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†. 1Pet 3:15 . .Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
That passage should always accompany this next one.
†. Rom 8:23-25 . .We ourselves, who have the first-fruits 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.
The New Testament Greek word for "hope" in those passages is elpis (el
pece') which means to anticipate (usually with pleasure); and to expect with
confidence. Note the elements of anticipation, and expectation, and
confidence.
Webster's definition of hope as a verb is very similar: 1) to desire with
expectation of obtainment, and 2) to expect with confidence and trust. Note
the elements of expectation, and confidence, and trust.
Webster's definition of hope as a noun is: 1) a desire accompanied by
expectation of, or belief in, fulfillment, and 2) expectation of fulfillment or
success. Note the elements of expectation, and belief.
The plan of salvation includes not only rescue from the wrath of God, but
also rescue from despair and feelings of futility. In other words: unbelievers
do not expect to survive the demise of their bodies, nor do they expect to
get another body in the afterlife; let alone a better body-- one that's
superior in all respects to the body they have now. Believers expect to not
only survive the demise of their body; but also to get a better body-- one
that's superior in all respects to the one they have now.
When somebody has that kind of hope, it rescues them from despair and
feelings of futility. In other words: the unbeliever's current existence is
futile, but the believer's current existence is merely a stepping stone to
something better. Believers have something to look forward to while
unbelievers have nothing to look forward to. That's what it means to be
"saved by hope". In other words: saved from having nothing to look forward
to. (cf. 1Cor 15:51-54)
†. Rom 12:12 . . Rejoicing in hope.
When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind
dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; no; but they
do have plenty of cause to fear the unknown.
Does an adherent of Catholicism have elpis hope? I don't think so; and in
point of fact, Church dogma forbids having it on pain of a special curse.
Council of Trent, Canon 16 . . If anyone says that he will for certain, with an
absolute and infallible certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to
the end, unless he shall have learned this by a special revelation, let him be
anathema. (cf. CCC 1020)
Webster's defines "anathema" as: a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by
ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication.
Since Rome doesn't permit elpis hope, then it's de facto that Rome's
constituents can't possibly comply with Peter's command to give a reason for
having it.
The Bible says that elpis hope is a "calling"
†. Eph 4:5 . .you were called to one hope when you were called
Catholicism's hope is not Peter's elpis hope; but rather, a somewhat nervous
state of anxiety and wishful thinking that hovers within a hair's breadth of
bitter disappointment.
The Council aside; it only stands to reason, that any candidate for a better
body who is in the process of working out their own salvation with fear and
trembling as per Rome's interpretation of Php 2:12, cannot possibly have
elpis hope.
Think about it. If a candidate for salvation is still in the process of working
out their own salvation with fear and trembling, then it's obvious they do not
believe themselves to have a better body locked in yet; ergo: no
conscientious Catholic can honestly look forward to a better body with a
100% doubt-free expectation of obtaining it; viz: they do not yet have the
kind of hope about which Peter wrote in 1Pet 3:15, nor the kind of hope
about which Paul wrote in Eph 4:5; and if they claim otherwise, then they
fall under the curse of Council of Trent, Canon 16.
==========================================
†. 1Pet 3:15 . .Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
That passage should always accompany this next one.
†. Rom 8:23-25 . .We ourselves, who have the first-fruits 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.
The New Testament Greek word for "hope" in those passages is elpis (el
pece') which means to anticipate (usually with pleasure); and to expect with
confidence. Note the elements of anticipation, and expectation, and
confidence.
Webster's definition of hope as a verb is very similar: 1) to desire with
expectation of obtainment, and 2) to expect with confidence and trust. Note
the elements of expectation, and confidence, and trust.
Webster's definition of hope as a noun is: 1) a desire accompanied by
expectation of, or belief in, fulfillment, and 2) expectation of fulfillment or
success. Note the elements of expectation, and belief.
The plan of salvation includes not only rescue from the wrath of God, but
also rescue from despair and feelings of futility. In other words: unbelievers
do not expect to survive the demise of their bodies, nor do they expect to
get another body in the afterlife; let alone a better body-- one that's
superior in all respects to the body they have now. Believers expect to not
only survive the demise of their body; but also to get a better body-- one
that's superior in all respects to the one they have now.
When somebody has that kind of hope, it rescues them from despair and
feelings of futility. In other words: the unbeliever's current existence is
futile, but the believer's current existence is merely a stepping stone to
something better. Believers have something to look forward to while
unbelievers have nothing to look forward to. That's what it means to be
"saved by hope". In other words: saved from having nothing to look forward
to. (cf. 1Cor 15:51-54)
†. Rom 12:12 . . Rejoicing in hope.
When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind
dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; no; but they
do have plenty of cause to fear the unknown.
Does an adherent of Catholicism have elpis hope? I don't think so; and in
point of fact, Church dogma forbids having it on pain of a special curse.
Council of Trent, Canon 16 . . If anyone says that he will for certain, with an
absolute and infallible certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to
the end, unless he shall have learned this by a special revelation, let him be
anathema. (cf. CCC 1020)
Webster's defines "anathema" as: a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by
ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication.
Since Rome doesn't permit elpis hope, then it's de facto that Rome's
constituents can't possibly comply with Peter's command to give a reason for
having it.
The Bible says that elpis hope is a "calling"
†. Eph 4:5 . .you were called to one hope when you were called
Catholicism's hope is not Peter's elpis hope; but rather, a somewhat nervous
state of anxiety and wishful thinking that hovers within a hair's breadth of
bitter disappointment.
The Council aside; it only stands to reason, that any candidate for a better
body who is in the process of working out their own salvation with fear and
trembling as per Rome's interpretation of Php 2:12, cannot possibly have
elpis hope.
Think about it. If a candidate for salvation is still in the process of working
out their own salvation with fear and trembling, then it's obvious they do not
believe themselves to have a better body locked in yet; ergo: no
conscientious Catholic can honestly look forward to a better body with a
100% doubt-free expectation of obtaining it; viz: they do not yet have the
kind of hope about which Peter wrote in 1Pet 3:15, nor the kind of hope
about which Paul wrote in Eph 4:5; and if they claim otherwise, then they
fall under the curse of Council of Trent, Canon 16.
==========================================
