Our Hope
[Romans 8:23-25]

Look at Romans 8:23-25: “Not only that, but we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

Who are the "we" in this passage?

First, we are "those who have received the firstfruits of the Spirit."

Look at Romans 8:23: “Not only that, but we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” We are the ones who have received the Spirit as the firstfruits (Romans 8:23, Modern Bible). When did we receive the Spirit as the firstfruits? From the beginning of the book of Romans, it tells us that all of us (all humanity) are sinners (see Genesis 3). To save these sinners, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Through His atoning death on the cross, we were saved and became children of God. On this basis, God declared us righteous. And then, He sent the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit gave us new life (Ephesians 2:1), and we were saved by God’s grace (v. 5). Thus, we received the Holy Spirit as the firstfruits (past salvation).

Second, we are "those who have been saved in hope."

Look at Romans 8:24: "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?" The Bible says that we are saved by faith. Look at Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Look at Romans 3:28: "Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." However, in Romans 8:24, it says we are saved by hope. The Modern Bible says, "We were saved in this hope." This means that we were not saved by hope (desire) but by faith, but we received salvation in hope. Hope is not the means (method) of salvation. Faith is the means of salvation.

So, what is it that we are “hoping for” (Romans 8:24)?

First, we are hoping for "the adoption, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23).

We have "already" (Already) been adopted. Look at Romans 8:15-16: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." We will also be "adopted" in the future ("Not-yet"). Look at Romans 8:23: "Not only that, but we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."

What does “the redemption of our body” mean? Look at Romans 8:10-11: “… and if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Although our bodies are dead because of sin, the Spirit who dwells in us has given us new life (born again), and He will also give life to our mortal bodies. When the last trumpet sounds (1 Corinthians 15:52), we will be instantaneously changed (1 Corinthians 15:51), and the dead in Christ will rise incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Look at Philippians 3:20-21: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

Look at 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

The "redemption of the body" (Romans 8:23) is the future glorification that will occur at the coming of the Lord. Look at Matthew 13:43: "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Look at Revelation 22:5: "There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever."

We are waiting for the "redemption of our body," the future glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:23).

Secondly, what we hope for is not what we see, but what we do not see (Romans 8:24-25).

What is visible is not hope (v. 24). There are so many visible hopes in this world that we can see with our physical eyes (e.g., hope to become rich, hope for health, hope for power and fame, etc.). The Bible tells us that these visible things are not hope (v. 24). Therefore, we should not hope in what is visible. We should not desire visible things more than invisible things. What is invisible is the true hope (v. 25). Since we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7, Modern Translation), we should hope in what is unseen rather than what is seen. As those who hope for what is unseen, we should desire even more the glory that will be revealed in the future. Since we are already experiencing this glory partially through the Holy Spirit, we should long for it even more and pursue it. Like the ancestors of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, we should long for a better, heavenly homeland through faith (Hebrews 11:16).

How should we "hope"?

First, we should hope with groaning in our hearts (Romans 8:23).

A mother in labor, having carried her pregnancy to full term, groans and sighs in pain as she longs for the precious life of the child she is about to give birth to. Similarly, those who truly believe in the future glory should groan and sigh in their hearts, especially as the return of the Lord draws nearer.

Second, we should hope “with patience” (Romans 8:25).

Look at Hebrews 12:2 in the Modern Translation: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the shame and suffering of the cross, and is now seated at the right hand of God.” Like Jesus, we too should endure any present suffering (Romans 8:18) for the joy that we will one day receive. We must hope with patience, enduring until the end.

Look at Matthew 10:22 in the Modern Translation: “You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Also, look at Matthew 24:13: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” We must endure in hope until the coming of the Lord, so that when He comes, we can enter with Him into the kingdom of hope and glory, and enjoy glory forever.