Where hope comes from

 Posted at Reformation Scotland:

"The gospel is not so much God reconcile-able to sinners, as God in Christ reconciling sinners to himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Though some are always suspicious of God, yet they have more reason to suspect their own willingness. For what is all the gospel but a declaration of His love, and His laying down the enmity? Or rather, that He never had hostile affections to His elect, and so was all this time providing a ransom for Himself, and bringing about the way to kill the enmity? - Hugh Binning (1627–1653)

In the midst of worries and fears for the future of society and the church, how can the believer still look forward with hope? Hugh Binning noticed Paul’s prayer in Romans 15:13, “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” In a sermon on this prayer, Binning traces the connection between peace, joy and hope, and the necessity of believing for enjoying any benefit.

There is a threefold river, each part derived from a previous. The first in order of nature is peace, a sweet, calm and refreshing river. Then it runs in a stream of joy, the high spring tide. Ordinarily then it sends forth the comforting stream of hope, and does so in abundance. This threefold river has its origin high up, as high as the God of hope, and the power of the Holy Ghost, but its channel is situated low, i.e., believing in Christ.

Continue here...