Subject: what comes first hope or faith |
Bible Note: Hi Geo, It doesn’t work like that in the spiritual realm; seeing “isn’t” believing”, believing is seeing. John 3:3 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The reason is because until a person is born of the spirit they don’t even have the means to receive anything from God. 1 Cor. 2:14 (KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. It would be like sitting in a room without a TV set; the signals for a picture are passing through the room constantly but there is no TV set to receive the picture. God doesn’t bring or spiritual receiver to life until we fully trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5:17 (NASB) Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. John 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. One can’t even enter in to the family of God with out faith. Faith is the starting point of entering into the plan of God, John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, The word believe in the English is translated from the Koine Greek, of the original language of the New Testament, PISTIS or PISTEUO. The book of John always uses the word “believe” for PISTIS or PISTEUO whereas Paul’s writings uses the word “faith” but it’s the same exact word PISTIS or PISTEUO; believe, believeth. When the word “hope” is used in the New Testament it is translated from the original word ELPIS. Hope in the English conveys the meaning of a desire, or a wish. It would be like asking a person if they are saved and they say, “I hope so”. A person that is saved knows “absolutely for sure” that they are saved: eternal life isn’t something that they “desire”, it’s something “they already have”. ELPIS in the Greek means “absolute confidence” or something that is “confidently expected”, there is no desire or wish about it; it’s a sure thing because it all depends on Jesus and what He did. When one puts “all” of their faith (PISTIS) in God’s Son Jesus then God, through His Spirit, reveals the fact that we “absolutely” have eternal life, and ELPIS develops as we learn Bible doctrine. 1 John 5:10-13 The one who believes (PISTEUO) in the Son of God has the witness in himself; i.e.THE INDWELLIG HOLY SPIRIT) the one who does not believe (PISTEUO)God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed (PISTIS) in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. 11And the witness is this, that God has given (COMPLITED ACTION) us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son (BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH) has the life; he who does not have the Son of God (NO FAITH IN JESUS) does not have the life. 13These things I have written to you who believe (PISTIS OR FAITH) in the name of the Son of God, (JESUS) in order that you may know that you have eternal life. (NOW WE EXPECT IT, ELPIS i.e. hope.) Hope follows faith because hope is a product of the indwelling Holy Spirit plus the intake of Bible doctrine. No faith in Jesus equals no indwelling so faith must come first. Have fun, CDBJ |