Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:24-25

"For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for it." — Romans 8:24-25 (ASV)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Ah, brothers, if we could be all we would like to be, there would then be no room for the exercise of hope. If we had all that we are to have, then hope, which is one of the sweetest of the graces, would have no room in which to exercise herself. It is a blessed thing to have hope. Though I have heard that faith and hope are not to be found in heaven, I very much question it.

I do not think they will ever die. Now abide these three—faith, hope, and love. For in heaven there will be room, surely, for trust in the ever-blessed God that He will never cast us out from our blessedness.

There will be room for the expectation of the second advent, room for the expectation of the conquest of the world, and room for the fulfilled promise of bringing all the elect to glory. Indeed, there will still be something to be hoped for, still something to be believed.

Yet here on earth is the main sphere of hope, and therefore let us give it full scope. When other graces seem to be at a standstill, let us still hope.

I believe the New Zealand word for hope is "swimming thought," because that will swim when everything else is drowned. Oh, happy is that man who has a hope that swims on the crest of the stormiest billow!

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

This is our attitude and our condition now—waiting for the glory that is to be revealed in us, and accepting the sorrow that is appointed to us as an introduction to the joy that is to come to us mysteriously, through it. But while we are waiting, we are not without present comfort.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it?

This is our present position, patiently waiting for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, patiently waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, for it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

What a lesson that is, and how seldom do we learn it! Oh! In this present state, our main duty is, Then do we with patience wait for it.

You wish to have your cake and keep it as well, but you cannot eat it and keep it too. With patience wait for it. Consider some fruits of the earth that are not yet ripe: you set them aside. In the same way, there are many good things that God has stored up for His people, and He says to us: With patience wait for it.

Oh! But you would eagerly have heavenly joy on earthly ground. That would be a sad mismatch if it were so. But God keeps time and season, and there is harmony in His music. You will have earthly sorrow on earthly ground, and you will have heavenly bliss on the heavenly shore—but not until then. So, we do with patience wait for it.