Why is faith essential for experiencing the hope of the gospel?

Faith acts as the means by which we receive the hope of the gospel, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9, where it highlights that we are saved by grace through faith. This faith is not merely a one-time acknowledgment, but is a continual belief that feeds and grows as we hear the gospel. Colossians 1:23 similarly tells us that we must continue in the faith, grounded and settled. Thus, without an active and living faith, we cannot fully grasp or partake in the hope offered to us through the gospel.