My Hope Is In You

"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

    

Now abides faith, hope, and love. The Greek word for hope is elpis which means expectation of what is sure (certain); hope, trust, confidence.[1] It is not the same as wishing, with hope there is tangible evidence, confidence of its existence. Hope is much like faith, it is unseen, as believers we know it exists. Faith is defined in the bible as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Substance and evidence. 

There is substance and evidence; a thing that exists, that we can test and prove. The Greek word for substance yequm means thing and its root qum means existence, so together a thing that exists.[2] The Greek word for evidence elegchos means a proof, test, inner conviction in which God confirms His faith in us, this in-birthing of faith.[3] So Faith is the thing that exists that we have expectation or confidence of (hope) which we know is certain, there is proof that it exists (evidence) though it is unseen by the eye. The in-birthing of faith is done by Jesus, he is the author of faith (Hebrews 12:2), and the hope in which we were saved, (Romans 8:24), and he is love which perfects us in this (1 John 4:8).

In our weakness, the Spirit inside moans and groans for things we know not to pray for, interceding for us according to the will of God. He is working out his good in us, those called according to his purpose, and is conforming us to his image, this is such a great promise, a hope. We are confident of this hope, though it is unseen, and we hope with patience, v.25. The Greek word for patience here is hupomoné which means, a remaining behind, a patient enduring; steadfastness. That which is our hope, we wait for with endurance. Endurance is needed for sanctification.

"It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

"But, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:32-38). Jesus is our Hope, a God yequm!

... And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:24-31). 

My Hope Is In You - Aaron Shust