The Bible has a lot to say about hope. Hope is defined in the Bible as an expectation, desire, or longing for something good in the future. It is one of the three theological virtues, along with faith and love. Hope is rooted in faith in God’s promises and salvation through Jesus Christ. Here is an overview of some of the key things the Bible says about hope:
Hope comes from God
The Bible teaches that true hope comes from God. God gives us hope through His Word and His promises:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
Our hope is in God Himself:
“But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.” (Psalm 71:14)
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.” (Psalm 42:11)
God is described as the “God of hope” who can fill us with joy, peace, and hope as we trust in Him. As we read the Bible, we are given hope and encouragement to endure suffering and trials.
Hope produces joy and leads us to praise God
Having hope fills us with joy and leads us to praise God. When we fix our hope on God and His promises, it gives us joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances:
“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)
The hope we have in Christ motivates us to praise God and rejoice. As we hope in God, we can experience joy and peace even in times of tribulation and suffering.
Hope produces confidence and empowers endurance
Hope gives us confidence to keep going and empowers us to patiently endure:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Hope gives us the confidence that our present sufferings are producing something greater – proven character, and hope that does not disappoint. Clinging to the hope we have in Christ helps us to endure hardships without giving up.
Hope purifies and motivates us to live holy lives
The Bible links hope with purity and living lives pleasing to God:
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25)
The hope we have in Christ and the promise of being with Him eternally motivates us to purify ourselves and live holy lives. Our hope produces patient endurance and willingness to suffer for Christ.
Hope anchors our souls and gives us stability
Hope provides roots and stability for our faith. It is like an anchor for the soul:
“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” (Hebrews 6:17-19)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Hope gives us strong encouragement and confidence to remain steadfast in our faith. Clinging to the hope we have in Christ anchors our soul so we don’t drift away.
Putting our hope fully in Christ
As Christians, our hope must be fully in Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides:
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.” (1 Timothy 1:1)
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Christ Himself is our hope. We are called to place our hope completely in Him as our Lord and Savior.
The hope of eternal life
One major component of our hope as believers is the promised hope of eternal life:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25)
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” (Titus 1:1-2)
The promise of eternal life is a major component of our hope as believers. We patiently endure hardship in this life because we have hope for the life to come.
Putting hope into action
Biblical hope is not passive wishful thinking – it empowers us to live differently. True hope transforms us and motivates us to action:
“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Hope enables endurance in affliction, motivates us to purify ourselves, and should lead to a life of prayer, generosity, and devotion to Christ. Our lives should demonstrate our hope.
Waiting in hope
There is a waiting aspect to hope. We wait with patience and faith for God’s promises to be fulfilled:
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:25)
“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:20)
As we put our hope in God, we confidently and patiently wait for His perfect timing in fulfilling His promises. Waiting with hope demonstrates our trust in God’s faithfulness.
Hope inspires sharing our faith
Our hope in Christ compels us to share the gospel with others:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
When we understand all we have in Christ, it gives us hope that inspires us to share Christ with others. Our hope comes from knowing Christ and His salvation for us.
Old Testament examples of hope
There are many examples of hope in the Old Testament that pointed forward to the ultimate hope in Christ:
– Abraham persevering in hope for the promised son (Romans 4:18)
– Psalmists hoping in God’s deliverance and salvation (Psalm 71, 130)
– Prophets foretelling the coming Messiah and future restoration (Isaiah 11:1-10)
– Israelites living in exile but holding onto hope of return to promised land (Jeremiah 29:11)
Old Testament saints clung to promises from God and persevered in hope even in desperate circumstances. Their hope pointed ahead to Christ.
New Testament examples of hope
In the New Testament we see hope fleshed out in Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides:
– Simeon and Anna hoping to see the Messiah before death (Luke 2:25-38)
– Paul enduring persecution because of the hope of resurrection (Acts 23:6, 24:15)
– Early believers rejoicing in hope despite trials (Romans 5:2-5)
– Paul motivated by the hope of the return of Christ (Titus 2:13)
New Testament believers placed their complete hope and confidence in Christ as Savior and coming King. This hope empowered them to joyfully endure trials.
Hope for the future
The Bible tells us to place our hope in the promises still yet to come:
– Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
– The redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23-25)
– Eternity with Christ (Revelation 21:1-7)
– The new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13)
As Christians, we have a “blessed hope” – the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This future hope inspires us to live godly lives in the present age.
Hope found in Christ alone
In summary, biblical hope is rooted in Jesus Christ, who is the sole basis for our salvation. Placing our complete hope and trust in Him empowers us to endure, purifies us, anchors our souls, and inspires us to share our faith with others. Our hope transforms the way we live as we eagerly but patiently await the fulfillment of God’s promises for the future. The Bible makes clear that our only true and lasting hope is found in Jesus Christ alone.
