What does the Bible say about hope?

This is described as waiting for something that is not seen but which has been promised. Romans 8:24-25. Blessed is the man whose hope the Lord is; though troubles arise he will not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8. There is nothing vague in the Christian's hope: it is an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, because the Lord Himself is his hope, and Christ in him is the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:1; Hebrews 6:18-19.

The hope which is ours is the "hope of salvation." The Christian is never spoken of in Scripture as hoping for forgiveness of sins, but he is as hoping for salvation, for salvation is a word of large meaning, embracing the final deliverance which will reach us at the coming of the Lord. For that we hope; that is, we await it with expectation. It is certain to arrive in its due season, for there is no element of uncertainty in hopes which are founded on God and His word.

"The hope set before us" is the expectation of heavenly glory as secured and displayed in Christ exalted on high. Of course, the "hope" implies something yet to be done or shown; though, being of God in Christ, it has not the smallest shade of uncertainty about it, unlike what men call hope. This hope has present effects too, "by the which we draw near to God"... besides being sure for us and steadfast in itself, it is heavenly, entering into the immediate presence of God on the basis of the precious blood of Christ.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms... And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3). So the Christian hope is not the spread of the knowledge of the Lord throughout the world, nor is it our own departure by death to be with Christ, but it is His return to receive us to Himself.

Paul says, We rejoice in tribulation, knowing that tribulation works patience — the very thing that James speaks of here — patience works experience, experience hope, hope makes not ashamed. It clears away obstructions and makes room for the inshining of the love of God. Find a Christian whose heart is filled with the love of God and you find a very remarkable man.

As we endure in tribulation we come to a real knowledge of ourselves, and of God's way with us, and in submission to His holy will we have the compensating grace that He pours into our souls. Moreover we begin to see the end He has in view. We are not like Job was, for he, poor man, went through his tribulation without knowing the "why" of it.

No truth has a more separating effect upon believers. Will we join hand in hand with the world which is shortly to come under judgment? No. "Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). He whose hope is in Christ and His speedy return puts far from him every defiling thing.

Those addressed here are the children of light and of the day — children walking in communion with God in "faith and love," and with the bright, far-seeing eye of "hope" fixed especially on Christ, who is coming to take us up to be with Himself in glory.

"Having no hope and without God in the world" is the language used by the Spirit of God when He would describe the condition and position of Gentiles in the flesh, dead in trespasses and sins; and the contrast is equally striking: "you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." On the one side it is "no hope" and "without God"; on the other side it is "in Christ Jesus."

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Here we get "the God of hope" causing the believer to "abound in hope." He is the blessed Spring and Source of all our blessing.