What if God has something much greater for us that our material prosperity and comfortable living? Are you wrestling with doubt and disbelief about your life: that there really is any meaning? Are you righteous in Christ? Why do we need hope in our journey? God is calling us on a journey of increasing hope that leads us to desire Him more and love others in Christ! Images selected from Canva Pro and generated using Night Cafe Studio.

Christ is Our Righteousness! This is our hope.

Just as the rising sun brings light and warmth to a new day, His grace and mercy nourishes us!

Charles Spurgeon writes,

“My hope lives, not because I am not a sinner, but because I am a sinner for whom Christ died.

My trust is not that I am holy, but that being unholy, Christ is my righteousness.

My faith rests not upon what I am or shall be or feel or know – but in who Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me. Hallelujah …”

Hope in this context recalls Abraham’s faith. Hope lives in Christ’s righteousness for us! Where does your faith rest? What has Christ done for you? What is Christ doing in your life presently?

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB

Romans 4:17-25

17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. 20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Paul explains how righteousness comes through faith in Romans 4. Abraham didn’t have the Mosaic Law to obey so he demonstrates his faith by believing in God. Abraham’s hope recognizes the impossibility of the promise, yet considers God as being greater than the obstacle to the promise. “Against all hope” Abraham hopes in God’s Promise! We believe in God’s Promise to redeem and ultimately resurrect us! Do you believe that God can radically transform you? Jesus invites us to follow Him being made into His likeness! Faith in Him brings hope and purpose in living a life that gives glory to God!

Charles Spurgeon and Paul guide us to a wonderful truth! We risk hope by placing our hope in God and Jesus His Son. God makes the unrighteous and wavering righteous and new through Jesus’ righteousness! This is a key component of redeeming faith! We have hope because Jesus saves us! Just as God does the impossible in causing Abraham and Sarah to convince a baby boy in advanced age, He does the impossible in our lives by bringing us from death to life in Christ! In a spiritual manner, we are all dead in our sins and trespasses (Romans 3). Christ gives us new life and beings His transforming work in our lives!

Triumphant Faith/ Hope in God’s Glory

Here’s a brief introduction to a few of the wonderful truths of Romans 5 that relate to hope! Emphasis is mine.

Romans 5:1-5

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

When reading scripture, it’s beneficial to write down questions and concepts as you encounter them. By this I mean, carefully consider the words, context, and terms. Ask questions as you read. Here’s several questions from the above passage:

1. What is justification and how is it through faith?
2. What does it mean to be at peace with God? What is Jesus’ role in making us be at peace
3. How does faith give us access to grace? What does it mean to stand in grace?
4. What does it mean to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God?
5. How can someone rejoice in sufferings? Why is this possible and necessary?
6. Why doesn’t hope disappoint us? How does God pour out His love into our hearts?

You can email me at wordsofgraceandhope@yahoo.com for resources or assistance.

God is Our Hope! Hope Pushes Us Ahead!

God doesn’t leave us as we were/are: lost in sin, despair, and darkness! Paul’s testimony is one of a man who suffers greatly for Christ, yet counts the cost as nothing in comparison with the wonders of knowing Christ. Paul endures considerable suffering and later death because he came to value Christ and knowing Him as being superior to all else. That’s the power of hope! Hope transforms us by focusing us on what matters for eternity!

Philippians 3:7-9

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Pastor David Guzik comments in Enduring Word Commentary:

Paul here put a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at the very center of the Christian’s life. He joyfully accepted the loss of all other things for the greatness of this personal relationship.

iv. In Philippians 3:7 Paul said that he counted; in this verse he said I also count. This first counting was at his conversion; the second – some 30 years later – was in his Roman prison. After all he had experienced, he still counted it worthy to give everything up for the sake of following Jesus.

Source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/philippians-3/

As Paul writes from prison he recalls the most important event of his life: coming to know Christ. This was more important than any of his many accomplishments. Paul and Abraham walked with God and trusted in His promises to them! Hope is central to the faith journey!