Three Eternal Gifts: Hope

Introduction (review)

We are now in the Christmas season. It’s typically a time for family, gift-giving, and reflection.

Deviate this year to talk about a different kind of gift-giving, and how they connect with the advent (arrival) of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:13 — “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

“abide”, “remain”

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 13.89 μένω; διαμένω

μένωc; διαμένωc: to continue to exist—‘to remain, to continue, to continue to exist, to still be in existence.

These three qualities—or gifts, if you use Paul’s original context—are present now, have been, and will continue to be…at least until we are in God’s presence.

Last week we looked at faith. Faith is that stubborn and unshakeable trust in God. A mighty gift indeed. Today we will look at the second of these three eternal gifts: Hope

What is Hope?

Worldly understanding

“a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen”

——Apple Dictionary

“the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:”

—— Dictionary.com

“to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might”

—— Cambridge Dictionary

Focusing on feelings or desires, each of these definitions come up short of the biblical understanding of hope

Scriptural understanding

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament E. The Early Christian Concept of Hope.

ἐλπίζειν means expectation with the nuance of counting upon in

For the Christian, hope is the firm belief that places confidence in the focus of hope.

Hope seen in the Magi

Upon reading the ancient texts (OT Scriptures) the Magi

Matthew 2:2 ““Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.””

Hope seen in Simeon

Luke 2:25–26 “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Hope for the Christian

The Christian life is one of hope. Not of feeling or desires, but in expectation.

We hope in:

God’s never ending love

His endless mercy, grace, and forgiveness

His healing, provision, and guidance that is always available

His watchful care over us

His word to never abandon us

His promise of eternal home with him

These aren’t mere desires or feelings, it the confident assurance we have in God’s Word because He does not lie

Conclusion

Hope is necessary and powerful gift God has given to the world, but it’s only truly enjoyed and understood by those who call upon Him.