The outstanding characteristic of the life of the Christian is looking forward. We are, so Paul writes in Romans 8, saved “in hope”. This hope is not yet seen (v. 24). Now we are still greatly hindered by the sin that clings to all our works, but we know that deliverance is coming and we look forward to it. It is a hope that softens all our sorrows and that causes us to persevere in the struggle. We know that the victory belongs to our Saviour. He delivers us out of our deadly existence. His Spirit is the Spirit of life.

According to God's Word, genuine Christian hope has many and im­portant uses. It does great things for the soul. This article explores some of its uses.

Hope consists of desire and expec­tation. It is the opposite of fear, which is composed of aversion and expecta­tion. Richard Baxter says, "Hope is nothing but a desirous expectation." It is also the opposite of despair, which though it desires, does not expect. When we regard anything as impossi­ble, we cannot hope for it, although we may greatly wish for it. As to the gen­eral nature of hope there is no dispute.

"We are saved by hope." We are rescued from the dire influences of despair, we are aroused and animated in our whole course, and are finally made victori­ous by the power of hope. This is one of the great bands which holds to­gether the church of God. As "there is one body and one Spirit, . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all," so also "ye are called in one hope of your calling."

This article is about what it means to hope. Hope involves awaiting eagerly for that which God will surely do. Hope makes us active, not passive.

Christian hope is rooted in Jesus Christ. The Bible calls him our hope. This article explains the nature of this hope.

This article looks at the hope of the believer in contrast to those without faith who do not have hope.

What is Christian hope? This article explains the nature and essence of this hope.

The world has long believed in the myth of progress - the idea that we are slowly moving towards a utopia. Where do we, as Christians in the third millenium, find our hope? Do we find our hope in the concept of progress, or elsewhere?