FAITH AND HOPE

What comes first, faith or hope?

This question is similar to the question, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” The chicken is the answer to this question; because, God allowed the birds to come forth out of the waters and they reproduce after their kind.

The importance of both questions is to know the way of the Creator; so we can live our lives in His image.

Biblical hope is the steadfastness of salvation through faith.

Ephesians 2:8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Romans10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me....27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Biblical hope before faith does not exist; because he that has hope does not know life is hopeless without faith in God and that person does not recognize the need for God. God creates dependency through hopelessness for His children.

Psalm 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Lamentations 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Hope is produced through faith.

1 Thessalonians 4:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Jesus is the only hope for any of His creation.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Jesus gave us faith to know hope: the hope of salvation is true hope.

Ephesians 2:12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

We have received faith now in the revelation of understanding and know the immaterial will be materialized in the future. Revelation by faith is a gift of God through the spirit of prophecy and discernment working together that produces the unwavering hope of things that are already set in our future. The knowing of hope produces the works, so that faith (knowing what has already been set in the future) has energy fed into it and accomplishes the results that God has already placed there. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The “now faith” is now and the “before faith” is what allowed us to have the hope to have the “now faith”; which, started with faith or you could not have accepted hope; because the world is without hope before faith.

We can believe for hope and hope to believe; however, faith is now, and hope is always future; therefore, faith comes before hope.

Jesus gave us the gift of faith from our receiving it to its completion, and this faith produces hope.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There is no hope without justification by faith.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In conclusion:

The worldly understanding is – Hope is before faith; because a person must hope to receive faith.

The Kingdom enlightenment is - The Father gave us Jesus and He authored and finished our faith; therefore, our faith gives us the hope that does not disappoint.