Expert: Paul Walker - 3/14/2004

Question
Sir:

I have a concern over the scriptures of the first book of Peter. the first seven or eight verses.

I have been given the sermon of those scriptures to interpret that the word "Salvation" means hope.  That being said, I concur. The word in context means "deliverance"

I also believe that salvation is sort of a faith of believers of God. In other words saying that any believer of God, will receive an inheritance in Heaven.

I assume that "hope" is a product of believing in Christ, but I do not understand this. If a Christian has hope, would that not be the same thing as faith?

Please clarify these verses in order for a more clear version.

Barry Gobble

Answer
Dear Barry Gobble,

If I understand your question correctly I can rephrase it as, "What is the relation of faith, hope, believing and salvation?"

  1 Peter 1:3-9
  3 ...LIVELY HOPE...
  5 ...THROUGH  FAITH...
  7 ...YOUR FAITH...
  8 ...YET BELIEVING...
  9 Receiving the end of YOUR FAITH, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.

Faith, hope and believing in a few verses would seem almost synonymous, however, I would say they are only very closely intertwined.

    Romans 8:24 For we are SAVED BY HOPE: but hope that is  seen
    is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

We believe God, trust in what he says, by faith and that which we believe and are putting our faith in becomes our hope.

    1 Timothy 1:1 Paul,  an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  by  the
    commandment of God  our  Saviour,  and  Lord  Jesus  Christ,
    [WHICH IS] OUR HOPE;

    Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access BY  FAITH  into  this
    grace wherein we stand, and rejoice IN HOPE of the glory  of
    God.

    Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for THE HOPE OF
    RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH.

We believe by faith in Christ's atonement and hope for his return, resurrection and salvation.

    Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in  the  faith  grounded  and
    settled, and [be] not  moved  away  from  the  hope  of  the
    gospel,...

    1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us,  who  are  of  the  day,  be
    sober, putting on the breastplate OF FAITH and love; and for
    an helmet, THE HOPE OF SALVATION.

    Acts 24:14-15 14 But this I confess unto  thee,  that  after
    the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God  of  my
    fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN in  the  law
    and in the prophets: 15 And have HOPE TOWARD GOD, which they
    themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of
    the dead, both of the just and unjust.

I hope this helps.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,

Paul Walker
ysicj@aficj.com