"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 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." Colossians 1:3-5
In Paul's letter to the Colossians Paul refers to the Colossian believers in Colossians 1:2 as "holy and faithful." Because of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross they were holy in their standing in Christ. These believers were now wearing the righteous robes of Christ's righteousness. They were not holy and righteous in themselves, because every human being is filthy in their own sins. They, however, were now clothed in Christ's righteousness. When God, the Father, looked down on them; He no longer saw their sins. Instead He saw Christ's righteousness and holiness. This is true of believers today also. We are righteous and holy in Christ's atoning blood alone. A new life in Christ, however, brings about growth in practical righteousness and holiness. A new life in Christ brings about a growth in Christ-likeness in our day to day lives.
In Colossians chapter one Paul lists several characteristics in the lives of the people in the church in Colosse for which he was thankful to God. Paul was thankful to God for these characteristics, because all evidence of spiritual growth and spiritual fruit in a believer's life comes from God. These were characteristics in the believers' lives which showed a growth in practical holiness and a growth in Christ-likeness in their lives. These are characteristics of growth in holiness that should be increasingly evident in our lives as believers today also.
Faith and love are the first two characteristics Paul mentions. Faith is trusting and leaning our entire personalities on the Lord in absolute and complete trust. It is trusting the Lord for everything we need for time and eternity. Faith is trusting in God's wisdom, power, goodness, and faithfulness. Love encompasses love for God and for others, especially our fellow believers. This kind of love extends even to those people who are sometimes not loving to us. It extends to those who are unlovely or difficult. It is easy to love those who are pleasant and loving to us. It is much more difficult to love those who are sometimes insensitive and unloving to us. The Lord loved us, however, in our sinful and unlovable state. We need to show that same love to others.
Hope is another characteristic of a spiritually growing Christian. The word "hope" in the Bible does not refer to something for which one might wish but is uncertain. The word "hope" in the Bible refers to the absolute certainty of the promises of God which have not yet fully been attained. It is an anticipation of the glories of our rewards in heaven. It is also a willingness to cling in faith to the Lord in times of trial. It is a willingness to cling in joyful anticipation to His precious promises of victory in our lives as children of God. It is a willingness to wait for the Lord's perfect timing for all the events of our lives.
Fruitfulness and faithfulness are two other characteristics of a true child of God. Children of God will show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They will show that they are children of God by their lives and words. They will be spiritually fruitful in their attitudes and actions in their lives. They will also be faithful in their service to the Lord to the very end.
We need to examine our lives to see if we are growing in holiness and Christ-likeness in our lives. We need to be growing in faith, hope, fruitfulness, and faithfulness. We need to be growing to become more like Jesus every day!
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