Paul is facing the trial for his faith. He takes this opportunity to tie the roots of Christianity to the God of the Jews. He declared himself a fulfilled Jew because of the salvation afforded to him through the Messiah, Jesus. He was secure because of that salvation. We too, do not live with wishful thinking or blind optimism, our hope is grounded in something that has already happened. The finished work of Jesus on the cross. 

By Dave Bartlett