The Hope And Glory Of Faith

Feature 3 – November 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The HOPE
And Glory Of Faith

Writing to the believers in Ephesus the apostle Paul reminded them of their pre-conversion days when they had “no hope” and were “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12 KJV ). The apostle was using the word “hope” in its strictest biblical sense for the Christian’s hope does not mean that he or she is hoping for the best, but that those in Christ have a promise of glory which is surer than death. In this sense, the word “hope” implies faith in things which though as yet unseen are foreordained to come to pass in accordance with the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Pet. 1:19).

Paul also states that “we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Rom. 8:24). This text is a good example of the Christians’ assurance of eternal salvation, anticipating a never-ending home in heaven because of their faith in the Savior who promised a place for them in the Father‘s house (Jn. 14:2). And so Peter says of the same Savior, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).

Hope Without Expectation
The New Testament uses the Greek term elpizo in three different ways. For example, most rational and progressive people are hoping for a peaceful world, which is a desired ideal with no immediate expectation of being achieved. Luke used this hope as he wrote: “when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see Him of a long season ... and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him” (Lk. 23:8). The king’s hope came to nothing for the Son of God was about the business of being sacrificed miraculously for our sins and not for satisfying the curiosity of the man who ordered the death of John the Baptist.

Like Herod, people of this present evil age continue to hope for many things which are beyond human achievement. By contrast, the “impossible” hope of the Christian is destined to be fulfilled. Thus while the natural man hopes for peace, the born again child of God knows that there is a day coming when the nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:4). Christians know that some day the Prince Of Peace, Jesus Christ, shall abolish war when He sets up His throne in Jerusalem (Ps. 45:6; Isa. 9:6-7, 24:23; Dan. 7:14; Zech. 6:13).

Hope Without A Firm Foundation
Another form of hope is found in John 5:45. Here the Lord said to the Pharisees, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.” In this passage we have religious men who believed that they would be saved through their obedience to the Law of Moses. To trust in our best efforts for salvation is suicidal heresy and is based upon a foundation of sand. But the gates of hell will never prevail against those whose trust is built upon the immovable, rock-foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 7:24-27, 16:18).

Hope Of Temporary Gain
In the previous examples we considered certain forms of hope which relate to eternal gain. Obviously any hope relating to eternal life must have priority. Nevertheless, there is an equally dangerous kind of hope which is based upon the transient possessions of this passing world. A very evident example is that of the Philippian damsel who was “possessed with a spirit of divination,” a fortune-teller who “brought her masters much gain by soothsaying” (Acts 16:16). However, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, cast out the demon in the name of Jesus Christ (v.18). “When her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers” (v.19).

This attitude is not exclusive to unconverted gold-rush speculators and bounty-hunters. Rather it has become the besetting sin of some disciples who have yet to learn that they “cannot serve God and mammon [riches]” (Mt. 6:24). For this reason Paul commanded Timothy, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust [hope] in uncertain riches” (1 Tim. 6:17). “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mk. 10:24). As for unbelievers there are some who count their blessings in this life as proof of spiritual security or reckon them as an assurance of heaven’s approval. Such persons dying without faith are only guaranteed a lavish funeral, or as Job wisely observed, “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave” (Job 21:13).

Pause And Consider
We must pause to consider the plight of those without faith. These comprise the men and women of this world “which have their portion in this life” (Ps. 17:14). Insofar as Christian hope is based upon faith, those without faith are classed as being without hope (1 Th. 4:13, Eph. 2:12).

Faith and hope are closely intertwined yet there is a subtle distinction between them. For if faith is based upon something accomplished then hope anticipates those things which are yet hidden in God. So, in defining the nuances of faith and hope, the Spirit states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). On what are your faith and hope placed?

Hope Of Eternal Life
When the apostle Paul speaks of persons who have no hope he is referring to unbelievers who have not come into the blessing of the gospel. Clearly the first step on the ladder up to heaven must be the “hope of eternal life” (Ti. 1:2). However, in this context the word “hope” does not mean that salvation is in doubt. As it is the gift of God and not a wage, we cannot lose eternal life. Since we did not receive it because we were good, then we cannot lose it if we fail the God who granted us eternal life when we “were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). And now in this order, if we build good works upon the foundation of our initial faith, then we shall qualify for great rewards in heaven.

Hope Of Resurrection
When Paul appeared in court before the Pharisees he connected hope with resurrection (Acts 23:6). He did so again when in defense of the gospel he appeared for judgment before King Agrippa (Acts 26:6-8). Paul takes up the same theme in his epistles (1 Cor. 15:16-19; 2 Cor. 4:14). The apostle argues that if there be no resurrection then we might as well eat and drink ourselves to death with simple pleasure seekers. For “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:19). But by the miracle of faith, believers have never a scruple of doubt that Christ is alive for evermore and thereby living in “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). Nor do they doubt for one second that He will return from heaven to raise the dead in Christ and transform those believers who are yet alive at His coming (1 Th. 4:15,17; 1 Cor. 15:52).

Hope Of His Coming
Even though our beloved Lord has gone back to heaven He has not deserted His sheep to whom He has given eternal life (Jn. 10:27-28). Indeed in its own right the spiritual gift of life everlasting is a proof-token of the immortality and incorruption which shall yet be the inheritance of those who have trusted Christ for salvation. The Christian’s hope of glorification is clearly stated in Titus 2:13: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Doctrine And Practice
How does the faith and hope of a believer affect his or her imitation of Christ? Firstly, while the hopeless world laments the loss of its loved ones, the bereaved Christian lays hold on the promises of Him who is the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25). The raising of Lazarus was not only the fulfilled promise of resurrection but it brought the double blessing of reunion. The Christian lays hold of this promise in the return of the risen Christ (1 Th. 4:13, 17-18). Therefore the sure and certain hope of resurrection dilutes the bitter tears of the faithful (Acts 8:2). For while the Christian sorrows like the rest of humanity, yet he or she does not sorrow like those who have no hope of seeing their believing loved ones again.

Secondly, our hope of glory gives motivation to our work for the Lord seeing that we do not labor in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). We also serve in the conscious knowledge that the Son of God is acutely aware of our every thought, word and deed. He who knows the secret things of the heart has pleasure in the devotional life and love of every saved soul (Rev. 2:2-4,23). It also means that every effort made for Christ will be rewarded beyond measure when Christ returns to assess His saints (Rev. 22:12).

Thirdly, the fervent expectation of Christ’s imminent return has a purifying effect on the lives of those who look for Him. For if Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27), then Christ in us should be made visible as we strive to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Ti. 2:12). The apostle John commented on this facet of our hope when he wrote “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” (1 Jn. 3:2-3).

May the hope of Christ affect our lives to His glory.

By Tom Summerhill