Hope that Does not Disappoint RSV


Romans 4:17-25 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"-- in the presence of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be."

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

That is why his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness."

But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,

but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,

who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Genesis 15:1-5 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield your reward shall be very great."

But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is E-li e' zer of Damascus?"

And Abram said, "Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir."

And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; your own son  shall be your heir."

And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

Hebrews 11:11-12 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Therefore from one man,  and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars in heaven and the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Genesis 21:1-7 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.

And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac,

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; every one who hears will laugh over me."

And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would suckle children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."