"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
1 Peter 1:3

Through God's mercy we are begotten to a 'living hope'. In "Vines Expository Dictionary" we see in the New Testament that 'hope (ELPIS in the Greek) is defined as favorable and confident expectation.'
Let's see what Scripture has to tell us of this hope that is ours in Christ.

Hope has to do with the unseen and the future:
Romans 8:24-25 tells us,
"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."

Hope describes the happy anticipation of good, "In the hope of eternal life, which God, who can not lie, promised long ages ago (before times eternal)." Titus 1:2 (Margin note) (Eternal life is our joy and expectation.)

Hope describes the ground on which hope is based, "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:27
(Christ is the ground of our hope.)

Hope describes the object on which hope is fixed, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope." 1 Timothy 1:1 (Christ is the object of our hope.)

Hope is active:
In producing purity,
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is  pure." 1 John 3:3

In producing patience,
"But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:25 (one of our opening verses.)

In producing courage,
The Apostle Paul in talking about joy in tribulation, Romans 5:3-8 (read and be strengthened), says in verse 5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

In producing rejoicing,
Read and take to heart Romans 12:3-21, here Paul is writing of the Believer's responsibilities toward others. Verse 5 tells us we are to be, "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer."

In producing assurance,
"Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Hebrews 6:17-19

In producing stability,
"If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard..."
Colossians 2:23

Hope is one of the greatest virtues,
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

I close with Romans 15:15,
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

As the song says,
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus and His righteousness."

Thank you Father for your gracious and merciful plan of reconciliation! And for the hope we have in Christ to dwell with Holy God throughout eternity.
Amen