“…hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5).
Faith in Christ truly received and understood naturally leads to an authentic, eternal, hope based on a reality and therefore there is no shame, for it is authentic. This faith which leads to hope will automatically result in the love of Christ overflowing from within us…BECAUSE we have received the “ASSURANCE AND SECURITY” of His love shown to us through the reality that we have by the Holy Spirit living within us. This Holy Spirit within us is not just the guarantee that we are the “children of God” and therefore beloved, but that we also have a hope without shame due to the down payment which is shown by us having the Spirit in us and which is guaranteeing an eternal hope, foundation, security, and inheritance awaiting us at the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….
It is this “Faith, Hope, and Love” which the Apostle Paul is speaking of in first Corinthians chapter thirteen
TRUE faith in Christ will lead to a supernatural and true hope which is founded on an eternal reality fixed in heaven and will then prove itself in love BECAUSE we ourselves are SECURE IN HIS LOVE FOR US.
Now, a very important key here: This authentic love with which we are to “love one another” IS NOT something we create. IT CAN ONLY COME THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT! And only comes because of the Christian’s faith which has lead to hope equaling Jesus love through us.
Lastly, LOVE IS “doing whatever is in the best interest of another” It was in our best interest that Jesus died for us. It is in the best interest for…you fill in the blank. This is how you know love. The Father sent His Son for us. This was in our “eternal best interest”. Whatever is in the best interest regarding that which will last, that which is of eternal value. The eternal must be the ultimate concern.
So, at the end of the day, at the end of time, when the perfect comes…it is LOVE, rooted in hope, stemming from faith. This is what is sure, constant, unchanging, and given to all believers in Jesus name! Amen
Aletheia: Truth in the Darkness 