Good Hope

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began..." (Titus 1: 2 KJV)

"Hope (Noun and Verb), Hope (For): in the NT, "favorable and confident expectation" (contrast the Sept. in Isa 28:19, "an evil hope").

It has to do with the unseen and the future, Rom 8:24, 25. "Hope" describes

(a) the happy anticipation of good (the most frequent significance), e.g., Tts 1:2; 1 Pe 1:21;

(b) the ground upon which "hope" is based, Act 16:19; Col 1:27, "Christ in you the hope of glory;"

(c) the object upon which the "hope" is fixed, e.g., 1Ti 1:1.

The objective and subjective use of the word need to be distinguished; in Rom 15:4, e.g., the use is subjective.

In the NT three adjectives are descriptive of "hope:" "good," 2Th 2:16; "blessed," Tts 2:13; "living," 1Pe 1:3. To these may be added Hbr 7:19, "a better hope," i.e., additional to the commandment, which became disannulled (ver. 18), a hope centered in a new priesthood." (Vine)

Thus, to hope is not merely to "wish" or to "dream" but to anticipate, and to expect with confidence.

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is." (Jeremiah 17: 7 KJV)

"For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth." (Psalm 71: 5 KJV)

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." (Psalm 146: 5 KJV)

"The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." (Psalm 147: 11 KJV)

All these Old Testament verses tell us much about the hope of the servant of God and the believer in Jesus. God is declared to be the ground or foundation of hope. He is declared to be the source and inspiration for hope. He is the object of hope, the reason behind all expectation. His mercy is particularly an object of hope and trust, but his goodness and power also.

"But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts." (Psalm 22: 9 KJV)

Notice that the Psalmist gives God credit and praise for his hope. He did not see his hope as self created, but as God given and created.

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8: 24, 25 KJV)

Faith is integral to hope. Without faith there can be no expectation or anticipation. Hope depends upon faith for its strength.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1 KJV)

The word "substance" means that which "stands under," or that which supports or gives strength to stand. Notice also how hope deals with invisible and future things.

Sinners are saved by faith and hope. They are both delivered and preserved, two aspects of "salvation." The faith and hope of the Christian are gifts of God, given to him for means of salvation. We are said to be "kept (saved or preserved) by the power of God through faith (and hope)..." (I Peter 1: 5 KJV)

"That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God." (Psalm 78: 6-8 KJV)

Lord God has demonstrated that he alone is the only proper object of faith and hope. To hope in anything other than in God, his mercy, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, is to misplace hope, and bring ruin upon oneself. He calls and invites men to "set" their hopes upon him, upon his goodness and mercy, and upon his salvation.

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace..." (II Thessalonians 2: 16 KJV)

Again, the Christian hope of eternal life is a gift and creation of God, the gift of his grace. It is also a "good" hope, being founded upon the promises and word of God and the work of Christ.

"Charity (love) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things...And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (I Corinthians 13: 7, 13 KJV)

Notice the intimate connection between these three Christian graces (or gifts). We have already noticed the connection between faith and hope and this connection is again seen in the above verses on the character and evidences of spiritual and divine love.

Love produces faith and faith produces hope. Paul said elsewhere that "faith works by love." (Galatians 5: 6) And, hope works by faith, as we have seen. Thus, love is superior, for it is the first Christian grace, and source or grounds for faith and hope.

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15: 19 KJV)

The hope of the Christian and servant of God mainly concerns "eternal life" and "immortality" in the ages to come. If being Christian or a servant of God did not bring benefits beyond death and the grave, then our hope would end only in misery.

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." (Psalm 16: 9 KJV)

"And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." (Acts 24: 15 KJV)

The Christian hope concerns not only his soul, but his body too. His flesh, when it rests in the grave, "rests in hope" of resurrection and glorification and redemption for his dead body. His hope is that this body will be raised from weakness to power, from corruption to incorruption, from being a simply "natural" body to being a "spiritual body," like the one Jesus possessed after his bodily resurrection.

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5: 2 KJV)

"Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (I Peter 1: 21 KJV)

Without Christ there can be no faith nor hope. Those who find hope in Christ can only thank God in Christ for it. It is "by" or "through" the Lord Jesus Christ, by his coming into the world and by his victory over sin and death, that sinners are given reason to hope for salvation and eternal life.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." (I Peter 1: 3 KJV)

If Christ did not come forth from the grave, then our hope of salvation is a "dead" hope. Our expectation or anticipation of immortality and future resurrection is destroyed. We are "hopeless" as fallen hell-deserving sinners. But, Christ being raised from the dead, we have a "hope alive by the resurrection of Jesus."

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1: 27 KJV)

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope..." (I Timothy 1: 1 KJV)

If the Lord Jesus Christ be the sole object of a sinner's hope, he will truly have a "good hope," and a "blessed hope," and an "enduring hope," and a "hope that makes no one ashamed."

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5: 5 KJV)

Not only is the Christian hope from Christ, and lives by the power of his resurrection, but it is sustained, strengthened, and increased by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of God. This hope, founded on faith, and springing from genuine love for God and the gospel, is the reason and means of perseverence in love, faith, and hope.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope..."Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15: 4, 13 KJV)

"Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." (Psalm 119: 49 KJV)

Not only is Christ, the eternal living Word of God (John 1: 1, 14; I John 5: 7, etc.), the source of hope, but so is the written word of God, especially the gospel, and the promises of it. As the word of God is a means in creating faith, so hope also. A man who reads the bible with faith and love will find it giving and strengthening his hope.

"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." (I Thessalonians 5: 8 KJV)

The Christian's hope in Christ, and for eternal life and salvation, acts as a defense mechanism against many harms to his heart, soul, and mind. His "good hope," given "through grace," and "living by the resurrection of Christ," is an "helmet" to protect his thoughts, and to keep his mind from being invaded by despair, and other enemies of his faith and hope.

"...hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3: 6 KJV)

"...full assurance of hope unto the end." (Hebrews 6: 11 KJV)

These words speak of the Christian hope as possessing "full assurance," and being full of "confidence," or based upon solid faith in the promises of God in scripture, being a firm expectation, and a sure anticipation. It is a hope that produces perseverence amidst doubt and fear.

"...we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil..." (Hebrews 6: 18, 19 KJV)

The Christian hope involves a "strong consolation," and is likened to an "anchor." The hope of the believer in Jesus is an anchor, being anchored in Christ, who is now on the other side of the veil, out of our sight, and also being anchored in the word of God, in the gospel, and in the resurrection of Jesus. Such an hope and anchor is "sure" and "stedfast," and is a means of survival and preservation while the Christian is waiting for the thing he hopes for in the future.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (I Peter 3: 15 KJV)

Every Christian should come to understand the "reason" or "ground" for his hope. Knowledge is integral to faith and hope. The greater our knowledge of God and his word, of Christ and the gospel, the greater our faith and hope. Part of our work as "witnesses" for Christ is to tell others about the Christian hope.

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (I John 3: 3 KJV)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42: 5, 11; 43: 5 KJV)

Those who possess the hope of a Christian, who has made God and Christ the object of hope, will find that their hope, like their love and faith, acts not only as an helmet to protect their hearts and minds, but also acts as a stimulus to perseverance and preservation, to continued sanctification and cleansing of the life. The soul who's hope is in Christ is one who overcomes doubt and despair, for his hope is anchored.

"So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure." (Job 8: 13-15 KJV)

"For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?" (Job 27: 8 KJV)

"The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish." (Proverbs 10: 28 KJV)

"When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth." (Proverbs 11: 7 KJV)

"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2: 12 KJV)

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (I Thessalonians 4: 13 KJV)

All these verses describe the unbeliever as being "hopeless." Yes, he may have his "false hopes," or his "evil hope," but not a "good hope through grace," or "hope in Christ."

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31: 24 KJV)

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine...Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." (Psalm 33: 18, 19, 22 KJV)

"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3: 26 KJV)

These latter verses promise salvation to all who hope in the Lord, and in his mercy and grace, and in the work of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Friend, what is the source or object of your hope for the future, for the coming Day of Judgment?