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Hoping Against Hope

For in hope saved, now, hope seen exists not hope, for who hopes for what he sees? Romans 8:42

Hope is not like a one-time thing where we place our hope in Jesus but it is a remaining, continually abiding in him. We are working out our salvation in which hope is an important aspect of our faith along with love. Hope like faith and love is to abound or grow in our life, and hope God uses to fill us with joy and peace through believing.* Where does hope come from? For in hope we are saved but it is not seen, if it is seen or realized then it is not hope. So we see faith exists the assurance of hope.* And like grace and peace we have access to it by faith.* True hope doesn't bring shame or disgrace but is realized through God's love for his children.* Agape love hopes all.* In regards to that purposed in Christ, of those chosen being conformed to the image of Christ, we see the importance of abiding in faith, hope, and love.*

If existing our hope in Christ, existing in that this life only, we exist men wretched 1 Corinthians 15:19

If we love the things of this world the love of God is not abiding in us, likewise the hope we have in Christ is not based in this life. This implies the true hope, blessings or prosperity of God are not centered around this life. This is good news because unlike the world our hope and joy and peace are not based upon this life and its circumstances. Look at the birds they do not sow and reap nor gather into storehouses yet God provides for their needs so why do I worry about this life if He values me? If I have this kind of life then like Paul I can rejoice in my sufferings and even persecution. Otherwise, if my hope and trust are placed in other things, including my strength to deal with things of this world, I will lose heart, be discouraged, and be easily disappointed. "For this, we are wearied and contend in this fight because our hope is to the extent of the living God who exists savior of all people, very much the believers."* Understanding hope in Christ puts into perspective what is precious to God.

And all who have this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure I John 3:3

Hope leads us into purity. Hope like joy is complete, full, whole as an outcome of purity, this is why hope, love, joy, peace abounds in knowing Jesus. Purity is also holiness, godliness in which perfection and maturity are completely accomplished through maturity. "Rather we rejoice in suffering knowing that suffering works out endurance, now endurance the proving in trials, and the proving in trials produces hope,* The proving as some translations say is a testing of the genuineness of our faith. I like to think of it as a rite of passage into adulthood, which is that purposed in the Church, so we grow up in the knowledge of the Son, into mature adulthood. James writes the work of endurance in the trial works out maturity.* Peter tells us a heart consecrated to the Lord is most precious in the eyes of God, it is one that has placed its hope in Christ.* 

For this was written before, written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we have hope Romans 15:4

Peter writes of a trial by fire.* The proving is a baptism by fire that burns off the impurities but James warns of a double mind, that of judging according to unbelief was one doesn't receive wisdom, so to allow for maturity to work out.* The devil attempts to choke us out in this area of growth planting weeds of worry and anxiety in the cares of this world, the deceit of riches, and the pride of life. It is why humility is important in regards to receiving wisdom. A snare of Satan is in the cares of this world, overcome by what others have done, unjustly so to us. Paul writes of the judging mindset that forfeits grace, this can defile many through a root of bitterness. The blessing of persecution we can forfeit if we lose sight of hope in Christ. "For we of Spirit, from the faith, expect righteous hope."*
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees? Romans 8:24
We have hope in Christ, if indeed the Spirit of Christ lives in us and love is poured out into our hearts.* Hope as faith and love abound through knowledge of Jesus. Hope leads us into purity because the will of God is our consecration.* Consecration is how God is bringing about that which he purposed in Christ, so we exist holy and in His presence in love. We are to be a holy people of His own, like him in character. It is why our reasonable service (what service is greater?) is to present the body a living sacrifice unto holiness, and why this is the acceptable sacrifice to God (what sacrifice is greater?). Though we help orphans and widows, purity is the most important part of pure religion, and consecration is how we can be unstained from the world. Hope and purity go hand in hand. Those God loves he disciplines. 
Hoping against hope, Abraham believed that he would become the father of many nations according to what had been spoken, 'So will your descendants be...Romans 4:18
How did Abraham hope against hope? He hoped against that which was seen by growing in faith. Think about it, God after Noah had put on man a 120-year lifespan. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 or 91. Have you ever heard of such an old couple having a baby? Today, we have a rarity, record of a woman giving birth at 74.* Certainly, Sarah is the oldest woman we know of to give birth. Now, think of what God had promised, that the promise was based upon a descendent from Sarah. Can we see and understand; hoping against hope? hoping against what is seen. Can we see why there was partial doubt or unbelief earlier? Sarah had Abraham sleep with a maidservant to have a child, this was doubt in what God had said. Did Abraham have faith? yes, the faith of Abraham doesn't speak to him as having any doubt at all, but that in his doubt he did not judge accordingly but was strengthened in faith until he was fully convinced of what God had promised. Therefore he hoped against what was seen, the factual evidence and circumstances of this life regarding the promise. 

dear beloved, at the present we exist children of God and it is not yet revealed what we will be. We do know because it is revealed we will be like him, because we see him just as existing, and all the ones having this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.1 John 3:2-3

The Spirit in us moans for the day when we will be like Jesus fully, what a glorious day that will be. Creation itself was subjected to futility, despair and agony it brings. Have you ever thought about why God leaves us in the body of death? He subjected us in hope. This is good news because we have hope that one day we will be like Him.* This glorious freedom as sons, we await in hope and expectation. Growing in faith is important in regards to hope as faith exists assurance of that hoped for. Hope as faith and love abound through knowledge of the Son. Hope leads us into purity because the will of God is this, having been revealed that He is holy, so revealed to those chosen to exist like Him in holy character.* The discipline of God is that we share in his character thus hope is added in the work of endurance which works out maturity. Hoping against hope, not overcome by the circumstances of this life but by faith looking to that which is not seen.
so that through two unchangeable facts in which it is impossible for God to lie, the ones having taking refuge have strong encouragement to gain the hope lying before us.Hebrews 6:17-18
God doesn't change in regard to his purpose and promises.* What purpose? that which he purposed in Christ, in that he chose us to exist holy and in His presence in love.* And to those chosen He is working out for good, according to this purposed and promised so that we are being conformed to the image of his Son.* In Christ, he accomplishes this purpose, which he planned in the beginning before the creation of the world.
 
having like an anchor of life, both sure and steadfast...Hebrews 6:17-19

To those who take refuge in Him, these endure in this purpose thus gain hope, like Abraham who was long-enduring reaching that promised.* God promised Abraham, who endured suffering to gain the hope lying before him. God wanted to clearly show to the heirs of the promise the unchanging of his purpose, confirming it with an oath. God purposed and promised; to those he chose, He also called, to be conformed to the image of His Son.* Because God promised and does not change in regards to his purpose and promise, we have strong incentive to hold fast to the hope set before us, like an anchor of life, both sure (secure from failing, immovable, certain) and steadfast (firmly fixed in place, established, not subject to change).


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