A sect, or party, of the Jewish religious leaders who supported the Roman rule of the Herods. They were hated by the Pharisees, but were used by them to help "trap Jesus in His words," (Matthew 22:15; Mark 12:13). The Pharisees plotted with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus, (Mark 3:6).
(See also Pharisees, Sadducees / Priests / High Priests / Chief Priests, Scribes / Teachers of the Law / Expert in the Law.)
From the Greek word hagiasmos. It means "set apart for God's use; the state into which a believer is called and in which a believer must live; a state predetermined by God for believers and in which they begin their Christian course and pursue it." God has reconciled man by Christ's death so that man may stand before Him HOLY in His sight. Colossians 1:21-23 says, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel. This is the Gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
This is also "sanctification" or being "sanctified." Those who are Holy--set apart from the world--the world of sin and darkness--and separated unto God for His use--are therefore called "saints," from the Greek word hagioi. God, Christ and the Spirit are perfect in their holiness. Saints are seen as perfect in the eyes of God through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ and, thus, are in the constant process of being made holy. Hebrews 10:14 says, "because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
It is God's Will that believers--the saints--live holy lives, for His Holy Spirit is in them. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 says, "It is God's Will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, Who gives you His Holy Spirit." And in 1 Peter 1:13-15, it says of God's saints--God's obedient children, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'"
(See also Christian, Church / Assembly, Disciple, Obey / Obedience, Perfect / Perfecter / Perfecting / Perfection, Reconcile / Reconciliation.)
"Hope" that God speaks of is not a vague and wishful longing for something out of reach, something out of one's control. This is not the kind of "hope" that people use on a daily basis, such as, "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow," or "I hope I win a million dollars in a sweepstakes."
"Hope" comes from the Greek word elpis. It means, "favorable and confident expectation." When the saved--those who believe and obey God's commands--are justified (made right) in His sight by the blood of His Son, they have the "hope of eternal life," (Titus 3:1-8). This means that they have a firm and confident expectation of the certainty and the reality of that life in eternity with God, which they now already possess here on earth as servants and children of God. Jesus says that whoever believes in the Son HAS eternal life, (John 3:36)--a confident expectation, and not vague and wishful thinking. Believers live in eternal life now, having crossed over from death to life, (John 5:24). Jesus says that the Father's Will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall HAVE eternal life, and that they will be raised up by Christ at the last day, (John 6:40). And there it is--that "hope of eternal life"--a confident expectation that what a child of God already lives in (eternal life) in the mortal body is of a SURITY to be realized in the immortal body.
Hope has to do with the unseen and the future. Romans 8:24-25 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." God's children wait patiently for the redemption of our bodies when Christ comes again, having a confident expectation, a SURE faith and knowledge that this will be so.
"Hope" describes the happy anticipation of good. Titus 1:1-2 says, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness--a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, Who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,..." Again, this "hope" of eternal life is not a vague and unfulfilled longing for something out of reach. Our faith and knowledge rest upon a promise from God made before the beginning of time. God promised that those who have faith in His Son and, therefore, in Him, have eternal life as they grow in the knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness. God cannot lie. This "hope" of eternal life is the happy anticipation of the good promised to us by God--a confident expectation, a surety.
"Hope" describes the ground--the foundation--on which a Christian's spiritual life is based. Colossians 1:27 says, "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." What is the "hope of glory" in a child of God? It is "Christ in you." Is this a "sure thing?" Is this "hope of glory" expected to happen to a child of God, without doubt, without fear of failure, without disappearing from their grasp? It is as sure as "Christ in you"! It is the foundation upon which a child of God bases a life in Christ.
"Hope" also describes the object upon which the hope is fixed. 1 Timothy 1:1 says, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope..." Christ is not only the foundation of our hope, He IS our hope. Christ IS the confident expectation upon which faith is based, upon which obedience is carried out, upon which worship and service is rendered to God, upon which salvation rests, upon which the child of God endures under trial and tribulation while waiting for the coming of Christ--Who IS our hope. As sure as His Word holds everything together, as sure as He is the God-breathed Word, as sure as He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, as sure as He is the Light in a dark world--THAT is as sure as we can feel, believe and KNOW that Christ is our "hope of glory."
But "hope" must be nourished. It does not just drop on one's lap and become a permanent fixture, not needing any work or effort. Hebrews 6:9-12 says, "Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." The child of God can become lazy, ceasing to be diligent in their work and love for God. The child of God can "wander from the faith," (1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 2:14-19). The child of God can lose that "confident expectation"--can lose that "hope" on which we rest. "Hope" must be nourished by continual study of God's Word so that growth and maturity result, and so that we can confidently teach others, (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:18). Hope must work by faith, (James 1:22-25; James 2:14-26).
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