Real Hope

December 1, 2017

Their troubles weren’t continual, but they were seen as disloyal citizens, to be treated with suspicion at best, and as traitors at worst. For reasons most of the upper crust couldn’t understand, they had turned to this weird sect that held dangerous beliefs and associated with undesirables. So when Paul wrote to them explaining the foundations of their faith, he concluded by reassuring them that though rejected by their peers and superiors, they were in good company, and that in spite of their somewhat dodgy economic and social prospects, they had a bright future ahead of them.

In Romans 15:13, he reminded them of all this. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Taken out of context, this sounds like the vague and vapid faith promoted by countless religious charlatans and cultural Christians. “Just have faith,” they say, without indicating where that faith is to be placed. Those who follow this kind of advice may feel good for awhile, but when life gets tough and cruel, such insipid advice proves to be a fragile cane on which to lean. 

That isn’t what Paul is saying here. Prior to these words, he reminds his readers of the new society into which they have been introduced: the people of God who possess the promises of God. Our hope comes from the joy and peace that is God’s gift of grace to those who believe, who place their confidence not in this world or themselves, but in Jesus Christ who conquered death itself. He reminded them also that our joy and peace are not blanket coverage that is bestowed on us in some magical way irrespective of our participation in it. Our hope and peace come from believing what God says is true: that we are counted as among his people, and included in his promises given through Jesus Christ. In this world of uncertainty, we need a hope like this, for it is the only avenue to joy and peace. We can be thankful that God hasn’t left us with an empty Pollyanna hope, but with a hope that we can lean on no matter what.