What is the Christian hope?
One of the most important things in life is hope. People want hope and the Christian faith is hope. Unlike the kinds of hope that are found in the world (and you may want to take a moment to list some of the earthly hopes that people have, the Bible emphasizes a hope that is eternal. Christians have “hope” because of a future resurrection (Acts 23:6) and because of the “grace wherein they stand (Rom. 5:2). Christians are certain about their hope because “God cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2). When Christians need to have their hope strengthened, they study the word of God (Rom. 15:4). Diligent study of the Scriptures and the Christian hope are also mentioned together in 1 Pet. 3:15 (because Christians have a great hope, they are ready to defend the faith they have in Christ and the gospel). Christians are willing to do this with “boldness of speech” because they are confident about their hope (2 Cor. 3:12).
Many earthly hopes are not realized, but the Christian hope is “laid up in the heavens” (Col. 1:5) and God warns His people to “not be moved away from the hope of the gospel (Col. 1:23). Even when Christians must face the pain of loving a loved one to death, there is still great hope if the deceased was a Christian (1 Thess. 4:13). Jesus Christ is the “hope” for the saved (1 Tim. 1:1).
Many who call themselves "Christians" are not sure about the "hope" they have. Be sure you have the Christian hope because you have chosen to embrace New Testament Christianity.