A.In Hebrews 6:19, the Scripture says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul…”
1.What is this hope we have?
2.In what way is this hope an anchor of the soul?
B.Presently, let us give our attention to the vital subject of a Christian’s hope.
II.WHAT IS HOPE?
A.Hope is confident expectation of something favorable.
1.True hope requires both a reasonable expectation and a favorable object or achievement.
2.There are many positive and favorable things that we do not expect to happen.We cannot rightly hope for these things even though we would like for them to happen.To do so is merely to make a wish.
3.There are many negative and unfavorable things that we expect to happen.We do not hope for these even though we expect them.
B.Hope is truly the result of faith.
1.Hope and faith are closely related and inseparable, for both pertain to unseen things.
a.Notice the references to unseen things in these two passages about hope and faith:
i.“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Rom. 8:24-25)
ii.“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)
b.The concept of “unseen things” refers not only things that we have not seen with our eyes but also experiences that we have not yet had or promises that are not yet fulfilled.
2.Two things must happen before we can hope for those favorable things that we have not yet seen or experienced.
a.First, we must first believe in those things.This is faith.
i.Notice the second part of the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is…the conviction of things not seen.”
ii.Until we are convicted that those unseen things are true, we cannot begin to hope for them.
b.Second, we must have a reasonable expectation of receiving those things.This too is faith.
i.Notice the first part of the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.”
ii.This means that part of having faith is having the confidence and trust in God that He will deliver what He has promised.Indeed, we have a very reasonable expectation of these things because Christ died in order to provide them.
3.Let us also notice that both faith and hope come by hearing the word of God.
a.Regarding faith, Paul wrote explicitly that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
b.Regarding hope, it has been demonstrated above that hope is the product of faith, so hope also must come from the word of God.
i.The word of God, the Bible, gives us good reasons for believing that God has done many wonderful things through His Son Jesus Christ.
ii.The word of God also gives us good reasons to expect that God will fulfill His promises through Christ.
iii.Notice Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
III.WHAT CAN HOPE IN CHRIST DO FOR YOU?
A.In Christ, we may have the hope of salvation.
1.Our hope in Christ is to be saved from the just punishment due for our sins and to be granted eternal spiritual life.
a.“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
b.It was for the hope of salvation that God sent His Son into the world – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
2.Let us understand that our salvation at present is truly in the form of hope.
a.Notice again Romans 8:24 – “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?”
b.We have not had the full experience of salvation yet, for we still live in this dangerous world of sin and death and may yet be lost (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 2Pet. 2:20-22).However, we have the full confidence of hope that we will be saved in Christ if we continue in the faith (Col. 1:23).
B.Hope in Christ can give you meaningful, everlasting purpose.
1.In this way, hope is an anchor that keeps us from drifting away from the Lord.
a.Notice Hebrews 6:19-20 – “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us…”
b.This hope is with Jesus in heaven, and it is this hope of heaven that keeps us tethered to the Lord while we are here on earth.
2.This hope of heaven in Jesus motivates us to serve our purpose and work for the Lord.Notice how hope leads to diligence and work in the following passages:
a.“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor. 15:58)
b.“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1Tim. 4:10)
c.“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,” (Heb. 6:11)
C.Hope in Christ can give you supreme confidence and tremendous endurance.
1.Because God has already given His Son for us, we may have supreme confidence that He will deliver all of His promises.
a.Consider Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
b.Notice Romans 5:5 – “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
2.Our hope in Christ is so strong that we even have confidence over death.
a.Notice 1Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”
b.Also notice 1Corinthians 15:55-57 – “‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3.With such confidence, we are able to endure anything in this world, for our hope in Christ is that we will overcome all to obtain salvation.
a.Once again, notice Romans 8:24-25 – “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
b.The message of the book of Revelation is that of overcoming through Jesus: “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Rev. 17:14).
IV.CONCLUSION
A.Those who are hopeless do not have to be so, but they are hopeless by their own choice.
B.If you feel hopeless, then choose hope in Christ today, and be hopeless no longer.Take hold of the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ today.
