What does the Bible say about the Christian's hope?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Hope in the Bible is an assurance of who God is and that what God said will happen despite circumstances. It is not wishful thinking. Because God is eternally and perfectly good and all-powerful, we can trust what He says, and we can trust His character. Thankfully, Christians have hope because we can hear the voice of our good Shepherd and follow Him (John 10:27). As followers of Jesus, we can hope in who God is and what He has said in His Word—first and foremost, that we are eternally saved through faith and not of our own works (Ephesians 2:8–9). When we go through grief, pain, disappointment, or other difficulties, it is important that our hope stems from our relationship with God rather than in hoping for a certain outcome (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Unlike those in the world, a Christian’s hope is eternal and actively “living” (1 Peter 1:3–5).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Bible gives us promises and truths we can hope for (Psalm 119:81).“My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.”
• We can trust God because we can trust in His character (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 9:10).
• When we hope, and that hope is deferred, it makes us heartsick; but when something hoped for is fulfilled, it is "a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).
• As Christians, we should not envy those who live wickedly. Rather, we should cling to our eternal hope grounded in the Lord: “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:17-18).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Christ rising from the dead and conquering sin and death gives great hope to those who trust in God for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Romans 6:8-9; 1 Peter 1:3).
• We have hope because Jesus took the punishment for our sins, and we are now secure in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:8–9).
• As long as we are still alive on this earth, God's free gift of salvation remains offered to those who will trust in Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18).
• A Christian's hope is founded in God's character. When we read the Bible, we can hear God speaking to us. We learn to recognize the voice of our Shepherd. As Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:27–28).
• ‏We can have hope in Christ because we have God’s Spirit, as Romans 5:5 tells us that “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.”
• A person who has hope can live through difficult circumstances by focusing on what is to come and what is true even through the circumstances. But without hope, grief is complete (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
• Ultimately, the Christian’s hope is eternal: "According to his great mercy, [God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3–5).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The word hope can be defined as "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen" and it is one of the most precious human emotions. Dante, writer of the Divine Comedy, imagined a sign over the gates of hell which reads "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here." Biblically speaking, hell is a place where there is no hope because the opportunity for salvation in Christ is no longer an option. For Christians, our hope is a "living hope" that looks forward to a glorious ending (1 Peter 1:3–5).

This living hope also impacts the way we live with hope now. We can actively trust in God's promises and allow that trust to shape daily life. That means persevering through challenges with the confidence that God is in control (Romans 8:28), praying with expectation because we believe God hears and answers (1 John 5:14–15), and worshiping even in difficult times, knowing that our ultimate future is secure (Habakkuk 3:17–19). We can live our lives encouraging others with the hope we have in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:11), choosing gratitude for God's faithfulness in the past, and living boldly in the present because our hope is anchored in eternity (Hebrews 6:19).

Living with hope transforms how we approach our trials, relationships, and the opportunities God places before us each day. We have a solid hope—one that depends on the goodness and strength of our Shepherd.

UNDERSTAND

• Biblical hope is a confident assurance in God’s character and promises.
• Christ’s resurrection secures our living and eternal hope.
• Hope transforms how we persevere, trust, and live boldly in the present.

REFLECT

• How does your understanding of God's character shape your sense of hope in difficult times?
• In what areas of your life do you need to trust God’s promises more fully?
• How does knowing your hope is eternal impact the way you view your current challenges?

ENGAGE

• What does it look like for us as Christians to live out the "living hope" described in 1 Peter 1:3–5 in a broken world?
• How can we encourage one another to persevere with hope when circumstances feel overwhelming?
• How does trusting in God's character and promises help us stand apart from a world that often views hope as wishful thinking?