READ: Col. 1:3–8: “… your faith … the hope … your love …”
As in most of Paul’s letters, this letter begins after the greeting of peace with thanksgiving to God. He gives thanks for the most essential matter, namely their faith in Christ Jesus and their mutual love for all brothers and sisters in the Lord, an inseparable part of a living faith. Christ Jesus is their Saviour and Leader; they are His property. In Him they are rooted, so that with Him they have died and been raised (6:4ff.).
Paul will give further special attention to this later in the letter. But for now he expresses his gratitude to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because all this is divine grace, as the outworking of Christ’s redemptive work through His Spirit. Therefore, he expresses that gratitude to God whenever he prays for them.
That brings us to the question: do we see the special character of the gift of faith as it may be observed in our own congregation? And do we also continually thank the Lord for that, with the petition that He may continue to grant us perseverance in faith?
Let us remember that in the congregation of Colosse at that moment things were certainly not perfect, for a dangerous false doctrine was active within the congregation. Yet even in this situation Paul has an eye for the continuing work of the Lord.
The mutual love that Paul observes within the congregation is general. It concerns “all the saints,” all brothers and sisters, and is not limited to a select group of friends. Love is then especially the showing of love, giving yourself to the other (Phil. 2:2ff.).
In verse 5, Paul mentions the hope laid up for the believers after this life. Thus, he points to their necessary perseverance in faith. Let them not seek it in themselves but in Christ. They cannot earn their salvation by their own works. For their perseverance in faith, it is necessary that they continue to take refuge in Christ, pray for His Spirit, expect everything from Him alone, and continue to follow Him. For that purpose they have received the true gospel, which stands opposed to the false teaching that expects it from men (v. 5; cf. 2:8ff.; 3:1,2).
Is your love for the whole congregation or limited?
Singing: Ps. 33:1,5