Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

June 16, 2002

“SAVED IN HOPE”

Romans 8:24-25

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

This is Father’s Day, 2002. I’m thankful for where I am today. By the Heavenly Father’s grace I have come a long way since Father’s Day, 1999. Praise His Name. I appreciate my salvation all the more.

Thank God for hope. Paul says,

For in hope we have been saved.

When God saved us, He saved us with a view to hope. While salvation is complete, salvation has not yet been completed. There is more coming!

When you stand before the minister and he pronounces you man and wife, your marriage is complete. However your marriage is not completed until the day God takes one of you home. There is much more coming after you say, “I do” (smile, guys)!

Although promised, we don’t see that hope yet (the coming of Christ and eternal life in Heaven with Him). If we see it, hope would not be hope! The logic – “for who hopes for what he already sees?” This is an incentive to faith. If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with perseverance. We keep on keeping on. Paul says that we wait eagerly for it.

How many things we wait eagerly for – that shiny bike, our first car, graduation, marriage, family, that big promotion, retirement – how even more eagerly should we look forward to seeing our Savior face to face.

Dads, how about it? How is your hope this Father’s Day? Does the future look brighter because you have been saved in hope? Are any of you on the verge of giving up hope? If you are, go over this passage carefully. Nothing will encourage your heart like hope. I guarantee it. If I had not set this hope before me, I don’t think I would have made it. Jesus Christ became more real than ever during those dark days in Mirada Hills.

Let’s close out by looking again at this precious passage:

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

God bless. Love to you all,