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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The Bible has quite a lot to say about hope. Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, "I hope it will not rain tomorrow." In add...
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Shirley H
Supporter
The Hebrew word for hope signifies "to wait with expectation." When I think of hope in the Bible I think of, Romans 5:5, "Now hop does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." But, the most important hope to me is: Titus 2:12 & 13 - "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (vs14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Luke 21:36, "Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." My hope is built on Jesus Christ's blood and righteousness. I am watching, waiting and hoping!
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I would like to cite just 3 NT verses about “Hope in Christ.”
Concerning Romans 15:13, Biblical hope is faith in the future tense, and it is the natural byproduct of taking God at His Word. In most cases, those who feel hopeless either doubt God’s promises or have lost sight of them. The hope-filled life is not something we must manufacture, but it is lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit, who fills us “with all joy and peace in believing.”
After the ascension, the early church was left with an eschatological expectation that was primarily and almost technically the "hope" of the New Testament--"looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Tit 2:13), "unto a living hope...., unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,.... reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:3-5).
Concerning 1 Peter 1:3, Christ’s resurrection provides more than a happy ending to the gospel story; it provides new life and living hope for all who trust in Him (John 1:12; Acts 16:31). ("On your own life is a hopeless end, with God it is an endless hope." -- Bill Bright) Without the empty tomb, we would be “of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15:19). Instead, we can live in confidence that “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11).
It is spoken of as "lively", i.e., a living, hope, a hope not frail and perishable, but having a perennial life (1 Pet. 1:3). In Rom. 5:2 the "hope" spoken of is probably objective, i.e., "the hope set before us," namely, eternal life (comp. Ro 12:12 -- "Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.")
Concerning 1 Peter 1:13, in the preceding verses, Peter reminds us that Christ’s first coming was highly anticipated. Generations of prophets looked forward to the Messiah as they searched “what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (vs. 11). Just as the prophets lived in expectation of Christ’s first coming, we are to set our hope on the grace to be brought at His return.
As Christians, our hope in Christ transcends today and its problems. As you remember afresh these powerful truths, “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
And a fourth that I won't comment on: "I'm a hostage here for hope, not doom." Acts 28:20
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