Romans 8:24 “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?”

Paul said in this verse that “we are saved by hope.” This is a very unusual approach to salvation. It doesn’t seem in
harmony with all the other conditions of salvation that we have read. What did Paul mean, “saved by hope?”

Notice first of all, the four elements of HOPE. (1) PROMISE - something must have been promised; (2) CONDITION - a promise is always based upon some condition(s); (3) EXPECTATION - hope is form of expectation based upon the condition of the promise; and (4) DESIRE - the promise and the expectation causes a
desire to fulfil the condition.

Now, imagine a child who has been promised a piece of candy if he takes out the garbage. This promise instills expectation within the child that the candy (reward) is there waiting for him. This expectation is based upon the condition of the promise, and the child knows that IF he fulfills the condition of the promise then he will get the reward. The promise and the expectation causes a desire within the child to fulfil the conditions. It is understood that if the child doesn’t complete the condition(s), then he has no hope for the reward.

It is important to see where this hope spoken of by Paul) is centered. Hope is NOT centered in SELF. God said, “It’s not in man that walketh to direct his own steps,” Jeremiah 10:23). God also warned, “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever isright in his own eyes,” (Deuteronomy 12:8). Hope is NOT centered in other MEN. Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father
but by Me,” (John 14:6).

Paul is even clearer when he tells us that this hope is in Christ, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. {20} But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept,” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20). The promise of our resurrection is based upon His resurrection; therefore, we have HOPE. Notice again what Paul said in Romans 8:24, “but hope that is seen is not hope.” We have a promise resurrection to be with God forever). Knowing that God has resurrected Christ gives us expectation. Enough expectation will give us the desire to fulfil the conditions demanded by God. It is in this sense that “we are saved by hope.” You will find these conditions listed on the back cover of this bulletin.

—John D. Cotham
Shady Valley, TN

A few years ago, when we lived in the Chattanooga area, someone clipped an article from one of the papers and left it on my office door. The article was from “Dear Abby,” and the subject was on giving to the church. One person had written to Van Buren complaining that the church expected them to give too much. In response to that article, a man from Oregon sent an article written by an unknown author to Van Buren. The unknown author told of how he and his wife raised their little girl, particularly elaborating on how expensive it was to raise her. He then told of how their daughter became sick and died shortly after a very expensive church wedding. He closed his letter by stating that after their daughter’s funeral he and his wife never spent another penny on her. His point: Only a dead church, like a dead child, is no longer expensive.

As long as the Lord’s church is alive, she needs our support. Every penny that is given each Lord’s day goes to maintain her spiritual health. If we want the church to die, all we need to do is stop giving to her. The person described above who complained about giving to the church missed the point. That
person obviously gave out of guilt rather than from love. Paul said, “So let each one give as he purposes in his  heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Is the church worth it? Jesus thought so; He gave His life for her (Acts 20:28). What will we give to keep her alive.

—Jason Moon
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