A Living Hope - Hope Through The Truth % % % %

The three versions of the Bible I use: the New International, English Standard, and King James; each contain the same sixty-six books. There are other Bibles which have more books. These sixty-six books are divided into:

Two testaments; the Old Testament and the New Testament;
Sixty-six books; thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament;
containing approximately 1189 chapters and 31,102 verses.

If we were to look at the Bible by organizing it theologically, we would see:

Genesis chapters one through three, describe the creation and the fall of mankind into sin; and
Genesis chapter 4 through Revelation chapter 22, describe God’s plan to redeem and reconcile mankind from death due to sin.

It is only through God’s plan of salvation that we could be saved from our sins. From this perspective, we see the vast majority of God’s Word, over 99% when measuring by chapters, is devoted to the source of our living hope; the resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hope in the Bible

There are approximately 181 verses, in the New International Version Bible, which contain “hope” or some form of the word. This article is very limited, addressing only the sources of and practical results of our eternal, living hope. The verses cited here are not intended to be exhaustive; but only a representative sampling of what God’s Word has to say on the topic.

Long before time was created or man was formed, the decision was finalized regarding how sinful man would be redeemed (sinful humans being bought back through the blood of Jesus Christ) and reconciled (sinful humans being brought back into right relationship with a Holy God) to Him (1 Peter 1:18-21).

God devised the plan (Acts 2:23) (Isaiah 53:10).
Jesus provided the path (John 14:6) (Hebrews 10:20).
The Holy Spirit provided the power (Acts 1:8) (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Our Hope is in God

Each part of the triune God has a crucial role in the redemption of mankind. Therefore, our hope lies in him. The Bible tells us:

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you (Psalm 25:21).
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him (Psalm 62:5).
Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this (Jeremiah 14:22).
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:9–10).
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10).
Through him (Jesus Christ) you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God (1 Peter 1:21).

Our Hope is in the Resurrected Jesus Christ

Scripture says:

In his name (Jesus) the nations will put their hope (Matthew 12:21).
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith … For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins (1 Corinthians 15:13–17).
I face death every day – yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:31–32).
… in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12).
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope (1 Timothy 1:1).
… while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:13–14).
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19–20).

Our Hope is in the Holy Spirit

The Bible tells us:

Therefore, since we have such a hope (the ministry of the Spirit which brings righteousness), we are very bold (2 Corinthians 3:8–12).
For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope (Galatians 5:5).

Our Hope is in God’s Word

God’s Word, the Holy Bible which he gave to us; are his promises to us. Therein lies our hope. Scripture says:

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:81).
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:147).
And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today (Acts 26:6).
… the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel (Colossians 1:5).
… if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Colossians 1:23).
… in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2).

Our Hope is in God’s Promises

Scripture says:

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Romans 4:18).
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently (Romans 8:23–25).

It is God’s Desire to Give us Hope

Some believe that God wants to punish the wicked. One day, our holy, just God will punish those who do not accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. However, it is not God’s desire to punish. The desire of God’s heart is no one should perish apart from Him; but all of us would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) (Ezekiel 33:11).

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Those Without the Lord Have No Hope

Scripture tells us man will die and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Those who die without having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will face judgment day without hope.

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope (Job 7:6).
Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless (Job 8:11–13).
For what hope have the godless when they are cut off, when God takes away their life? (Job 27:8)
Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing (Proverbs 11:7).
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11–13).
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Our Living Hope is Vastly Superior to Any Worldly Hope

Worldly hope is temporary at best. It goes to the grave with us one hundred percent of the time. There is only one eternal hope; which is God’s plan of salvation. Just as there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God; there is one hope (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Those lost souls who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have no eternal hope; either in this life or after death. Believers have hope, not only in this life, but eternally. As Paul told the Christians in Thessalonica, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14).

Worldly hope is risky at best. It may or may not be realized regardless of the amount of human effort invested. Our hope in God ensures there is a future certainty, based upon God’s promise and His power to deliver; which we will realize in God’s perfect timing. Thus, our hope is eternal and guaranteed to succeed. That is why the author of Hebrews tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Ours is a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance kept for us in heaven; which can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:3–5).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.