Faith and Love. Colossians 1:4 In several of Paul’s epistles, he uses “faith, love, and hope” together. Our relationship with God is established through faith in Him and His word. Love flows from that faith, demonstrating its authenticity. Our connection with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ results in a genuine, often visible, relationship with other believers in Christ through the love of God in our hearts. That love is one of the proofs that we are children of God. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.”
Faith is the starting point of God's dealings with us. It is the foundation of our Christian life. "The just shall live by faith." Faith confirms Christ's supremacy in the life of a believer. Our trust is built through faith, and we depend on Him by faith. Acting on and responding through faith is a natural shift in attitude toward other believers.
Love is perhaps the greatest and most effective way to express our faith. It is the spontaneous expression of the divine nature implanted in a child of God by the Holy Spirit. Love for God and our Lord Jesus Christ is shown through love for God's children. Faith produces love, and love demonstrates the reality of faith. Words of flattery or insincere attitudes cannot pretend love for God’s people.
“All saints” refers to God’s people, meaning they are a holy people. Saints have been “set apart” by God from the world for the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “saints” is often used today, even in some dictionaries that do not accurately reflect its biblical meaning. In the Old Testament, saints are those who were faithful to God. In the New Testament, the word “saints" describes people who have become Christians, follow Christ, and are consecrated to God. They uniquely belong to the Lord. Believers in Christ are saints in their standing, as those who belong to Him through the redemption paid for by the blood of Christ. Additionally, we are encouraged to “be holy” because God is holy, and we belong to Him. This means we are to live daily in a manner consistent with God's word and will.
God’s people are precious to Him. They are “the apple of His eye.” We must remember what God sees when He looks at His loved ones. If we see them only as just like all the other people around, we miss out on an important aspect of Christian fellowship. Paul demonstrated this every time he prayed for the believers in Colossae by thanking God for them. Even though he hadn’t met them personally, he appreciated the grace of God in their lives. He had heard of their faith and love: two vital Christian virtues I need to cultivate and value in the Lord’s people.
I thank God for the dedication of hundreds of believers I know who have faithfully continued for many years in gathering for the Lord’s Day, weekly Wednesday meetings, monthly community gatherings for seniors, and occasional Gospel series. One of the best things I can do for them is to thank God for them and pray for them regularly, since He has a great, lasting, and loving interest in them.
Sent by the Father, God entered the world as the man Christ Jesus, who, in love and unlimited wisdom, submitted to grace and took on human flesh so He could save mankind. His holiness as a man was so genuine that people became aware of their sin when they heard the Gospel message. They heard these truths and recognized His saving grace. Awakened by the Holy Spirit, they turned in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus alone, who, through forgiveness, had paid the price their sins required. Then, the Spirit of God came to dwell within them.
Things change when someone places their saving faith in Christ alone. A new creation, with a new nature, has come through Christ Jesus and must be acknowledged in every area of life. Whether in business, pleasure, or marriage, old things pass away, and God makes all things new. We no longer love what we once hated; the habits we once indulged in, we now abandon. Faith is in Christ Jesus, not in our own ability to live a holy life. Though unseen, He is our Strength, Shield, Mighty Defender, and the Rock of our salvation.
An interesting point about placing our faith in Him is that many others also trust in Him. There is a mutual attraction to these dear people. Regardless of nationality or culture, we realize that we are one in Christ, one body in the Lord. When we love the Lord, we love one another. Those accepted in Christ all know God as our Father. When something happens to them and the news reaches me, it also affects me because we are part of the same family.
Putting faith in Christ Jesus means life begins anew. Love shows itself in those who believe in Him. Doors once shut are now opened through prayer. Our actions and words are different. Life on the narrow way is vastly different from life on the broad. We used to live for ourselves; now, we live for the Lord. There is peace where there once was fear; joy replaces our sadness. Trust replaces doubt; faith in Christ makes us glad.