“Faith, Love, and Hope”

 “Faith, Love, and Hope”

 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 1:4-5

The Apostle Paul told the Believers in Colossae that He had heard about their FAITH in Christ Jesus, and of the LOVE that they had for ALL the SAINTS of GOD.  FAITH and LOVE that SPRINGS from the HOPE that is stored up for them in HEAVEN for a SHARING of God’s Glory, which is made POSSIBLE through the VICTORY of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

It was something that they had heard about when they heard the Word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL or the GOOD NEWS that JESUS has the VICTORY over Satan, Sin and the GRAVE.  This Hope is CONFIDENCE in what God will do in the FUTURE.  And it carries with it the CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of the RETURN of CHRIST, which is called the “BLESSED HOPE.”   FAITH is based on the PAST work of Jesus Christ; LOVE is active in the PRESENT; and HOPE looks FORWARD to the FUTURE.  

Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE GOD, because anyone who comes to Him MUST BELIEVE that He exists and that He rewards those who EARNESTLY SEEKS Him.  (Heb. 11:6) LOVE is the GREATEST of ALL, the Bible tells us that GOD is LOVE and it is BECAUSE of His GREAT LOVE for MANKIND that we have been given His GIFT of SALVATION, which was purchased through the SHED BLOOD of GOD’S SON, JESUS CHRIST.  HOPE will NOT DISAPPOINT us.  It is our CONFIDENCE in GOD and JESUS CHRIST, for an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And it is being ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  Do you possess  the FAITH, LOVE and HOPE you NEED to make this HAPPEN?

You can, if you will come to the foot of the Cross of Christ, who suffered, bled and died, and was RESURRECTED for YOU.  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE NOW, in Heaven making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and possess FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE for the FUTURE.  LOOKING FORWARD to the SOON RETURN of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!