Faith, Love, and Hope

This past Sunday, our church studied Paul’s thanksgiving for the Colossian believers. We noted that his usual three virtues, faith, hope, and love, (1 Cor 13:13) were part of his thanks to God. However, they were listed as faith, love, and hope.

Faith: Not just any faith or some kind of belief, but this is a particular faith, “faith in Christ Jesus” (v4). Jesus Christ is the object of true, genuine saving faith. Paul is thankful for the Gospel fruit of faith that is evidenced in their lives. Faith in Christ is Gospel fruit because only believers really believe that Jesus is God Incarnate, that He died for our sins, that He rose from the dead, and that He, and He alone, is our only hope of salvation. Paul was grateful for the Gospel fruit of faith!

Love: Not just any kind of love for any and everyone, but this is a particular love, “love...for all the saints” (v4). Love for all people, even love for our enemies, is also Gospel fruit, but Paul has in mind the love shared between believers. There is a way that we love every person or should love every person, and there is a way that we do love one another as believers! This love is rooted in our bond and unity in Christ. Because we have experienced the love of God and are united in God’s family through Christ, there is a special affection believers have for one another. However, it does not come naturally. We don’t naturally love anyone as we should. That’s why love for the saints is a work of the Spirit (v8). Therefore, since it is a work of the Spirit, it is evidence of genuine faith. It is Gospel fruit, and Paul is grateful for it.

Hope: Not just wishful thinking, but a certain assurance that believers posses. Everyone hopes, in a wishful way, that they will go to heaven. Believers, however, hope in an assured way because we know we are going to heaven. Gospel hope is not a wish that may or may not materialize, but rather it is a realization that we are awaiting. That is what makes it hope; we are waiting for it. It is not a wish because based upon the work of Christ and the promise of God, it is already ours. We only wait to receive it. You hope for it knowing that it is “laid up for you in heaven.”

Unlike faith and love, hope has a special role to play in faith and love. In fact, Paul grounds the Gospel fruits of faith and love in our hope, “because of the hope” (v5). This means that because we KNOW our hope is in heaven, we believe and we love! The assurance of glorification feeds our sanctification! We know we are going to see Jesus, be with Jesus, and be transformed by Jesus, and therefore, we believe and we love!

Paul is grateful for the Gospel fruits of faith, love, and hope. They are proof that the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing in the Colossian church (v6). May we be grateful for the Gospel’s work in our lives, and with Epaphras and Paul, may we be servants of the Gospel to see it advanced in the lives of others!