Reconciling Hopelessness with Eternal Life in Scripture

The concept of eternal life is deeply intertwined with the idea of hope in Scripture. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, eternal life is described as the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter ^[1]. This hope is not just a vague expectation but is rooted in the promises of God and the work of Christ. The Bible teaches that believers have been regenerated "unto the hope of eternal life, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ^[11].

The tension between hopelessness and eternal life is addressed in various biblical passages. Job 27:8 asks, "For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?" ^[2], highlighting the contrast between those who have hope in God and those who do not. In contrast, Psalm 37:27 exhorts, "Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever" ^[3], emphasizing the security of those who trust in God.

The nature of hope is further explored in the New Testament. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, hope is "the work of the Holy Spirit" and is "obtained through Grace" ^[4]. Easton's Bible Dictionary describes hope as "one of the three main elements of Christian character" alongside faith and love ^[5]. This hope is not just a feeling but is grounded in the objective promises of God.

The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Calvin, emphasizes that the Gospel raises believers' thoughts to the hope of immortality and directs their hearts towards heavenly treasures ^[12]. Calvin notes that believers must be supported by the patience of hope and fixed on the contemplation of eternity, especially in the face of scoffers who question the promise of Christ's coming ^[13].

In the view of Charles Hodge, the Old Testament saints looked forward to a future state of blessedness, though the details were not as clearly revealed as under the New Covenant ^[10]. The patristic tradition, as seen in Augustine's writings, also emphasizes the importance of hope in the Christian life, encouraging believers to pray for perseverance in obedience, trusting that they are among the predestinati ^[14].

The Catholic (Scholastic) tradition, represented by Aquinas, understands eternal happiness as the proper object of hope, arguing that it is proportionate to the power of God's help ^[9].

The reconciliation of hopelessness with eternal life involves understanding that the present life is not the only reality. Believers are called to look beyond their current circumstances to the future glory that awaits them. As Calvin puts it, the Gospel "does not confine the hearts of men to the enjoyment of the present life, but raises them to the hope of immortality" ^[12]. This hope is not based on human potential but on the power and promises of God.

The biblical concept of eternal life is not just a future reality but has present implications. It involves a newness of life derived from Christ, which is opposed to the "eternal punishment" that awaits those who reject God ^[1]. The assurance of eternal life is a present comfort and motivation for believers, as seen in the writings of the Apostle John ^[7].

Ultimately, the hope of eternal life transforms the believer's perspective on the present life, enabling them to endure hardship and hopelessness with the confidence that their future is secure in God. As Psalm 83:17 expresses, the wicked will be "disappointed and dismayed forever" ^[6], while believers will live securely forever ^[3].

The eternal life that believers enjoy is a gift from God, given through Christ, and is the result of faith in Him ^[8]. This life is characterized by a deepening relationship with God and is marked by the presence of hope, which is sustained by the Holy Spirit ^[4]. As the believer's hope is fixed on eternal life, they are empowered to live a life that is pleasing to God, even in the face of adversity.

The contrast between eternal life and hopelessness is stark. While the godless may experience a sense of hopelessness when they are cut off from God ^[2], believers have a hope that is sure and steadfast, anchored in the promises of God ^[4]. This hope is not just a subjective feeling but is grounded in the objective reality of God's character and work.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Eternal life — This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Dan. 12:2 (R.V., "everlasting life"). It occurs frequently in the New Testament (Matt. 7:14; 18:8, 9; Luke 10:28; comp. 18:18). It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9), and is opposed to "eternal punishment" (Matt. 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:8; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Heb. 4:9; comp. 12:22). The newness of life which the believer derives from Christ (Rom. 6:4) is the ”
Job “Job 27:8 (BSB) — For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?”
Psalms “Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. -- Psalms 37:27”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
Psalms “Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish; -- Psalms 83:17”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Hope, Considered in Itself, Art. 2: Article: Whether eternal happiness is the proper object of hope? I answer that, As stated above (Article [1]), the hope of which we speak now, attains God by leaning on His help in order to obtain the hoped for good. Now an effect must be proportionate to its cause. Wherefore the good which we ought to hope for from God properly and chiefly is the infinite good, which is proportionate to the power of our divine helper, since it belongs to an infinite power to lead anyone to an i”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 76: whole tendency was to raise the thoughts of the people from the present and turn them towards the future; to make men look not at the things seen, but at the things unseen and eternal. 4. The dead in the Old Testament are always spoken of as going to their fathers, as descending into “Sheol,” i.e ., into the invisible state, which the Greeks called Hades. Sheol is represeated as the general receptacle or abode of departed spirits, who were there in a state of consciousness; some in a state of misery, others in a state of happiness. In all”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 41.--FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.: See with what earnestness the apostles declare this doctrine, when they received it. Peter, in his first Epistle, says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His abundant mercy, who hath regenerated us unto the hope of eternal life, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance immortal, and undefiled, flourishing, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."[4] And a little afterward”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 46: ( Rom. 1:2 ). And again, that “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets,” ( Rom. 3:21 ). For the Gospel does not confine the hearts of men to the enjoyment of the present life, but raises them to the hope of immortality; does not fix them down to earthly delights, but announcing that there is a treasure laid up in heaven, carries the heart thither also. For in another place he thus explains, “After that ye believed [the Gospel,] ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promi”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him,” ( Isaiah 8:17 ). Scoffers also rise up, as Peter tells us, and ask, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,” ( 2 Pet. 3:4 ). Nay, the world and the flesh insinuate the same thing. Here faith must be supported by the patience of hope, 507 and fixed on the contemplation of eternity, consider that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years ”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 62.--PRAYER TO BE INCULCATED, NEVERTHELESS.: But I do not think that manner which I have said should be adopted in the preaching of predestination ought to be sufficient for him who speaks to the congregation, except he adds this, or something of this kind, saying, "You, therefore, ought also to hope for that perseverance in obedience from the Father of Lights, from whom cometh down every excellent gift and every perfect gift,[1] and to ask for it in your daily prayers; and in doing this ought to trust that you are not aliens from the predestinati”

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