The Power of Faith Is in the Object: Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:3-8).
length: 61:57 - taught on Jul, 8 2026
Class Outline:
Wednesday July 8, 2026
Main idea: It is important to define Christian faith because of all the fruit it will lead to if it is in Christ Jesus.
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Intro:
The similarity of COL 1:3-5 and COL 1:23 suggests that this is a single argument.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Faith in Christ is immoveable.
The power of the gospel is that believers are not moved from it like so many beliefs and fads.
By far, the majority of believers (carnal included) do not leave the faith nor their hope in heaven.
The false teachers in Colossae are in the category of revolving faiths and philosophies and ideologies. They are trying to pull the Colossians into their uncertain world. So we can see in Paul’s opening his encouragement of them.
Today’s focus is on faith in Christ Jesus.
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
1. Faith in Christ Jesus.
Definition: Faith - pistis (243x): state of believing on the basis of reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith. [salvation]
Also: faith or firm commitment as true piety, genuine devotion.
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,
For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
It is important not to confuse them, but it is also important not to put them in two separate worlds.
Faith is not a commodity. Faith is a living relationship with Christ.
Implications:
A life anchored in the Son of God - A soul relies on Christ as Savior and becomes a anchored in Him, relying on Him for life, for future, for love, for hope.
Christ, the object of faith, gives faith all its value. The value of faith therefore is incalculable and eternal. He is the high prince and completer of faith:
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith
Loss of slavery to self: Faith’s implication is that the gospel is Christ centered and not man centered.
Faith implies seeing Christ.
Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." 38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
Faith in Christ is being at rest. The rested person finds both the capacity to work and is animated to work.
These implications change a person.
Faith for salvation and faith as an active relationship with Christ.
When you look at the letters as a whole, the writers always expect faith in Christ to produce its proper fruit.
There is a distinction between faith in Christ for salvation and faith in Christ as a relationship that produces faithfulness, devotion, and piety (goodness).
Salvation faith:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Relationship faith:
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
We walk by faith and not by sight (2CO 5:7).
2. Significance of faith in Colossae and the world.
Faith without love is a metallic orthodoxy. Love without faith degenerates into a mere sentimentality.
Faith and love without hope become weak. They do not live up to the power, influence, and impact that God desires for them.
Faith’s relation to love for “all the saints.”
The love that He warned us against, loving those who love us, is the love of the world. The Colossians have love for “all” the saints. That is the love of the Bible; love of Christ.
Faith’s relation to hope: Hope is the understanding of your inheritance stored up in heaven by God for you.
Conclusion:
Your faith in Christ Jesus is precious. It guarantees a golden harvest in your life. Protect it by feeding it on the Word of truth.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
You had faith in Christ for salvation and that relationship with Him is meant to make changes in you.
Examine your life and see where faith in Christ is being pushed out or in.
Faith puts you at rest, and it causes love of Christ’s kind, agape of heaven, to flow out of your inner most being.
Faith also looks to the future, to heaven where God has reserved your inheritance. That is faith to hope and hope returns the favor by strengthening faith.
Is this a life that you want?
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