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Last week we studied the first great mark of a Christian—faith. It is essential. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” However, what we receive now by faith is not all God has for us. Neither is it sufficient to express one act of faith at conversion. To be effective, our faith must give rise to a confident expectation that trusts God to finish the work He has begun n us. This expectation, this assured confidence that looks to the future and waits without doubting, the Bible calls hope. God’s Word declares that we are not only saved through faith, “we are saved by hope” (Romans 8:24).

The root of the word “hope” means to open the eyes wide and to watch for what is to come. It denotes an eager anticipation and a firm expectation. How well that describes our hope as Christian believers. The New Testament describes several aspects of hope.

A Living Hope

The fear and dread of death has seized mankind since the beginning of time. However, as believers, we are blessed to have the hope of eternal life. The Apostle Peter wrote that God in His great mercy “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).     What gives us this assurance? It is the fact that though Jesus died and was buried, he vacated the tomb in which His body was laid. On Resurrection morning angel voices announced the thrilling fact: “He is not here, He is risen!” Paul explains it: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).             

A Purifying Hope

What happens when this hope is real to us? It influences our conduct and vitally affects our day-to-day living. The Apostle John explains it so beautifully; “Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself” ( 1 John 3:2-3). What an amazing statement: “we shall be like Him.” That is the true standard for holy living In a world filled with so much wickedness. We must be holy because He is holy. 

A Blessed Hope

As believers, we are looking forward to the day when Christ catches away His Church. The Bible states that we are waiting for “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This is a thrill every believer will experience one day. For the Bible says, “The dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). We watch daily, hourly, momentarily for our returning Lord, knowing He will appear to those who look for Him and who long for His appearing

The Christ who was crucified is alive today, and because He lives we too shall live. This is our hope. Hope is dead in much of the world today—but we have a living hope because we believe in the living Christ! 

“May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)