Christ finished his ministry in His Passion, so doing beginning His Kingdom on earth.
Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access through faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience trial; and trial hope; And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.
A hope that realizes its object is no longer hope. The virtue of hope that scripture speaks of is a yearning to obtain from God an infinite good, particularly consisting of eternal life and a gratification only God satisfies. In hope we are no longer hesitant in our faith satisfying the intellect and will to seek Him. (Cf. Augustine, Holy Trinity, 14, 3, 6)
These verses in Romans don’t speak of a guaranteed salvation; ‘faith alone’ isn’t salvific. Rather it’s a dead faith no longer in need of God finding instead a satisfaction in self. These verses speak to that assurance of hope that groans “within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.” We find God’s charity that he gave us Christ, whose death didn’t end sin, doesn’t warranty salvation, but gives us hope even in tribulation. This hope translates into our perseverance in hope, with fear and trembling to work out our salvation. (Cf. Phil. 2:12).
God’s grace, gives us faith which in its turn produces hope which in its turn produces charity. However, Charity is the greatest of these, because it merits grace which in turn strengthens our faith working an increase in our hope and again an increase in charity.
It’s not true that hope is eternal; if it is then we are doomed. Part of hope is that we realize our faith in Christ, becoming adopted ‘sons of God’; “hope that is seen, is not hope”. Conversely, a hope that is eternal is never realized.
Furthermore, if by eternal hope you mean to say that we realize our hope in this world then we are also doomed. Receiving our salvation in this world would be to say that our hope is realized in this world. Look around your mad world; is this your ‘salvation’? To what end do we persevere to the end, to be saved back into this world? (Cf Matt 10:22 and Matt 24:13).
It’s in this way the bible says hope saves: “And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God [i.e. HOPE FOR], the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope.” (Romans 8:23-24). It’s in our hope that we preserver.
JoeT
