Romans 8:22-25
Hope for the New Year
Biblical hope is not mere wishful thinking but confident expectation of Christ's promised return and the redemption of our bodies. The Lord's Supper anchors this hope as believers patiently await their future glory with Jesus.
What Sustains Us
What is it that keeps a person going when it appears that there are few reasons to continue? What is it that allows a person to look toward the future with a sense of optimism when none seems available? We could call this determination, will power, or perseverance. And any of those words would be adequate.
The word “hope” carries a meaning for us that is similar to wish. “I hope that it snows (or doesn’t snow). I hope everything goes well.” But this idea of a wish doesn’t fully encompass the Bible’s view of hope.
The Biblical Meaning of Hope
In Romans 8:22-25 Paul writes: “we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.”
What is the idea of hope? It is the eager expectation of some future event. It is learning to patiently wait for a future event which you know with great confidence is going to happen. It isn’t a wish. Hope is the confident expectation of the reality of the future. In this case, we confidently wait and expect the redemption of our bodies. The completion of the adoption as God’s children into his glorious presence.
Hope in the Lord’s Supper
This is one of the elements of the Lord’s Supper. We take the Supper with a look toward the future. Remembering what Jesus has already done for us, we are reminded too that there will be a day when our proclamation will become a reality. We take the Supper knowing that one day we will be with Jesus and we patiently and confidently wait for that day. There may be some who want to take the Supper tonight. However, in light of the hope that we all share, we will all take the Supper together.
The Bread
We take this remembering what Christ did for us. But we also take it realizing that the day will come when our physical bodies will be changed. Our corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible bodies. And we confidently expect this to happen. But in the meantime we patiently wait.
The Cup
Jesus chose to give his blood for us. For without his blood there would not have been forgiveness of sins. We take this remembering what he has done for us. But the day will come when what we have been anticipating and expecting will become reality. We drink this cup recognizing that each one of us shares in the desire and the confident expectation that we will be with Jesus one day.
Living with Confidence
It is this hope which encourages us to live with confidence. With this hope we wait.
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