Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. I. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN THIS TITLE. 1. The expression is peculiar: He is termed the God of peace (ver. 33), of grace (1 Peter 5:10), of love and peace (2 Corinthians 13:11), of patience (ver. 5), and the meaning is not only that He is the Author of these graces in us, but also that they exist in Him. But the case is different with respect to hope: this cannot exist in God, as He has every good in possession, and has nothing for which to hope. In this, and in this chiefly, the Creator differs from all His creatures. II. THE REASONS WHY GOD HAS THIS TITLE. 1. There is in Him the most stable foundation for the most glorious Lopes to all His rational creatures. The most solid ground for hope is offered — (1) In His nature and attributes, e.g., His self-existence, supremacy, eternity; His infinite power, wisdom, love and mercy, and even His justice, Christ having died. (2) In the relations in which He stands to us. What may not His offspring expect from such a Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer; His subjects from such a King; His servants from such a Master? What may not we, His children, hope for from such a Parent? (3) In what He has already done. He has given His Son for the redemption of mankind, and His Spirit's influence. And He, who withheld not His own Son, what gift can He deny? (4) In what He has promised still further to do: to receive us to be with Jesus, to raise our bodies, to give us the vision and enjoyment of Himself, and the society of saints and angels for ever! 2. He is the great object of our hope. The main thing we hope for is, the vision, love, and enjoyment of Him (Psalm 73:24). 3. He is also the Author of our hope. By freely justifying us, and by giving us peace with Him; by adopting us into His family; regenerating us by His grace; constituting us His heirs, and giving us an earnest of our future inheritance in our hearts (1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:17). III. APPLICATION AND IMPROVEMENT. 1. What an antidote against — (1) Distress, on account of all present troubles (chap. Romans 8:16, 17; Hebrews 11:13-16). (2) Doubt, fear, despondency, and despair. 2. What a deathblow to the carnal expecters of a Mohammedan paradise I God Himself is the true object of hope. And what a help to spiritual-mindedness? How necessary the question, Are we "begotten again to a lively hope"? (J. Benson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. |
    |