Hope (Part 2)
There are three aspects of hope as it is used in the New Testament that we will consider in this article. They deal with hope as an anchor, as a source of assurance, and basis for anticipation.
In the book of Hebrews the writer speaks of God’s faithful character. In the sixth chapter of that letter, reference is made to Abraham. We know from the Old Testament that God promised to bless Abraham with an heir and a nation that would ultimately bless all nations. That nation was Israel, and from that nation would come the greatest blessing of all, Jesus Christ the Savior. God, wishing to confirm His promise, and to show its immutability, swore by Himself that He would fulfill what He had promised. The writer of Hebrews says that such hope in God’s faithfulness is an anchor for those who have set their hope in Christ.
We know that faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Once again we find hope and faith intertwined. The great hope of believers is that of living forever with Christ. The hope of life after death. The hope that death is not the termination of life but rather a transition in life. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul assures the believers that death is not final. Christ will return, and the dead in Christ will rise, and we will be with Him forever. He tells the readers to comfort one another with the assurance this hope provides.
Looking for the appearing of Christ is described in the Bible as “…the blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13) Thus our Christian hope fills us with a sense of anticipation. Just as we prepare and anticipate the arrival of family on Christmas day, we are to prepare and look forward to the “…glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
-Terry Morrison