Topical Bible: Faith: Produces Hope

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Faith, as a fundamental aspect of Christian doctrine, is intricately linked to the concept of hope. The relationship between faith and hope is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, where faith serves as the foundation upon which hope is built. This entry explores the biblical understanding of how faith produces hope, drawing from various scriptural passages and theological insights.

Definition and Nature of Faith

Faith, in the Christian context, is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is a confident trust in the promises of God, grounded in His character and His Word. Faith is not merely intellectual assent but involves a deep-seated reliance on God, leading to a transformative relationship with Him.

Faith as the Source of Hope

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, frequently emphasizes the connection between faith and hope. In Romans 5:1-2 , Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Here, faith is depicted as the means by which believers access God's grace, resulting in a hopeful anticipation of sharing in His glory.

Similarly, in Colossians 1:4-5 , Paul commends the Colossians for their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they have for all the saints, "because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel." Faith in Christ leads to a hope that is anchored in the eternal promises of God, providing believers with a future-oriented perspective.

The Role of Faith in Sustaining Hope

Faith not only initiates hope but also sustains it through life's trials and uncertainties. In Hebrews 6:19 , hope is described as "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." This hope is made possible through faith, which holds fast to the promises of God even when circumstances are challenging. The steadfastness of faith ensures that hope remains vibrant and unshaken.

The Apostle Peter also highlights the sustaining power of faith in 1 Peter 1:3-5 , where he praises God for giving believers "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." Here, faith acts as a shield, preserving the believer's hope in the face of trials.

Faith, Hope, and Love

The triad of faith, hope, and love is a central theme in the New Testament, particularly in 1 Corinthians 13:13 : "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love." While love is the greatest, faith and hope are essential companions. Faith lays the groundwork for hope, and together they inspire and sustain love in the believer's life.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 , Paul commends the Thessalonians for their "work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." This passage illustrates how faith, hope, and love are interwoven in the Christian experience, each contributing to the believer's spiritual vitality and witness.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently portrays faith as the catalyst for hope. Through faith, believers are assured of God's promises and are empowered to live with a hopeful expectation of His future fulfillment. This hope, rooted in faith, provides strength and perseverance, enabling Christians to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and joy.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Hope of the Calling
... of God in Jesus Christ, and the love which that faith produces in the ... without, and
naturally lead on to the brightness of this great hope, Faith"the reliance ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the hope of the calling.htm

Two Fountains, one Stream
... So that we have here two generations, as it were, of hope's ancestors;"Faith
produces joy and peace, and these again produce hope. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/two fountains one stream.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... You cannot hope to render obedience by the more forcing of conduct into a ... we will
first think a little of the kind of faith which produces obedience; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the obedience of faith.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... of the proposition that justification by faith produces true obedience ... plan of salvation
by faith, offering eternal ... his pharisaical efforts, while hope is left ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

He Produces Testimonies to the Same Doctrine from the Apostle Paul ...
... He produces testimonies to the same doctrine from the ... says the same Apostle, "for
the blessed hope and coming ... fortified the holy preaching of the faith with a ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter iv he produces testimonies.htm

Fruitless Faith
... that many men are lost, Christ's dying for all men is not at all a ground upon which
any man may hope to be saved ... It is a faith which produces works which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/fruitless faith.htm

The Necessity of Other Preparatory Acts Besides Faith
... Ordinarily faith elicits fear, which in turn produces two kinds of hope"hope of
forgiveness (spes veniae) and hope in God (spes theologica), which marks the ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 2 the necessity of.htm

That in These Two Portions of the Soul There are Four Different ...
... nothing enters but by faith, which produces, like rays ... are found: 1. The light of
faith, figured by ... 2. The utility of hope, represented by Aaron's flowering and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii that in these.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... before him if they had no hope of solace ... have already said, we again maintain, that
faith remaining fixed ... which is an incorruptible seed, produces fruit similar ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

Of the Nature of Regeneration, and Particularly of the Change it ...
... in so awful a view, that while it has some pleasing hope, it rejoices ... and he is perhaps
little anxious, whether this, or the faith that produces it, shall ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/discourse ii of the nature.htm