Faith, Hope & Love:Colossians 1:3-4In Philosophy of Ministry: Part 1, faith, hope and love were introduced as the foundational cornerstones of a Practical Discipleship Philosophy of Ministry. In Philosophy of Ministry: Part 2, faith, hope and love were examined as Paul applied them to the Thessalonians. Colossians 1:4-5 says, “because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints – the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel”
Faith in Christ Jesus “Faith in Christ Jesus” means Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which practical discipleship is built. I am becoming a learner of Jesus Christ and I am helping others become learners of Jesus Christ. I am not helping them follow a set of rules. I don't advocate a specific denomination. I don't focus on the minor issues. I want to have a personal relationship with Jesus and I want other people to experience the same joy. When I see people who practice the disciplines instead of developing a relationship with God, it makes me sad. So much work, without the joy of the presence of God. I think a personal relationship with God is lacking for most people, most of the time. Love you have for all the saints “Love you have for all the saints” means I should love other people who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. These are people that I might not even like, but because we both have the Holy Spirit with in us, God has asked me to love them. This concept is so important, that in John 13 Jesus said that our love for each other as His followers would let “all men” know that we are His followers (verses 34,35). Its a foreign concept to think that I could love someone just because that person also loves Jesus. In fact, its so revolutionary that Jesus knows it has a profound impact for the advancement of the gospel! Faith and love that spring from hope “Faith and love that spring from hope” means that while love may be the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13), hope provides a reason for faith and love. The three; faith, hope and love, are intertwined with each other and its not possible to consider one without the other two. In this passage I see that faith and love are “jump started” from my hope. And what do I hope in . . . . .
Hope that is stored up for you in heaven “Hope that is stored up for you in heaven” refers to the hope I have that I will spend eternity in heaven in the presence of God. I am 100 percent certain that I will go to heaven when I die. No matter what happens to me between now and then, my eternal position is secure. Not many people believe that. On average, people tell me they are 70 percent sure they will go to heaven. Seventy percent is just not enough to inspire the kind of hope that Paul is talking about in Colossians. How confident are you that you will go to heaven when you die? If you are not 100 percent, take a look at these passages: 1 John 5:11-13; John 5:24; John 6:47; John 10:28-30. How do you experience faith, hope and love in your life?
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Posted on December 22, 2008
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