Bible Study FAITH-----HOPE-----CHARITY
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Today in this world of despair, we find that negative ideas has taken over the thinking of the majority of
mankind. Jesus, the Christ has said that we must—“...now abide faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity" (1 Cor 13:13).
Hope is a word found 165 times in God's inspired Word. It is not always found to be used as a positive,- there
are too many scriptures to bring them all out in this study. For us hope depends on our thought control. When
we are negative, we are letting Satan control our thoughts and we lose our hope. Our hope in God's truth, His
promises and the resurrection of the faithful. Hebrews 1:1 tells us that both Faith and Hope are the necessary
ingredients for being faithful to our calling. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen."
Abraham, the father of the faithful is shown in Romans— "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might
become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not
weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet
the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And
therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness" (Rom 4:18-22).
We also must—"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Rom 5:1-5). Just as Romans 4, has said patience is gained by
waiting. Romans 8:24-25 tell us, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man
seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
The Apostle Paul encourages by his words, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13). Also in Eph. 1:17-19, "That the
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His
calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of
His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."
There are too many scriptures to show that belief, faith and hope are the ways to salvation. "But let us, who are
of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation"
(1 Thess 5:8).
The Apostle Paul gives us the final answer, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now
are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we
shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself,
even as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3). We must remember, we must abide in faith, hope, charity! ☜
Cogit