Then you would trust, because there is hope; and you would look around and rest securely. Job 11:18 NASB Hope – Do you trust God? Perhaps you’re surprised by the question. “Of course, I trust God,” would be the typical answer, as if the question itself is almost rhetorical. But notice what Zophar says about…
“Oh, that my request might come to pass, and that God would grant my hope! Oh, that God would decide to crush me, that He would let loose His hand and cut me off! But it is still my comfort, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” Job 6:8-10 …
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7 NASB For what – Remember the punctuation. Hebrew doesn’t have any. So the phrase, ma(h)-q-qiwwiti, could be a question or it could be a statement, like, “I wait for.” Or it could be, “Now, Lord, what. I wait.” The verb is qāwâ,…
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NASB In earlier times – Ah, the problems on syntax. English does not work like Greek. In Greek we have one word, proegraphe, that requires five English…
“By your perseverance you will win your souls.” Luke 21:19 NASB (1963) Souls – How do you acquire salvation? It’s a fair question, especially since the evangelical world provides a clear answer. “You get saved by confessing Jesus as your Savior and Lord.” There’s just one small problem. The idea of “getting saved” really doesn’t…
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:8 NASB Persistence – What does it mean to have faith? For most of us, it means to…
“You will be hated by everybody because of my name; but it is the person who remains faithful to the end who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22 Remains Faithful – There is one word significantly missing from contemporary Christian vocabulary. That word is perseverance. The Greek word, hupomeno, is used more than twenty times in…
if indeed you continue in faith firmly established and steadfast Colossians 1:23 If Indeed – Jesus wants to present us holy and blameless. That’s the plan (see verse 22). The first step in this glorious transformation has been accomplished (John 19:30). You and I have been reconciled with God. We have been rescued from inescapable…
