Role of Hope in Christian Assurance of Salvation
The Role of Hope in Christian Assurance of Salvation
Hope is a fundamental element of Christian character, alongside faith and love (1 Cor. 13:13) [1]. In the context of Christian assurance of salvation, hope plays a crucial role as it provides a confident expectation of future blessings and salvation. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, hope is "made full" by the assurance of salvation, and it is described as "lively", "sure and steadfast", and "gladdening" [3].
The biblical basis for the role of hope in Christian assurance of salvation is rooted in various passages. For instance, Romans 8:24 states that believers are "saved by hope" [11]. The object of Christian hope is Christ, who is the anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:19) [5]. Hope is also linked to the resurrection of Jesus, which is seen as a pledge of God's faithfulness and a guarantee of the believer's future resurrection (Acts 17:31; 24:15) [1, 6].
The work of the Holy Spirit is also closely tied to hope, as it is the Spirit who enables believers to hope in God (Rom. 15:13; Gal. 5:5) [3, 4]. The Spirit's work in believers produces a sense of assurance and confidence in their salvation, which is rooted in their hope in Christ. As the Tyndale House commentary on Ephesians 2:5 notes, believers are "made alive together with Christ" and share in his resurrection, both now and in the future [7].
The relationship between hope and assurance is further highlighted in Torrey's Topical Textbook, which states that assurance is "made full by hope" (Heb. 6:11, 19) [2]. This suggests that hope is a key component of assurance, providing a sense of confidence and certainty in one's salvation. John Gill's commentary on Romans 8:24 also emphasizes that believers are saved by hope, highlighting the importance of hope in the Christian life [11].
Different Christian traditions have understood the role of hope in assurance of salvation in various ways. The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, emphasizes the importance of thanking God for all things, including adversities, and recognizing that even distresses become blessings through Christ (Eph. 5:20) [8]. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, highlights the object of Christian hope as Christ alone, and emphasizes that hope is placed in God's mercy and redemption in Christ (Ps. 78:7; 130:6) [9, 10].
Sources
- 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”
- 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: 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 ”
- Romans “Romans 15:13 (BBE) — Now may the God of hope make you full of joy and peace through faith, so that all hope may be yours in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:19 (NASB) — This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,”
- Acts “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. -- Acts 24:15”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:20: thanks . . . for all things--even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; Th1 5:18). unto God and the Father--the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ--by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:37; Co1 3:20-23).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:7: That they might set their hope in God,.... And not in the creature, nor in any creature enjoyment; see Job 31:24, the Lord is the only proper object of hope and confidence; Christ, who is truly God, is the hope of his people, and in him they place it, as they have great reason to do; since with him there is mercy, the mercy of God is proclaimed in him; and with him there is redemption, which includes the blessings of peace, pardon, and righteousness; and a plenteous one, a redemption from all sin; and it is the Gospel which points out these things in Christ, and encou”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 130:6: Let Israel hope in the Lord,.... The psalmist having himself hope in the Lord and in his word, through a view of forgiveness with him, exhorts and encourages others to do so likewise, even every Israelite indeed; and such may comfortably hope in him for salvation, which was designed, contrived, promised, and now wrought out for sinners, the chief of sinners, and to be had freely; and the Gospel declaration is, that whosoever believes in Christ shall be saved; as well as for the remission of sin, which God has promised in covenant; proclaimed in Christ, whom he has se”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:24: For we are saved by hope,.... We who have received the firstfruits, who were in a lost perishing condition, and by nature no better than others, than the Gentiles, are saved by sin and wrath to come by Christ, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation. They were already saved in the preparations and purposes of God; in the covenant of grace; in the arms and hands of Christ, through his purchase; and as considered in him; and with respect to the inchoation and application of salvation, in effectual calling, and their right unto it by the righteousness of Christ; and w”