“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 1:3-4
 
Hope!  A confident expectance!  It has to do with the unseen and the future.  
“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.”  Romans 8:24-25
 
Hope distinguishes the Believer from the unbeliever:
“Remember that at one time you were separated from Christ…without hope and without God in the world.”  Ephesians 2:12
BUT! The turning point! 
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Vs. 13
 
Hope is not wishful thinking and does not come from an individual’s desires and wishes but from God who is the Believer’s hope as Paul prays in Romans 15:14,
“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.”   
 
Our hope comes from God’s calling:
In Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (1:15-23) verse 18 says,
“The eyes of you understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
 
Our hope by His grace:
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”  
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
 
Our hope is in His Word:
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”  Romans 15:4
 
Our hope is in His gospel:
“If indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul became a minister.”  Colossians 1:23
 
By this hope, faith and trust, God by His spirit, is working in the Believer--
Purity:
“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  1 John 3:3
 
Patience:
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”  Romans 8:25
 
Joy:
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12
 
Assurance:
The writer to the Hebrews tells us,
“And we desire that each one of you  show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Vs. 11-12
And,
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus…”  Hebrews 6:19-20
 
Scripture has so much more to say of this hope that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord and God.  It is my hope that each will seek the Holy Spirit to open up the word as we each study of this confident expectation that is ours by and through the mighty love and work of Jesus.
 
With grateful hearts we say thank you for Your love beyond comprehension.  Amen