Hope: Biblical Definition & Its Relevance for Christians - Essay Sample

Introduction

The definition of hope is at many times confused in terms of wishful thinking. However, the bible eloquently discusses the theme of hope, particularly in the book of Romans 8:32 (Piper, 2008). Hope is a firm assurance for something to happen either especially in the future. In most cases, Christian label hopes as a solution to redress the circumstances and events that face them in their daily endeavors. They wish for something positive to happen and change the situations or hard times they experience. Hope is, therefore, a fundamental attribute of the life of righteous people. Through hope, Christians feel that their future life is secured and satisfied by God. The paper will discuss in detail and demonstrate the component of Christian's hope.

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When most people, particularly Christians are faced with difficult times, they pray to God expecting change to happen to what they are facing. Through hope, they expect that they will receive magical results (Piper, 2008). Everything that happens is in the form of a miracle; this is because they believe that maybe God is using the difficult moment to teach them something. In other words, they let God take care of all the happening just as how they believe that it is God who will enable them to see tomorrow. Hope emanates from the Christian self-sacrificing love since they leave God to take care of every situation something than enables them to love those around them. Taking care of others is one way of letting God's glory to shine because that is how God becomes visible (Kennel-Shank, 2019). Christians understand that hope is in God's feet and it is as basic as refusing to give up even if the situation at hand is worse.

The bible puts is explicit that Christian's hope is knowing that God acts in human history. God gives hope even when human beings think that they have reached the end of the world (Piper, 2008). Christians therefore, need ears to hear and eyes to see because God's timing differs from that of human beings. Also, Christians need to be patient when faced with difficult times. For example in the bible, Jeremiah experiences hopeless situations, worse than what humanity has encountered in life; this happened after God instructed Nebuchadnezzar to go and destroy the city of Jerusalem. Despite the fact that Jeremiah knew that people had forsaken God, he presented the city plight as his own. Also in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah feels hopeless and says that God made him walk in darkness and not in light (3:2). Jeremiah continued to hope in him because he knows that God's mercies and compassion will never fail. For Christians, hope develops when they have the confidence to waif quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Hope is conveyed by different characters in the bible and it seems that when everything else seems to go wrong, it is made possible by having faith in God. Hope comes from faith that life in God is better and righteous. Moreover, hope is as a result of perseverance. Based on the story of the Israelites, God had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt, preserved them in the wilderness, and then led them to the Land of Canaan; for this reason, the Israelites had nothing but hope since they believed that God will continue being with them (Piper, 2008). Christians also believe that even when they have sinned, God will continue being with them. They hope that they will be forgiven. The stories in the bible convey hope in different perspectives; this makes it possible to say that hope emanates when one has a belief and faith in God, for instance, looking at the story of Malachi, God promises that "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). Hope is in the Lord and everything is made possible since God has mercy and He is ready to forgive his children when they are lost. Hope gives Christians assurance of a bright future through a belief system because Jesus is a savior of all men.

On the same parallel, hope, as a virtue has been discussed widely in the New Testament. Apostle Paul puts forth that Christian's hope is rooted in faith and perseverance. He believes that everything in hope is about the future and Christians have to believe in Christ so as to receive divine salvation. For instance, the book of Romans discusses a topic about the Holy Spirit (8:24). Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit to put forth hope to Christian's minds (Reginald, 2019). As the book of John puts it, Jesus tells Christians that he is going to prepare for them a place but he will not leave them alone like orphans (14:18). These words impart hope to many Christians since Jesus promises to come back and take all those who obey his commands to the holy place, paradise.

Also, the book of Titus in the New Testament talks about the return of Christ (2:11). Jesus says that he is going away and he will be coming back; this alone shows that Jesus tells Christians to have hope about the future (Reginald, 2019). Moreover, the text shows that Jesus alone is the hope and this makes Christians proclaim hope in the world. Hope can be expressed both in the words and acts provided that there is a justification for something better to happen in the future. Christian churches, therefore, teach the theme of hope and prayer since the coming back of Christ is an overwhelming concern. They are worried about the speculation of time and the manner in which Christ Jesus will be coming back. The fact that Jesus gives promise of coming again, he adds that he will be coming as a thief hence challenges Christians to be ready at any time. The return of Jesus Christ leaves many Christians with hope in today's world and in the future.

Romans chapter 4 also talks about endurance through suffering, a concept that produces hope (2-5). There is an inspiration behind endurance in that Christians still have hope as Christ is exalted in life and in death (Reginald, 2019). For the fact that Christians had access to the Father, they had to boast in hope for the glory of God. They looked forward to the resurrection of the dead; this means that there hope was actually present when Christ was crucified. At the same time, Christians also believe that they are dead in sin, crucified with Jesus Christ, and they are alive with him at the present time. Through the everyday suffering many Christians face, they still hope that one day Christ will make them overcome the troubles.

Many Christians take Christ as their hope who enables them to overcome sins, worry, and anxiety; this is because he is the central figure in the New Testament bible (Augustine, 2008). Moreover, Christian preachers spend much of their time spreading the gospel about the importance of hope and having a belief in Christ, as the only savior of their sins. They attempt to offer a platform that followers use to correct their mistakes with the hope that they will be forgiven. To them, Christ is the only hope for their way to heaven. There are examples in the bible, which highlight the importance of Christ as the only hope for salvation. Since humanity makes sins daily, it is not possible to say that they will save themselves. Matthew 1:21 provides a solution by denoting that Jesus will save people from their sins. These statements give Christians hope since it makes them view Christ with eternal glory.

Also, Apostle Paul gives a message, which imparts hope to the Christians; he says that if their earthly houses will be destroyed, they will be given a building by God (Augustine, 2008). Paul is instilling hope in Christians by guiding them through a belief system that makes them believe in righteousness. Therefore, Christ is the hope for eternity and for salvation. Considering the many instances Jesus Christ interacted with his disciples, he performed a number of tasks, which made them believe that there is a father in heaven (Augustine, 2008). For example, there is where he tells them not to let their hearts troubled and believe in God. He further asks them to believe in him in that he will go and prepare a place for them in heaven, come back again, and take them with him. Christ himself instills hope in the people when he tells them that he is going to prepare for them a place in heaven.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hope is a long-lasting virtue in Christian life along with faith and love. Hope makes people believe in the future and at the same time produces the power of the spirit. As an eternal glory, the return of Christ is also a basis of Christian's hope. Christians believe that they can purify themselves with a good life, especially the promised holy place in heaven.

References

Augustine, S. (2008). The Augustine Catechism: The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Charity (Vol. 1). New City Press. Retrieved from: https://www.hebrewcatholic.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/04.10StPaulonFaithHopeCharity.pdf

Kennel-Shank, C. (2019). In his response to John, Jesus of hope in the present tense. Christian Century. Retrieved from: https://www.christiancentury.org/article/living-word/december-15-advent-3a-matthew-112-11-psalm-1465-10-james-57-10

Piper, J. (2008). What Is So Important About Christian Hope? Desiring God. Retrieved from: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-so-important-about-christian-hope

Reginald, A. L. V. A. (2019). The Importance of Hope in the Contemporary World in the Light of the Teachings of the Encyclical Spe Salvi. Journal of the Nanzan Academic Society Humanities and Natural Sciences, 17, 67-76. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/acajinshi17_04_alva_reginald_svd.pdf