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."

Genesis 17:19 God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Romans 3:19-26 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be accountable to God.

For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and prophets bear witness of it,

the righteousness of God though faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;

since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins;

it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was sounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.

Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ.

For He is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility,

by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, therefore bringing the hostility to an end.

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;

for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:11-12 This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him.

James 1:12-18 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;

but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Of his own will be brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Philippians 1:19-20 Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not at all ashamed; but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.