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NASB | Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 5:5 Such hope [in God's promises] never disappoints us, because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. |
Bible Question:
What is "Hope"? That is to say, how should a Christian define hope? Of course our hope is found IN Christ. But I'm speaking of this way us Christians have of making God into our own personal Genie - wishing for something and expecting Him to make it come true. Where is the line between being in God's will and hoping for something specific that you know he wants for us (like a spouse or a home), and manipulating God with our prayers? Hebrews 11 says Faith is the substance of "things hoped for"... and Proverbs says "Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life". 1 Corinithians 13 talks of hope, groups it with faith and love - these three things remain: faith, hope and love. I know what faith is, I know what love looks like. But what is a good Christian definition of hope? Things hoped for, makes me think we are supposed to hope for things, of course always in God's will, but what about specifics? |
Bible Answer: I think a good working definition for biblical hope is "an eager anticipation of the arrival of the blessings God has promised to us in the future." It is more than just wishing or crossing our fingers that things will be all right, and it is not a trust in uncertain things (i.e. in something that God has not promised us as part of our future). In the Old Testament, the faithful remnant of Israel in captivity (like Daniel) looked forward to the end of their captivity. God promised that their exile would last 70 years, and those who believed in God's promises prayed and eagerly expected the time when they would return home. That is hope. For Christians today, we read: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." --Philippians 3:20-21 I understand hope to be this "eager awaiting" of Christ's return and our glorification. Paul even refers to the second coming as a "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). Therefore, I think that faith is the confidence in God's trustworthiness, and hope as the Christian's eager waiting and longing for his trustworthy promises to be fulfilled. I think that you have asked a very good question, and I am eager to see how others weigh in on it. --Joe! |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 5:5 | Author | ||
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Robert Nicholson | ||
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wwv | ||
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InHisService | ||
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Reformer Joe | ||
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AyoKunle | ||
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AyoKunle | ||
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sureshtv | ||
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sidney | ||
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sidney |