In my last post we started looking at Paul’s letter to the Colossian church. He was commending them for the faith and love that was manifest in them.
…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 that has come to you.
Colossians 1:4-6a NIV
In these verses, Paul shows us where this faith and love comes from. If we want to walk in them, then it will be no different for us. There are two things that cause faith and love to spring up in us.
We’re told that they come through the hope of what’s reserved for us in Heaven. In order to understand this, you need to know what the word, hope, means in the Scripture. It’s not talking about a blind wishful thinking.
In our society we say things like, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” It has no basis in fact. We’re simply voicing what we’d like to happen.
That’s not biblical hope. The Greek word used in Scripture means an expectation. It’s something that, based upon God’s Word, we fully expect and look forward to. In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about these as eternal qualities.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
When we walk in the expectation of what God will accomplish, then faith and love are the natural results. But how do I get that kind of expectation?
Paul reminds them that they received it when they heard the Word of truth from the Gospel. This is key to us walking in the hope of what’s reserved for us in Heaven.
As we sit under anointed preaching and teaching, we hear Good News. We receive something we’ve never had access to before. As it does its work in us, hope – the expectation of God’s grace – is born in us.
Then, when we learn what our calling is all about, we walk in the faith and obedience to that Word. But, more than that, calling is about ministry to others. God starts to place a love in our hearts for the people around us.
This is what the Colossian Christians experienced. They learned to listen to, believe, and obey God’s Word. It’s how we should follow in their footsteps.
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.
Colossians 1:6b NIV
Paul makes it clear that it’s the Word of truth in that Gospel that produces fruit. It’s not my good intentions, will-power, or work ethic. The fruit of the spirit can only come as a result of the Word working in me.
This is why it’s so important to hear godly, anointed preaching and teaching. And it’s not just a matter of hearing it. You need to lay hold of the truth. You must come to the point of understanding how it applies to your life.
That’s where the blessing of faith and love is born. When we hear, understand, and obey the Word of God, a whole new world of spiritual growth opens up to us.
Question: How have you seen faith and love grow in your life?
© 2023 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 