I'm still thinking
about the assertion…that man cannot live without hope, and that men who have
really lost all hope often become wild and wicked. It may be an open question whether in this
case hope = illusion. The importance of
illusion to one's life should certainly not be underestimated; but for a Christian there must be hope based
on a firm foundation. And if even
illusion has so much power in people's lives that it can keep life moving, how
great a power there is in a hope that is based on certainty, and how invincible
a life with such a hope is. 'Christ our hope' - this Pauline formula is the
strength of our lives.
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
If we depend so much on hope, just think of what will come from Faith, and true Faith.
ReplyDeleteYes, but I think that the possession of the faith is what Bonhoeffer is assuming this person already has. If you have a hope(expectation) grounded in God's word, then you'll inevitably have faith, else there is no hope. I think that it's kind of like the relationship between faith and works in the life of a Christian. If you have true faith, you'll have good works, and you will also have hope(expectation)as you believe what God has promised.
ReplyDeleteSo he is using the word hope in place of the word Faith?
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I would say in place of it, I just think that he's assuming faith in this person with hope. Hope is important in the Christian life, it's ranked up there with faith: "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love."
ReplyDelete(1Co 13:13 ASV) "For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?"
(Rom 8:24 ASV)
I think that he is addressing one aspect of salvation, that being the hope part.
Okay...I wasn't quite sure what he meant.
ReplyDeleteHope is a part of Salvation. since I am a believer in God's soveriegnty I would say Faith and Salvation(hope) came to me at the same time...correct?
Most likely. If you have faith in God's word, trust that God has cleansed you of your sin and that you are now a new Creature, then you will have hope(expectation) that you will receive all of the benefits of this salvation: Heaven, being with God, a glorified Body...etc. It would be more than a little strange if one had faith but no hope...that would be contradictory.
ReplyDeleteBut, we don't need to understand every single detail of what happened when, such as the order of faith and hope. Perhaps one may start doubting, and their hope start wavering because they are not being who they really are in Christ, they are not persevering in trials, they may be stunted in their Christian growth. "And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope: and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. "(Rom 5:3-5 ASV) Or perhaps they are not growing in knowledge of God's word, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope."
(Rom 15:4 ASV)
We want an assured hope. I did a study on the assurance of salvation a year or two ago: If you want to take a look: Part 1: http://snickerdoodlesmusings.blogspot.com/2011/07/that-you-may-know.html
Part 2: http://snickerdoodlesmusings.blogspot.com/2011/08/fulfill-your-ministry.html
Okay, thank you.
ReplyDeleteSure :)
ReplyDelete