Progress in Hope

Paul prayed "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Ro 15:13). We do not set our "minds on earthly things for our citizenship is in heaven" (Php 3:19-20). We strive "teaching every man . . . so we may present every man complete in Christ" (Col 1:28). "This mystery among the Gentiles . . . is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (:27). From heaven "we eagerly wait for a Savior . . . who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exercise of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Php 3:20-21). Paul professes that "for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works through me" (Col1:29).

Once a popular solution to problem-solving was to consistently think positively to solve one. Still nowadays many think that constantly confessing faith and never relenting is the only way. But the Lord informed Gideon that they "'are too many . . . for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me''"(Jdg 7:2). Therefore it is scriptural to depend on "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit'" (Zec 4:6).

It was the Holy Spirit "who raised Christ Jesus from the dead [who] will also give life to your mortal bodies" (Ro 8:11) and who will "transform the body" (Php 3:21). "There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies" (1Co 15:40) and "so also is the resurrection of the dead . . . [where] it is raised an imperishable body" (:42) and "we will also bear the image of the heavenly" (:49). "This mortal must put on immortality" (:53). But consider that the five wise virgins were prepared and "went in with Him to the wedding feast" (Mt 25:10). "It has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know when He appears, we will be like Him" (1Jn 3:2). Therefore "hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering" (Heb 10:23).