The preachers quoted here define hope as a well-founded expectation for the future, resting on the conviction that God is in control. They say it is not placed in a person's own knowledge, that it stirs effort, and that it carries a Christian through storm to his haven.
In ordinary speech hope is a wish that may or may not come true. The New Testament word, elpis, means expectation or confidence.1 Hebrews calls it "an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (Hebrews 6:19). It concerns what is not yet seen: "hope that is seen is not hope ... But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Romans 8:24-25).
Its object is Christ and what he will do. Believers are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). It includes the resurrection, a "lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3), and it is already present within: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Its ground is God's promise and character. He is "the God of hope" (Romans 15:13). He confirmed his promise with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things we might have strong consolation (Hebrews 6:17-18). For that reason "hope maketh not ashamed" (Romans 5:5). Augustine prayed, "My whole hope is in thy exceeding great mercy and that alone."2
Hope shows in the present. It gives endurance, the "patience of hope" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). It purifies: "every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself" (1 John 3:3). It gives joy in trouble (Romans 12:12) and comfort in grief, so that believers do not sorrow "as others which have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And it is to be explained: "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).
Paul names hope with faith and love as the three things that abide (1 Corinthians 13:13). The three belong together: faith rests on what God has said, hope looks for what he has promised, and love is the fruit of both. Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians' "work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), and tells the Colossians that their faith and love spring from "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" (Colossians 1:5).
Scripture describes people without Christ as "having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). The Christian's hope is the settled expectation, resting on God's promise, of Christ's return, the resurrection, and life with him.
- Strong's Greek 1680, elpís: "expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence".
- St. Augustine, Confessions And Enchiridion, "BOOK TEN From autobiography to self-analysis".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Hope is a well-founded expectation for the future.
R.A. Torrey
in No Hope
Read in context
So hope is the attitude then that God is in control.
David Roper
in A Hope That Produces Endurance
Listen at 5:19
Hope is an electronic beam on which the Christian flies through wind and storm straight to his desired haven.
A.W. Tozer
in Overflowing Hope
Read in context
Hope is always a condition of effort to secure its object, and a powerful stimulus to such effort.
Charles Finney
in The Christian's Genuine Hope
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Our hope is not in how many verses we can memorize or how much doctrine we know.
K.P. Yohannan
in He Is Our Hope
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Hope is a state of flight; waiting implies repose.
George Matheson
in Hope in Waiting
Read in context
Hope is a growing inner faith that what you need is possible.
David Wilkerson
in A Famine of the Soul
Read in context
What Scripture says
- Hebrews 6:19 hope as an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast
- Titus 2:13 that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Saviour
- Romans 15:13 the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing
- 1 Peter 1:3 a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
- 1 Peter 3:15 a reason of the hope that is in you
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