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 Ghost. Romans 15:13

We hear a lot in our world today about the imperative importance of hope. Yet, in large measure, hopelessness is far too often evidenced. Our hope must be rooted and grounded in an eternal design, not on temporal desires. If we think theologically through the issue of biblical hope, even in human crisis, we will be able to understand its dynamic, from God's perspective.

In looking at the Romans 15:13 passage, there are three aspects of biblical hope that stand out:

1. God is the source of hope. It cannot be obtained from any temporary earthly person, possession or promise.

2. Salvation brings joy and peace to our hearts.

3. Obedience to the words of Scripture causes our hearts to overflow with hope.

On the premise of those three scriptural tenets, hope becomes only sincere desire If founded upon transient and moveable uncertainties. However, when our confidence is based upon the eternally infallible, inerrant Word of God, there is true biblical hope.

If I am to have His hope, I must first ask the question, "Do I know the joy and peace of a personal relationship with Christ?" Secondly, I must ask "is my life dominated by the Spirit of God, controlled and regulated in submission to His Word?"

A demonstration of His hope will allow others to see Jesus, and according to Psalm 49:3, trust Him, too.

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All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.                                                                                                                                                                  2 Timothy 3:16-17                                                                  
This passage of Scripture has been such a blessing, as well as an encouragement to my heart.  The basis of all our thinking, decision- making, evaluation and conflict resolution is the eternal, inerrant, infallible Word of God.
Foundationally, our confidence is centered in the fact that every word is given by the very breath of the very God.  2 Peter 1:21b teaches us that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." It is with that underlying truth that we demonstrate such unquestionable confidence in the words given by our God.

Those specific words give us four clear steps of the profit of God's Word.

Firstly, they define the heart, mind, will and purpose of God. 

Secondly, in that light, sinful thoughts and actions stand out clearly in abject opposition to the singular goal of Christlikeness which  God is accomplishing in all things, according to Romans 8:28-29.

Thirdly, as we understanding what is God's goal, and see how far short of His glory we so often fall, how blessed to realize He describes the way back via the corrective vehicle of repentance.  How he loves to forgive and cleanse when His blood-bought children confess and forsake all that displeases Him.  1 John 1:9 makes that truth abundantly clear.

Lastly, the follow-through of restructure is critical to the on-going growth toward spiritual maturity.  Verse 17 describes the significant stability level of the believer who has been the recipient of the profit of God's Word, applied practically to his or her own life.

                      (C) 1988, 1991,1999,  2013 N. A. Collins          
            - Excerpts taken from the TO GLORIFY GOD book-
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But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.                                                                                                                                                                    1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

So often, in difficult times of human loss, we struggle with "what to say".  It is amazing and marvelous that our loving, gracious Lord has so clearly and succinctly given us the solution for that dilemma.  Can anything be more clear, in our understanding of language, than the clear teaching to "COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS"?

The step by step occurrence of the appearing of the Lord in the air, to receive His blood - bought children, is called the Rapture, taken from the word meaning 'snatched away'.  Those believers, who have died in Christ will first come out of the graves.  Those believers who still live will join those from the graves along with the Lord in the air.  This incredible meeting in the air, according to this passage above in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, will occur in an instant, in the 'twinkling of an eye'.  Until that instant, which perhaps may be this very day, the confidence and hope of the believer in Christ is in the promise of God, that we shall be reunited with our redeemed loved ones, never again  to know the sorrow of pain or parting. There will be an eternal future of bliss, basking in the very Presence of Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We will be P.E.R.F.E.C.T, in that we will know:

Perfect peace
Eternal fulfillment
Rejoicing in the presence of Christ
Freedom from sorrow, disappointment, or pain
Eternal pleasures in fellowship with Christ and loved ones
Complete safety, security, and satisfaction
Total contentment


Psalm 16:11  "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 17:15. "As for me,I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall besatisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

What blessed comfort!!!!!

                                       (C) 1988, 1991,1999,  2013 N. A. Collins                             
                                     - Excerpts taken from TO GLORIFY GOD book-
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"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not:for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:and great was the fall of it."
                                                                                                                                           Matthew 7:24-27

In this passage of Scripture, Christ follows His preceding Sermon on the Mount, found from chapter 5 through 7, with an applicational principle for our understanding. If we apply this parable as an illustration of wisdom, it is clear that the foundation of our lives must be put on the solid foundation of God's Word. Applicationally, the "House of Wisdom " that withstands the storms of life will not only demonstrate STUDY habit patterns as the foundation, but will have life pattern walls of personal STRUCTURE, ministry encounters in the SOCIAL arena, and SPEECH patterns that please God and profit others. Conversely, without the proper foundation , there will be no stability in the storms, and it will be destined for destruction when the winds of adversity blow.

The 2 fold question for our consideration is simply this: 1) "Is my "House" built on solid foundation of God's Word?" and 2) "Do my life habit patterns display order, peace and grace?"

What a blessed comfort, in the storms of life, to have implicit confidence in the wonderful saving and sustaining grace of God.

                                              (C) 2013 N. A. Collins
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