The First To Hope

 “…so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12 ESV

This statement is also part of what Paul was saying that we have an inheritance in Christ. His intention with this verse is to say that even though Paul and his fellow believers were the first generations of believers, what he means by “first to hope” is to have hope in Christ before it is confirmed. In other words, demonstrating faith.

Even though we have not seen Jesus in person like many in the early church, there is a greater blessing for those who trust Jesus by faith. John 20:29b ESV says, “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So what does it mean to be ‘blessed?’ If you say you have been blessed, it infers mercy. It can also mean favor or a gift bestowed by God.

Although we haven't physically seen Jesus like the early church, there's a greater blessing for those who trust Him through faith. John 20:29b ESV says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." But what does faith mean? According to the Greek Lexicon of Hederic, the original meaning of the verb "faith" is to bind and draw or lead, like a rope or cable. The verb's sense, from which the meaning of rope and binding is derived, is to strain, to draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A rope or cable is what makes things fast. So, to put this in practical terms, faith is like binding ourselves to something or someone and being drawn by that which we are bound to. What a perfect example of putting our faith in Christ; we are bound to Him by faith, and He draws us ever closer to Himself.

To be "blessed" means that you have received mercy and favor from God. This favor is not granted because we have been good, but because God is inherently good. We don't need to qualify to receive God's favor, as it has already been given to us through Christ Jesus. God has shown us mercy by sending his son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins. This act of love and kindness means that we are forever blessed by God's goodness.

Why do we put our hope in Christ?  First of all, it's worth noting that Christ is not the last name of Jesus. Christ or Christos is a noun meaning "The Anointed." It is an appellation given to the Savior of the World and is synonymous with the Hebrew term Messiah. Jesus is the anointed one chosen by God to be our salvation. Jesus didn't die to send us salvation, but to become our salvation. Our salvation is a person in the body of Jesus.

Believing in Jesus requires having faith in an invisible divine being, whom we cannot physically see and who has ascended to heaven and now rules on a throne of glory. It may be hard to perceive the glory of God in our natural world, but our faith allows us not only to see it but also to actualize it for ourselves and others. This happens when we gather with fellow believers in Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in our fellowship together.

Paul explains that our faith contributes to the praise of God's glory. We honor God not only for who He is (God in human form) but also for what He accomplished when He was on earth. It was not enough that a man had to die for the sins of the world, but God Himself did the deed on our behalf. As John 15:13 ESV states, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Jesus not only laid down His life and died for mankind, but also took it up again. This was a significant blow to the Satanic forces on earth that have relied on their power ower death for many millennia. The demonic powers have used men and women to drive their agenda and narrative, which is antichrist. Paul strongly encourages us to praise the glory of Christ by faith. Through that faith, we allow the life of Christ and His glory to expose the works of the devil through love, mercy, and grace, which cancels out all claims the enemy has made.

The life of Christ inside us is the ultimate power, granting us the authority over sin, death, and the devil with his fallen angels. With this power, we can lead our lives as children of God with the unwavering conviction that we are an essential part of a holy family and a royal priesthood. There is simply nothing that can compare to the life of Christ and our privileged place in it.

Stephen Barnett