Mike Ratliff makes some good points in his discussion below.
The words Faith, Hope and Love are used often in Scripture. When I reflect on these it almost appears that these three words could be a way of defining our Spiritual bodies. Much like our human bodies have dimension: Height, Width and Depth making us three dimensional people in this physical world. (At times if I don’t watch my diet, a bit larger on the Width and Depth aspect!). Of course since our physical bodies change during or lives there is even that fourth dimension Time involved.
As for our Spiritual bodies perhaps they can be understood by our dimensions along the three Axis’s of Faith, Hope and Love. Like the old 3D charts in our Geometry classes.
Only in this case being large in each dimension is a good thing. Anyway I don’t want to belabor the analogy, making it into format doctrine but it’s certainly a good thing to grow in these dimensions in our Spiritual lives. Perhaps there is even a time dimension to each of these three: with Faith being rooted in the past, providing an assurance from what came before as a foundation, as many are illustrated in Hebrews 11; Hope, more anchored in our expectation of the future and ultimately our eternal future as Mike discusses; finally Love, is in the present this is where we show forth our Faith and Hope, in the world around us, to God and one another, even to our enemies. Technically we only live in the present, and this is where we work out our Salvation and perhaps why Paul shares it offers us the greatest opportunity to shine our light and give glory to God.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Ephesians 3:9-21 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Rainbow Trout 