What has made you feel hopeless?

What has made you feel hopeful?

(write on index card; past/present; for you & God; won’t have to share but can if you want; okay if you can’t think of anything)

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Hopelessness -> Hope

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What are emotions?

“A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling.” - https://www.wordnik.com/words/emotion

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“Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion

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What is hope?

• A desire or expectation of positive outcomes for the future

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“Hopeful people are ‘like the little engine that could, [because] they keep telling themselves "I think I can, I think I can’.”

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• Common opposites: hopelessness (lack of hope), despair, dejection

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What is hope?

Hope = Anticipation + Trust

Cynicism = Anticipation + Disgust

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What is hope?

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What is hope?

For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. - Romans 8:24-25 (WEB)

• Biblically (The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words):
• “wish”
• “disposition of the soul” toward a “happy anticipation of good”
• “grounds for one’s hope”
• “object upon which ‘hope’ is fixed”
• “outcome for which one hopes”

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How do future expectations come about?

• If hope is a desire or expectation of positive outcomes for the future…�
• How do future expectations come about?
• The Past
• Promises
• Other Ideas

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Faithfulness of God in Bringing Out His Promises

“Those whom God has helped and delivered expect to see God’s power again when future needs arise, knowing that in God there are reasons for hope. Mere optimism assumes that bad circumstances will improve with the passage of time. In contrast, hope assumes that God is faithful and is convinced that he is able to bring about his good purpose.” - The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “Hope”, p. 800

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The Past and Promises in Relation to Hope

For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments, - Psalm 78:5-7 (WEB)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

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How does one become hopeless or hopeful?

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Hopeless

Hopeful

What could make one lose hope?

What effects could come about from hopelessness?

• Job 7:1-21
• Job 17:1-16
• Job 19:1-29
• Psalm 42:1-11
• Psalm 43:1-5
• Acts 27:14-20

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Question (Proverbs 13:12)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled,

it is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12 (WEB)

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What truths is this aiming to communicate?

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How does one get hope?

• Psalm 71
• Psalm 78:5-7
• Romans 15:4
• Romans 15:13

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What should we not hope in?

What should we hope in?

Psalm 33:10-22

Psalm 146:3-10

Jeremiah 17:13

1 Corinthians 15:13-26

1 Timothy 6:17

1 Peter 1:24

Psalm 119:74

Psalm 130:3-8

Acts 2:24-28

Romans 4:18-21

Galatians 5:5

Ephesians 1:3-14

Colossians 1:21-27

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

Titus 1:2, Titus 3:7

Titus 2:13

1 Peter 1:3-13

1 John 3:2-3

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Reasons for the Hope that We Have

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience.

Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. - 1 Peter 3:14-17 (WEB)

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The Hope of Christians

• Righteousness (Galatians 5:5)
• Holiness, defect-free, blamelessness (Ephesians 1:4, Colossians 1:22-23)
• Redemption (Ephesians 1:7-14, 1 Peter 1:18)
• Forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7)
• Inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 3:9)
• Reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2:12-17, Colossians 1:21-23)
• Glory (Romans 5:2, Ephesians 1:12-14, Colossians 1:27, 1 Peter 1:7)
• Resurrection (Acts 23:6, Acts 24:15, Acts 26:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
• Salvation (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, 1 Peter 1:5-9)
• Eternal life (Ephesians 2:5, Titus 1:2, Titus 3:7)
• Appearing of Jesus (Titus 2:13, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13)
• Grace (Ephesians 2:7, 1 Peter 1:13)
• Being pure like Jesus (1 John 3:2-3)

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What are the effects/benefits of hope?

• Psalm 119:49-56
• Romans 5:1-5
• Romans 12:12
• 2 Corinthians 1:6-11
• 2 Corinthians 3:12
• Hebrews 6:9-20

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The Better Hope of Jesus Christ

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? - Hebrews 7:11 (ESV)

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The Better Hope of Jesus Christ

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” - Hebrews 7:14-17 (ESV)

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The Better Hope of Jesus Christ

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” - Hebrews 7:18-21 (ESV)

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The Better Hope of Jesus Christ

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:22-25 (ESV)

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The Better Hope of Jesus Christ

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:26-28 (ESV)

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Hebrews 11:1 (Faith & Hope)

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. (CSB)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. (NET)

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. (BSB)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)

Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen. (LEB)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (NIV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction, (YLT)

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• hypostatis - support, steadiness, substance, reality, assurance, confidence (5 occurrences)
• He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature… - Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
• For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. - Hebrews 3:14 (ESV)
• elenchos - proof, test, persuasion, conviction (2 occurrences)
• All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, - 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

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Question (Hebrews 11:1)

What is the relationship between faith & hope?

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