Rabitzen

The Difference Between Faith and Hope. 

What is the difference between faith and hope? It seems to me that they are synonymous , but the way they are used in this scripture tells us that they must not be.
The Greek word, “pistis” is translated, “faith” in Hebrews 11:1:
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Here we see that hope is part of the definition of faith.
The Greek word, “elpis”, is translated, “hope,” and means “joyful and confident expectation of good.”
Did you notice that “confidence” is included in both definitions?
We find a clarification of “hope” in Romans 823-25: “…we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, 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 they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Faith is a belief in a reality that is at the moment not seen, and hope is waiting for that reality to become visible!
Believers live in a sort of an in-between existence.
We’ve been rescued and brought into God’s Kingdom-
Colossians 1:13: 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We are in this world but not of this world-
John 17:15-21: 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
We look forward to a time when Messiah will rule in wisdom and justice, and when death will not even hold a temporary sting.
While we wait, holding onto that hope, we are not alone.
Rabbi Shaul says in Romans 8 that “all creation is groaning” as well.

In Romans 8, Shaul writes, “Who hopes for what they already have?”
Leading up to the “faith, hope, and love” verse, he says in 13:10: “When completeness comes, what is in part disappears … For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
This amazing promise means more than His ability to provide for all our needs in this life, and it’s greater than understanding that “our God owns all the cattle on a thousand hills,” and will take care of us.
Our faith is set on the day when we will know God as well as he knows us!
We should not spend spiritual energy hoping primarily for what we can have on this side of forever, but in expectation of what is to come.
To Know God, to see His face, to sit at Yeshua’s feet and soak in His words. This will be the most glorious experience!
We need to keep our eyes on Yeshua, who endured so much because of this very joy set before him. Let us model our lives on the faith of the One who pioneered the way. He lived without many comforts and without much acknowledgement. Now he lives as a reigning King in perfect and constant communion with the Father. He has got it really good now, and he’s preparing a place for us to join him. That is the hope that remains with us even when everything else is gone.
When that day comes, we won’t need to believe in something we can see when we are living it. We won’t need faith, and we won’t need hope, because we will be in the very presence of Yeshua.
Love is a different story.

In I John 4:16 we read that “God is love.”
God’s character has never and will never change, so love remains just as God himself remains the same as he has ever been.
Shaul commended the church in Corinth for their faith and zeal, but all their acts of faith—speaking in tongues, performing signs and wonders, and giving to the poor—were not enough, or even beautiful without love. They sounded like clanging cymbals and came to nothing.
It is only when these acts are performed from a place of love, that they are a sacrifice worthy of a God who is love.
I believe Shaul was writing to Believers today, as well.
Sometimes in our zeal to work hard in the kingdom takes precedence over our love for people. In the passage that proclaims that “the greatest of these is love,” Shaul tells us that love is patient and kind.
So anytime we do anything for God, it must be with true patience and kindness.
Shaul says that love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant.
We need to examine our motives when we post on social media the wonderful things we do for others, or talk about our spiritual victories, because if we do perform these acts for the acclaim of others, we have substituted the reward our Father would love to bestow on us for the applause of our brothers.
Love is greater than faith and hope because it guides our motives to in righteousness and holiness, and God rewards this.
And love will never be less than honorable toward others.

For some, the hardest part of 1 Corinthians 13 is “love is not easily angered.” After a long day of work and stress, sometimes you may become irritable, tired and edgy, but remember that the love of God remains with you.
Sometimes love may mean taking on less commitments, and even turning down good and godly
opportunities, so that you have the capacity to show love to those around you.
Love is greater than faith and hope because it endures forever. And love is greater because without it, acts of faith and hope are empty and fruitless.