Hope as confidence

Hope means more than a vague wish that something will happen. It is a sure and confident expectation in God’s future faithfulness and presence. The horizon of Christian hope extends beyond death into an eternity prepared by God himself, the reality of which is guaranteed by Jesus Christ.

God and Jesus Christ are the hope of believers

Ps 71:5; 1 Ti 1:1

Psalm 71:5 ESV

5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

1 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

See also Je 14:8; Je 17:13; Mt 12:21; Is 42:4; Ac 28:20; Ro 15:12–13; Is 11:10; 1 Ti 4:10; 1 Pe 1:21

The hope of resurrection and eternal life

Ac 23:6 The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection whereas the Pharisees did; Tt 1:2

1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Titus 3:7 ESV

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Our sufferings, trials and difficulties are to be measured against Eternity...

See also Ac 2:26–27; Ps 16:9; Ac 24:15; Ro 8:24; 1 Co 15:19; Tt 3:7; Heb 6:11; Heb 7:19; 1 Pe 1:3

The Hope of Future Glory

Ro 5:2; Col 1:27; Tt 2:13

Romans 5:2 ESV

2 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.

Colossians 1:27 ESV

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

See also Ro 8:18–21; 2 Co 3:10–12; Ga 5:5; Eph 1:12; Eph 1:18; 1 Th 2:19; 1 Th 5:8; 2 Ti 4:8

Hope is a Christian Virtue

Ro 5:3–4; 1 Co 13:13

Romans 5:3–4 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

See also Ro 12:12; Ro 15:13; 1 Co 13:7; Eph 4:4; Col 1:23; Heb 3:6; 1 Pe 3:15

The Effect of Future Hope on Living Now

Colossians 1:4–5 ESV

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

See also Ro 8:22–23 Hope induces a longing for what will be when Jesus Christ returns; 1 Th 1:3; 1 Th 5:8; Heb 6:19; 1 Pe 1:13; 1 Jn 3:1–3