Expectations
- The Biblical word, “hope,” is better understood as “confident expectation.”
- One of the characteristics of Biblical faith is a realistic hope of heaven (Romans 4:16 – 5:5, 8:20 – 24, 15:4, 13, 1 Corinthians 15:19, Colossians 1:3 – 5, 1:22 – 23. 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:8. Titus 1:1 – 4, 2:11 – 14, 3:4 – 8, Hebrews 6:10 – 20, 11:1, 11:6, 11:13 – 16, 1 Peter 1:3 – 5, 1:13, 20 – 21. 3:15, 1 John 3:2 – 3)
- What promotes hope?
- The Scriptures – Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (One of the characteristics of faith is an evidentiary conclusion that the Scriptures are accurate and true.)
- The indwelling Spirit
- Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Ephesians 1:18 “… the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
- Our calling – Ephesians 4:4 “… one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling.”
- Ephesians 1:17 – 18 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your hearts being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
- 2 Peter 1:3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,”
- Galatians 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;”
- Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, into which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.”
- Acts 2:38 – 39 “Repent and let every one of you be baptized upon the name of Jesus Christ into the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
- For what do we hope in earthly life?
- Godly character – Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
- Godly character – Colossians 1:27 “To them God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
- Drawing near to God – Hebrews 7:19 “…there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
- What does this hope cause?
- Joy – see Romans 5:2 above.
- Joy and peace – see Romans 15:13 above
- Drawing near to God – see Hebrews 7:19 above
- Boldness of speech – 2 Corinthians 3:12 “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech.”
- Pursuit of purity – 1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”