Ephesians 3:12 – In Whom we have boldness and access by confidence through His faith.
Part 2 ~ Hope vs Confidence
Do you know in Whom you have believed? Are you persuaded God will do what He said He would do? From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a message about God’s desire for us to trust Him and have confidence in His love. The faith we walk in, which is the faith of Christ, should produce the greatest confidence possible. The need for trust, courage, and faith are continually repeated throughout God’s dealings with His people. One of the great “trust” words of the Old Testament is the Hebrew word ‘batach.’ Psalm 27:3 uses this word: “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident (batach).” Now, when translators of the Greek Old Testament {LXX} translated this word, they used the word that has been translated “hope” in the New Testament: ‘elpitzo’.
It is vital we recognize that God has given us something far more than just hope! He has given us a great consolation! He has done more than just swear an oath! We must recognize His desire is for us to trust Him, to feel safe, confident, secure, and unconcerned – all of which the word ‘elpitzo’ conveys. In general terms today, when we speak of “hope” it conveys uncertainty. Uncertainty can never be associated with the faith of Jesus. Uncertainty leaves us vulnerable to Satanic lies, and spooked by every shadow. There needs to be a strong bond of confidence in our relationship with the Lord. In the Old Testament, the word ‘elpitzo’ conveys the meaning of confidently relying on God; and it should convey the same meaning in the New Testament as well.
There are several good examples of ‘elpitzo’ being translated with a much stronger meaning than “hope” in the New Testament: Ephesians 1:12 – That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted (‘proelpitzo’) in Christ; Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold fast the profession (‘elpidos’) of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful Who promised. Unfortunately there are many Scriptures that would have conveyed this much stronger meaning of “confidence”; but instead they were reduced to “hope.” Listen to these Scriptures speak when “hope” is replaced with “confidence”: Romans 5:2 – By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in confidence of the glory of God; Romans 5:4 – And patience, experience; and experience, confidence; Romans 12:12- Rejoicing in confidence, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer; Romans 15:13 – Now the God of confidence fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in confidence through the power of the Holy Ghost; Colossians 1:27 – To whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the confidence of glory.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
