Faith and Hope in God’s Promises
PAUL says: “Hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Rom. 8:24. In this connection hope is closely related to faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” and therefore faith necessarily presupposes a belief in things that are not seen. It requires no exercise of faith to believe in things that are right before our eyes, but to grasp the naked promises of God’s word and make the things promised therein appear real to us requires faith, and the Christian who exercises this kind of faith has the power to continually gain victories in his experience, for this is a living faith which enables him to triumph over doubt, always. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. If it seems at times that there are great things to believe in the Scriptures, let us realize that there are great things required of faith.