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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 1:3 recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Thess 1:10] |
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 like the definition given in the Spirit Filled Life Bible edited by Jack Hayford. It says, "hope, elpis (greek el-peece); Strong's 1680:Hope, not in the sense of an optimistic outlook or wishfull thinking without any foundation, but in the sense of A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION BASED ON SOLID CERTAINTY. Biblical hope rests on God's promises, particularly those pertaining to Christ's return. So certain is the future of the redeemed that the NT sometimes speaks of future events in the past tense, as though the were already accomplished. Hope is never inferior to faith, but is an extension of faith. Faith is the present possession of grace; hope is the confidence in grace's future accomp; lishment." A confident expectation of an outcome. Rom. 5:1 through Rom. 5:5 (NIV) 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Perseverance in times of trouble, tribulation brings us character, experience, which in turn brings us hope. Patience, perseverence is standing on the promises of God (being consistent) and by being consistent we come through the trial. Changing a promise of God into a reality in our life. By this reality we have experience that what God says He will do, He will do and when the next trial comes we KNOW that if we have patience, He will see us through the trial and THIS IS BIBLICAL HOPE. At least this is my experience. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 1 Thess 1:3 | Author | ||
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InHisService | ||
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Asis |