CHRIST OUR HOPE
As an old hymn declares, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” The hope of Christianity is found in Jesus Himself. You can spell hope H-O-P-E, but you can also spell it J-E-S-U-S, for the foundation of our hope, the source of our confidence, and the object of our trust is Christ alone (1 Timothy 1:1).
The Apostle Paul emphasizes in Romans 15:13 that the God of hope fills us “with all joy and peace in believing,” so that through the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. This hope is grounded in the finished work of Christ—His cross, His resurrection, and His unbreakable promises. Our confidence is not rooted in emotion or circumstance, but in the Savior who conquered death and reigns forever.
In Romans 8:24, Paul writes, “For we are saved in this hope.” Christian hope is not wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation of what God has promised (Titus 1:2). Hope that rests only on what is visible is not hope at all. As Paul explains, “But hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one still hope for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24). True hope reaches forward—toward realities not yet experienced, but fully guaranteed by God.
We have not yet seen Jesus in the flesh. We have not yet beheld the fullness of His eternal kingdom. But we look forward with full assurance (Hebrews 11:1). This is the essence of Christian hope—to eagerly await the unseen, knowing it is absolutely certain because God Himself has spoken (Romans 8:25).
For now, as Paul reminds us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our hope is rooted in faith—faith in God’s Word, His character, and His promises. Hebrews 11:1 deepens the truth: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith gives substance to hope, and hope fuels faith; the two walk together as we journey through a world not yet fully redeemed (Romans 5:2–5).
The Christian life is filled with hope—always, in every season. No circumstance is too dark, no valley too deep, no sorrow too heavy to extinguish the hope God gives. Psalm 42:11 urges us, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? … Hope in God.” His Word continually calls us to anchor our hope in Him and His unfailing promises (Psalm 31:24).
The key to maintaining this hope is to shift our eyes from the temporary burdens of this world and fix them on Christ and the eternal truths of God’s kingdom (Colossians 3:2). Philippians 3:20 reminds us that we are “citizens of heaven,” and our ultimate hope rests in the return of Christ and the fullness of life with Him (Revelation 21:4).
The life to come is the life we prepare for. As 1 Peter 1:13 instructs us, we are to “rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The grace we await includes the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23), the final removal of sin (Revelation 21:27), and the joy of inheriting the kingdom prepared for us (Matthew 25:34).
When we think of the coming of Christ, our hearts should be filled with peace and assurance, for He is the One who “is able to save to the uttermost” those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). Titus 2:13 calls this expectation “the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” That hope sustains us now and empowers us to live with faithfulness, endurance, and joy (Romans 12:12).
When your thoughts turn to the day of judgment, rest in the certainty of your hope in Christ. “We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2–3). That promise should bring confidence, not fear. And Scripture assures us, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–10).
Our hope is secure because it is anchored in the unchanging promises of God and the completed work of Jesus (Hebrews 6:19). So rest your hope fully on God’s grace, knowing with absolute certainty that Christ will save you, sustain you, and keep you until the very end (Philippians 1:6).
BDD
