Introduction
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is well known for the great truths it teaches concerning biblical faith. The numerous examples of those who heeded divine directives and submitted to them in willful obedience repeatedly reinforces faith's true nature. But faith is not the only topic at the forefront of Hebrews 11. The opening verses of this chapter just as powerfully demonstrate the significance of hope in God's eternal plan.
By learning more about this passage, and by surveying how hope relates to other Bible topics, we will better understand how, and why, Jesus is our only hope of heaven.
Hope in Hebrews 11
The first three verses of Hebrews 11 will form the basis of our discussion of hope and its relationship to God's plan of salvation.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:1-3, NKJV)
There are at least five elements involved in this passage: (1) the world of reality, (2) the word of God, (3) Bible faith, (4) Bible hope and (5) heaven.
The World of Reality
Picture each of the five component parts of Hebrews 11:1-3 as building blocks. These blocks are stacked in logical order one on top of the other. At the bottom we find the first block, the really-existing world.
We perceive this real world through sensory means. As beings created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), we are also able to process data using reason. Both sensory evidence and reason work together allowing us to draw conclusions. Hebrews 11:3 refers to the world which was created ex nihilo (out of nothing) and informs us that it is possible by faith to know conclusively that God created it without using pre-existing materials. (cf. Psalms 33:6-9).
The Word of God
The word of God, which is proven to be true by the world around us, is the second building block in our illustration. The Bible not only presents numerous instances of conclusions that were drawn by examining and evaluating the available evidence; it is also proven to be the inspired word of God by that process as well.
In demonstration of the truthfulness of his gospel John said, in John 20:30-31, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."John's lesson is quite plain. The evidence he presents is sufficient to conclude that Jesus was the Son of God.
In the same way Nicodemus used reason and his observations of the life Christ to draw the conclusion that God was with Jesus in a way that He had never been with anyone else. The text says: "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John 3:1-2)
This same process of ratiocination leads us to know that the Bible is the inspired word of God. By examining the Bible, and comparing it to what it says about itself, the real world, and what we deduce an inspired document should be, we can come to the conclusion that it is the divinely inspired word of God.
Faith
Faith, produced by both physical evidence and rational thought, is the third building block in our illustration. Faith is a very broad term. It includes, among other things, personal commitment, trust, and belief (even without regard to its truth), conscience (again, without regard to its correspondence to truth), and knowledge.
This last area is one that needs further explanation. Faith and knowledge are not two widely divergent perspectives, as some suppose, but rather two parallel facets of the same enterprise. Unfortunately, many view faith as a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof"(Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary). Belief without proof is foreign to the biblical concept of saving faith. Our faith is proven true by the sensory and rational analysis of our world.
Hope
The fourth building block, hope, rests squarely upon the biblical concept of faith we just described. As proof that the Bible is God's word is derived from the world, and as faith is derived from that word, so hope is established upon the biblical system of faith. Remember, faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is foundational to hope. Hope is not only built on faith, its intensity is proportional to the depth of faith. A weak faith produces a diminished hope.
Heaven
The fifth, and final, building block in our illustration is heaven. In view of eternity the world around us is ultimately only useful as we gather from it the things necessary to lead us to heaven. From it we learn that the Bible is God's word. From that Bible we can come to an appreciation and an understanding of the one faith. That one faith can, and must, instill within us the singular hope of heaven. The writer of Hebrews taught the Jewish Christians who were lapsing back into Judaism that the real prospect of heaven could be theirs if they had true faith and hope.
Our Hope in Christ
Consider how hope fits into God's scheme of redemption:
(1) What hope is
The Bible describes hope as "good" (2 Thessalonians 2:16), "blessed" (Titus 2:13) and "living" (1 Peter 1:3). It is listed in 1 Corinthians 13:13 as one of the eternal verities.
(2) What hope does
Hope does many things. It produces rejoicing (Romans 15:13; Hebrews 3:6); causes confidence (Hebrews 3:6); causes us to live life to the fullest in Christ (1 Peter 1:3); allows us to find God (Acts 17:27); causes us to expect the best in our brethren (2 Corinthians 8:5); provides consolation (2 Thessalonians 2:16); prompts others to seek God from what they see in us (1 Peter 3:15); induces patience (1 Thessalonians 1:3); provides motivation for us to defend what we believe (1 Peter 3:15); and prompts us to be bold (Philippians 1:20; cf. 1 Peter 3;15).
Most importantly, we are saved in hope. In Romans 8:24-25, the Bible says: "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."
(3) Scriptures and hope
The scriptures provide a basis for hope because the scriptures produce faith (Romans 15:4). Our hope is also contingent upon God's promises which are revealed to us in His word (Acts 26:6-7; 2 Peter 1:4).
(4) Hope and faith; Hope and the gospel
Our hope is based on faith, and its accompanying righteousness. It is through faith that we have "access" into God's grace. It is because we have heard, and obeyed, the gospel (of faith) that we have hope of eternal life (Romans 5:2-5; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:5, 23; Hebrews 11:1). The interconnection of faith and hope is keenly shown in 1 Peter 1:21: "who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
(5) The hope of the gospel is greater than that of the law of Moses.
The new testament often compares the hope of the gospel to the law of Moses. In every instance, the hope of the gospel is shown to be the only hope that exists. (2 Corinthians 3:12; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6; 6:11, 18-19; 7:19; 10:23)
(6) Hope and grace
It is by faith that we access God's grace, and it is in, on, and by God's grace that we have the hope of glory. (Romans 5:2, 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Peter 1:13)
(7) Hope and the promises of God
The promises of God, in which Abraham placed his faith, are often held up in the new testament as an encouragement to keep Christians focused on faithfulness. Paul often extols Abraham as the epitome of faith because he believed in God's promises. He is also characterized as a man of great hope for the same reason; he believed the promises of God. The surety of God's word and its promises serve as the firm foundation for both faith and hope. (Acts 26:6-7; 28:20; Ephesians 2:12)
(8) Hope and the resurrection
One of the greatest promises that God has made is that of the hope of the resurrection of the faithful, of which Christ's own resurrection is a guarantee.
(a) David rejoiced in hope of Christ's prospective resurrection. (Acts 2:26)
(b) Paul had a hope of the resurrection in God. (Acts 24:15; 23:6)
(c) The hope of the resurrection through Christ is for all Christians. (1 Peter 1:3)
(9) Hope and eternal life/salvation
Our only real hope in this life is in the salvation available through Christ. That hope of salvation is not only for joy and peace in this life, but it is also in prospect of eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:19; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:5, 27; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 2:13; 3:7; 1 Peter 1:13)
(10) Hope and the salvation of others
In addition to giving praise to God for their own salvation, early Christians expressed concern, and hope, for the salvation of others. (1 Thessalonians 2:19; 4:13; 1 Peter 3:15; cf. Romans 15:12 re the hope of salvation for Gentiles.)
(11) There is one hope
The Bible teaches that there is but one hope, and that hope is in Christ. (Ephesians 4:4; 2:12ff)
(12) Hope and the Godhead
The scriptures teach that our hope is in, and because of, God (1 Peter 1:21; Romans 15:13; Acts 24:15; Hebrews 6:18), in Christ (1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27), and by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:5). Our hope is also said to be founded on the promises of God (Acts 26:6-7). God, described as "the God of hope"(Romans 15:13) can not lie. Because of this immutable aspect of His nature, we have hope (Hebrews 6:18).
(13) Hope and Christian living
The Bible teaches that the hope we have of eternal life should compel us to live pure lives before God in this world. (1 John 3:3)
(14) Hope and joy
The scriptures teach us that we have a reason to rejoice in the hope of eternal life. (Romans 12:12)
(15) Without hope
Without hope, souls are outside of Christ, lost, without God, and separated from God's promises (Ephesians 2:12).
(16) Hope's purpose
As Hebrews 11:1 states: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hope is frequently connected to "things not seen." As such, hope is designed to take us to the end (1 Peter 1:13; Hebrews 3:6); for our life beyond this life (1 Corinthians 15:19); to take us to glory (Colossians 1:27); and for eternal life (Titus 1:2).
Where Is Our Hope?
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul focuses his attention on the "location" of saving hope. Note the number of times hope is shown to be "in Christ."
(1) In verse 12 Paul states that when they were without Christ (or outside of Christ), they (the Gentiles) had "no hope" and were "without God in the world."
(2) In verse 13 we learn that the Gentiles, who obeyed God's word, were "in Christ" and were now near to God "by the blood of Christ." Both Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14 inform us that the blood of Christ, and the redemption that it brings, is "in Christ." Thus, for the Gentiles to have hope through the blood of Jesus, they must be "in Christ."
(3) In verses 14-16 we see that Jews and Gentiles are made one man "in one body through the cross."
(4) In verses 17-18 we discover that it is through the preaching of peace that the Gentiles were brought to Christ, and that through Christ both Jew and Gentile have access to God.
(5) In verses 19-22 we note that both Jews and Gentiles are part of the same "building"(or "temple") and that they are "built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."
All of these verses, and others too, indicate that our hope is "in Christ,"in his body - in his spiritual building, the church. When we by one Spirit are baptized into that one body (1 Corinthians 12:13), we become children of God through the faith in Christ, and so put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). Having been added to the church by God through baptism (Acts 2:41, 47), we demonstrate our submission to the one faith, enter the one body, and begin a new life in the one hope of our calling (Ephesians 4:4-5).
Hope In Summary
Outside of Christ there is no hope. All the hopes and dreams of men outside Christ fail to ultimately satisfy. Men may hope for fame and fortune. If they obtain it, what have they gained? As Jesus said: "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26) If we have hope only in this world, we are most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Inside of Christ there is nothing but hope. While on this earth we have blessings, privileges, opportunities and joys in Christ that are of inestimable value (Ephesians 1:3ff) . But even these fail to compare to the heavenly hopes portrayed in God's glorious word. The hope of eternity in the presence of God the Father, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit compels us to have hope here and now. But one day, like Christ, we too will go beyond the veil (Hebrews 6:18-19; 9:3, 8; 10:20).
The real world proves the veracity of the "real word." That word takes us to faith. That faith serves as the foundation of our hope. And together, faith and hope prepare us for an eternity in heaven.This item originally appeared in Gospel Advocate (in abridged form)
