The Anchor of Biblical Hope

Dear Friends,

   What is your hope built on? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hope as, “a desire accompanied by expectation of obtaining what is desired or belief that it is obtainable.” According to this definition, hope is something you want with a plan to achieve that want. It is future focused and the outcome is uncertain. We do not hope for what we have already, and we do not hope for what we are sure we will have. Hope, according to the world’s understanding, is based on something that comes from within yourself.

          Does this idea of hope hold up when we experience intense trials, temptations or hardships? When life gets overwhelmingly difficult, will this kind of hope survive? How we answer these questions matter, because the Bible offers a different definition of hope. God’s Word defines hope as being certain in ways that will overcome all trials and hardships. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking about a possible future — it is confident assurance about a certain future, secured by God's character rather than by human probability.

          Right now, the news is filled with overwhelming chaos, sin, and despair. From global conflicts to local scandals and tragedies, it is easy to feel hopeless. What is your hope built on? If your hope is built on wishful thinking and inflated ideas of your own plans, your hope will likely not last long. If your hope is built on someone greater than yourself, and the promises He makes, your hope will endure the trials of life. I want to help you think through what biblical hope is and what it is not. Then, I will exhort you to build your hope on God, not your own feelings or effort.

          The Bible uses the word "elpis" in the New Testament 53 different times. This word is often translated as hope, and it’s the basis of this sermon. We are going to look at three different passages of Scripture and answer the following questions: Where does biblical hope come from? What makes biblical hope certain? And how does Abraham pattern biblical hope for us?

          First, let’s answer the question “where does biblical hope come from?” What is the origin of biblical hope for the Christian. Paul answers this question in a beautiful way in Romans 5:1-5. He says, “¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5 Biblical hope is directly connected to the declaration of righteousness Christians receive through faith in Jesus. To be justified means to have your record declared expunged by God. The debts that we owe to God because of our sin and rebellion are once and for all paid for when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. This glorious truth is the sure and strong foundation on which we build our hope.

          In this passage, hope is being used in two connected but different ways. The first-time hope is used, it is referring to our hope of heaven. The phrase “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” refers to our confident desire and expectation to spend all of eternity with God. This hope is anchored in the once and done act of God on our behalf. God declares us righteous through our faith in Jesus. The world’s definition of hope is a desire that comes from within oneself. The origin of this hope is not based on anything other than a future focused wish. Biblical hope finds its origin in a completed act of God, not some wishful thought.

          The second way hope is being used in this passage describes the assurance believers have in their hope. Paul says that we “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Paul offers powerful proof that a believer’s hope is far better and stronger than the world’s wishful thinking. Suffering for the sake of the gospel produces greater endurance, character and hope. This hope is the assurance that God is using all things in a Christian’s life to shape them in Christlikeness. God uses the suffering, the trials, the loneliness, the temptations of life to cause His children to grow in hope. And as Paul says, “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Christians are assured to have greater hope, because God has richly poured His love into their hearts. This hope is built on experience, not torn down by it. This hope grows in the midst of hardships, and it assures us of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the power and grace of God in our lives.

          So, we see that biblical hope comes from the completed work of justification through faith in Jesus. It doesn’t come from wishful thinking about the future, or a plan that we come up with ourselves. For the Christian, hope originates from our faith and justification in Jesus. It grows stronger as we experience suffering, greater endurance and more Christlike character. This biblical hope is far greater than anything the secular world can muster up. Now let’s turn our attention to how certain this biblical hope is.

          The world’s definition of hope isn’t certain at all. It is based on an inner desire for some future outcome, and a plan of action you can take to achieve that desire. When your plans fail, or you become overwhelmed by the uncontrollables of life, you will likely give up hope for your desire. What makes biblical hope so certain? Why are Christians so sure their hope will be fulfilled? The author of Hebrews helps answer this question in Hebrews 6:13-20.

          He says, “¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” ¹⁵ And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:13-20 I could honestly spend the rest of this sermon just on this amazing, hope filled passage. Instead, I want to focus on how it specifically answers our question of what makes biblical hope so certain. The author of Hebrews has been unpacking the nature of saving faith and how it is lived out among believers. He wants us all to understand that biblical hope is certain because it focuses on Jesus our High Priest.

          Samual Rutherford, a famous Scottish preacher in the 1600’s, offers this powerful quote on biblical hope. He said, “Our hope is not hung upon such an untwisted thread as, ‘I imagine so,’ or ‘It is likely’; but the cable, the strong rope of our fastened anchor, is the oath and promise of Him who is eternal verity. Our salvation is fastened with God’s own hand, and Christ’s own strength, to the strong stake of God’s unchangeable nature.”

          How is biblical hope so certain? Because it is based on the character and Word of God. God cannot lie. Deception is literally impossible for the pure source of all Truth. When God makes a promise it is as good as if it were already accomplished. When God promised to Abraham that he would be the Father of all who believe in Jesus, He offered powerful proof that He would accomplish this promise. Biblical hope is built on the character and Word of God. Christians set their hope on Jesus who even now is interceding for them “behind the veil.”

          As an illustration consider how a ship approaching a dangerous shore lowers its anchor into the harbor, holding it steady until it can enter safely. In the same way, believers drop their anchor of hope into heaven itself where Christ already is (Hebrews 6:19-20). God’s promise and oath assure us that our anchor will not drag.

          Jesus, as our High Priest, can perfectly intercede for us for all eternity. It is His blood that cleanses us from all sin, and His perfect righteous record that allows to approach God in the first place. A believer’s hope is not set on wishful thinking, but rather the Person, Jesus Christ. God has promised through His Word and according to His character to save those who place their trust in His Son, Jesus.

A Christian has a certain hope because of who and what they place their hope in. God cannot lie, and He does not change. When He promises something, it is as good as accomplished. Our experience is not what defines or secures our hope, rather it is Jesus and His work on the cross and intercessory work in heaven that anchors it. This is why Christians can be so certain that their hope is not vain or futile.

We have looked at where biblical hope comes from and how certain this hope is. Let’s look at one example of biblical hope and strive to apply these lessons to our lives. Abraham is used in the New Testament by Paul, the author of Hebrews, and others as an example of biblical faith. As the patriarch of the nation of Israel, God makes a covenant with him that points forward to Jesus.

          In Romans 4:18-25 Paul says, “¹⁸ In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Romans 4:18-25 Here Paul breaks down the pattern of biblical hope. In verse 18, the Bible says “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” Abraham didn’t have any good reason to trust that he could have an heir, much less produce offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky, or the sand on a beach. Yet, he trusted God to accomplish the impossible. Let’s look at this pattern a little more closely.

          First, Abraham trusts God more than his external circumstances. He looks at his old body, and the body of Sarah, and even though he was 100 years old (and Sarah 90), he believed God could do the impossible. Christians today can model their hope after Abraham’s pattern. No matter how fierce your struggle against sin may be, no matter how intense the persecution is, you can trust in the promises of God offered in the gospel of Jesus. Our external circumstances are not what we are called to put our hope in. Instead, like Abraham, we are called to hope in the mighty God of the whole universe. He can do the impossible and raise you from the dead in the Last Day.

          Second, we see Abraham growing in his faith as he gave glory to God. Verse 20 says, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.” Abraham’s biblical hope was expressed best as he grew in his faith. He trusted that God would fulfill His promise, even though it hadn’t happened yet, and he worshipped God as if He had already accomplished it. What would change in your life if your hope in heaven was lived out now? How would you treat others if you lived with your hope of heaven constantly before your mind and heart? Abraham patterns biblical hope by growing in his faith, as he worshiped God before he saw the promise fulfilled.

          Finally, Abraham’s pattern of biblical hope points us back to Jesus. Paul pulls us full circle here by saying, “²³ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” As we practice biblical hope before the Lord, we will be counted righteous through our faith in Jesus. Biblical hope is the fruit of being declared righteous before God. Abraham offers the perfect patter of what biblical hope is. As we read about his life and how he trusted God, it encourages us to trust in Jesus who is our hope.

          We have covered a lot of ground, so let’s recall what God’s Word reveals about biblical hope. First, we saw that the origin of our hope flows from our justification before our Holy God. Through faith, we are declared righteous, and as we experience suffering for the gospel, we rejoice in the endurance, character, and hope it produces in us.

Next, we saw how certain biblical hope is. Like an anchor clinging to a bedrock far beneath the stormy gale, our hope clings to the unchanging glorious nature of God and His good promises to His children. Jesus goes before us into the most holy of holies, interceding on our behalf through faith. Finally, we looked at the pattern of hope for all true believers seen in the life and worship of Abraham. He models biblical hope and this encourages us as we set our eyes on the completed work of Jesus.

          What should we do with these glorious truths? How should biblical hope change the way we think, speak, or act around others? Let me speak to my brothers and sisters in Christ first.

          If you are trusting in the Lord Jesus for your salvation, biblical hope is a glorious gift and assurance for your weary soul. Cling to the promises of God when the storms of life rage around you. Your hope is not based on fickle wishful thinking. Your hope is not temporary or vain like worldly hope is. Rather it is rooted in the very promises and character of God. Don’t set your eyes on vain worldly things that are here one day and gone the next. Instead, set your eyes on your true home, heaven. You can endure this trial. You can worship God even in the midst of it. The glorious promises of God are for you and you will conquer in Jesus Christ.

          If you are not trusting in the Lord, let me warn you. Whatever you are placing your hope in, no that it will not last. If you are trusting in your own wisdom, your own power, or your own feelings, know that when trials come you will give in to despair. Worldly hope cannot truly begin to compare to biblical hope. If you want to experience biblical hope, it’s available to you! Trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you can experience the hope your heart has longed for. It is only through confident trust in Jesus that will give you certain and unshakable hope in this life.

Yours in Christ,

Chris A. Rice