Paul uses the word hope more than any other writer in the so-called “New Testament.” I thought this would be a great opportunity to put together a panoramic overview of the Pauline doctrine of hope. So here is a list of seven major points Paul makes about hope.
1 – Hope saves us.
Paul said in Rom. 8:24–25, “For we are saved by hope…” How are we saved by hope? Is it because we can see some hope for us in the Lord’s sacrifice and that hope is what motivates us to accept the gospel by faith? That’s a true statement, but Paul’s talking about something different. He says in Rom. 8:24-25 that “we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. The hope that saves us is still in the future, and we are to with patience wait for it. Our justification is now. Our salvation, our deliverance, is still future, and it’s anchored by the one hope God gave us in His gospel of grace. We will be physically and literally delivered at a point in time that is still future, which is our one hope.
2 – Hope is grounded in our justification.
Rom 5:1–5 – “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God… hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” Of course, the point here is that hope anchors us through suffering. We can endure because we rejoice with the hope that abounds in us. Before we got saved, hope was this fragile thing, usually based on circumstances. But true real hope from God is grounded in our justification. After we got saved, we discovered that hope is totally secure. Hope cannot be taken away from us no matter what happens. Hope is also shame-proof. It’s so good, hope maketh us not feel ashamed about believing it. Why? Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” Hope is reinforced by the Spirit-in us filling our hearts with the love of God. Hope is not produced by circumstances. Hope is an eternal spring in us as a result of being reconciled to God. And in Romans 5, Paul reframes how we view suffering. He would have us look at our own suffering through the lense of God’s hope and allow that hope to anchor you with peace and joy and gratitude and love while you endure.
3 – Hope is founded upon the Lord’s resurrection.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Everything hinges upon the Lord’s resurrection. The Lord’s resurrection life is the eternal life God gives you when you get saved. Because the Lord was resurrected, you have every reason to believe every promise God tells you. You have every reason to accept the reality of possessing eternal life right now. You have every reason to believe with full assurance every promise of future glory that God made to you. Faith without resurrection is pointless. All hope is anchored in the Lord’s resurrection.
4 – Paul uses hope as motivation for consistency in your walk.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable The logic here is that because resurrection is certain, you can live with hope, your labor is not in vain, and therefore, we should be unwavering, consistent, in our faith and service to God. Hope does not produce a passive life. Hope produces fruit. Hope transforms a life, brings stability to your emotional core, and hope inspires proactive service to God. I liked 1 John 3:3, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Hope also transforms your life in the sense that it acts as a purifying agent. If you expect to see Christ, then you’ll be cleaning up your act.
5 – Hope has an address.
In Col. 1:5, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…” When he says the hope is laid up for you in heaven, he means your hope is being reserved for you, it’s being stored for you in Heaven. Your hope is waiting for you in Heaven. Just as a parent might “lay up” an inheritance for a child, God has already reserved your hope for you. This isn’t something you have to work toward to receive it. You simply have to get saved by faith and die to receive your hope in Heaven. Then Paul says in Col. 3:1 to “Set your affection on things above…” Pauline hope re-orients your desires Heavenward. Hope radically alters your heart and mind. Hope reshapes what you now value in life, not just what you believe. What’s important to you in life now? Is it serving the Lord or something else?
6 – Hope is mental armor God has given you.
In 1 Thess. 5:8, your spiritual helmet is “The hope of salvation.” Hope of your future deliverance, God preserving you unto His heavenly kingdom, that hope is spiritual armor for the mind. Hope exists to protect you from despair.
I think of 1 Thess. 4:13 about how we “Sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” Believers grieve — but we grieve differently. We grieve but with some peace and gratitude knowing that a saint we love is in the presence of God feeling the fulness of joy. Hope protects the mind. Hope is your mental armor. Plus, feeling that concrete hope in God’s promises is a strengthening of your heart.
I’m reminded of Psa. 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Hope is a strengthening of the heart, and hope in the Lord also inspires you to have courage. Hope is an anchor to your soul in the face of adversity. Hope gives you emotional resilience, gives you the ability to endure the trials of life, that keeps your heart from sinking into despair. This is a hope that builds up in you spiritual confidence in God and what He made you in His Son. Hope fosters agency and purpose in your life.
7 – There is Only One Hope
What is our “one hope” in Eph. 4:4? Consider 1 Tim. 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.
Our one hope isn’t the Rapture. It’s the person of Christ. He’s the reason for the Rapture.
How exactly is it that Christ is our one hope? Our one hope is basically a hope of identification. The one hope is everything you will be receiving because of your identification with Christ, because Christ’s glory has become your glory (2 Thess. 2:14).
When you get saved, you’re not just given a ticket to Heaven. You’re identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. His death became your death. His burial became your burial. His resurrection became your resurrection. But identification doesn’t end there. You’re also identified with His ascension into heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). You’re also exalted with Him. You’re seated in heavenly places with Him to reign over the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:2-3). All of that glory of Christ became yours the moment you got saved.
Your one hope is a hope of identification.
You might also remember how Paul calls God the “God of hope” (Rom. 15:13) God the Father is the originator of your hope. He designed your hope for this age of grace.
Conclusion
Across all epistles, Paul consistently presents hope as an:
- Anchor – All our hope is anchored in the Lord’s resurrection, and hope acts as an anchor to your soul, especially when suffering.
- Transformative – Hope radically alters your heart and mind. It produces fruit, reshapes what you value in life, effects how you endure trials, inspires a holy walk, and stabilizes your emotions.
- Protective – Hope guards the mind, prevents despair, helps us endure suffering, teaches patience about the Lord’s return, and it makes all your work and labor meaningful because it’s for the Lord.
Big Takeaways (Pastoral & Practical)
- Hope is the emotional logic of resurrection truth.
- Hope is not forced optimism — it is truth from God put into practice.
- You don’t look within yourself to find hope. You look to God, and God would have you to look upward while moving forward.
- Grace allows us believers to hope patiently with joy, not fear.
- Hope reshapes how we endure suffering.
- Unity flows from our shared hope, not shared opinions.
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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