Hope in the Gospel

In Advent, we are looking together at the theme of hope in Romans 15. Paul ends this section with a remarkable prayer for the Roman church:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope (Rom 15:13).

In this prayer, we’re reminded that the hope of the gospel transforms our lives. As Paul rounds out this section of his letter, he prays that God would fill his fellow believers in the Roman church with all joy and peace in believing so that through the Holy Spirit they would abound in hope.

Much in our lives pushes against joy, peace, and hope. Often, we find ourselves filled more with bitterness, anxiety, and fear. We sense our need for the hope that comes at Christmas—the hope of Jesus Christ—to fill our lives. Yet, this hope can seem elusive.

Here Paul reminds us that this joy, peace, and hope for which we long come through faith in Jesus Christ. We need the Spirit to continue to help us apply the gospel deeper into our hearts so that we can abound in this hope.

In addition to the personal application, the nature of this verse as a prayer calls us to be bearers of gospel hope for others through prayer. Often, we want to pray for others, but we don’t quite feel like we have the words to say. Here in this verse, Paul gives us words we can pray for others—for our church, for our families, and for our neighbors. As we spend time with friends and family this Christmas, perhaps we could pray these words for them as we seek to shine the light of the hope of the gospel in their lives.