Colossians 1:4

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,

'HAVING HEARD' -i.e. by way of Epaphras (Colossians 1:4).

'OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS' -

Points to Note:

1.. faith that one would "hear" about must be more than mental assent. Such. faith must be expressing itself in concrete attitudes and actions (James 2:24; James 1:22).

2. Just "faith" in God isn't enough. The faith must be "in Christ Jesus" (John 8:24). One must believe that Jesus is the Son of God for faith to be worth anything (Romans 10:9).

3. Having faith in Christ involves: (a) Being completely satisfied with Him as. Saviour, refusing to believe that one needs more than Christ. (b) Being completely satisfied with His revelation of truth through His apostles (Ephesians 3:3; John 16:13). (c) It is. faith that completely accepts and trusts everything that Jesus said, regardless of the amount of "evidence" presented by the opposition in support of an contrary position (Romans 3:4).

'AND OF THE LOVE WHICH YE HAVE TOWARD ALL THE SAINTS' -Faith and love go hand in hand (Ephesians 1:15; Galatians 5:6). True love is defined by "faith". Faith refuses to call something "loving", which Jesus says is sinful or selfish (1 Corinthians 13:6; Romans 13:8).

Points to Note:

1. 'The same Magnet, Christ Jesus, who attracts sinners to himself and changes them into saints..draws them into closer fellowship with each other.' (Hendriksen p. 47)

2. 'The Christian must have faith; he must know what he believes. But he must also have love for men; he must turn that belief into action. It is not enough simply to have faith, for there can be an orthodoxy which knows no love. It is not enough only to have love for men, for without real belief that love can become mere sentimentality. The Christian has. double commitment--he is committed to Jesus Christ and he is committed to his fellow-men.' (Barclay p. 105)

3. Here again we find the two great commandments, love for God (demonstrated by faith in His Son) and love for others.

4. Brotherly love is an essential characteristic of true Christianity (1 John 4:20; 2 Peter 1:7). Something is seriously wrong with. "spirituality" which supposedly is moving one closer to God but at the same time farther away from their brethren. Despite the errors which existed in the First Century, Paul never felt that he was the last faithful Christian on the face of the earth and neither did he end up worshipping all by himself.

'ALL THE SAINTS' -Christians from Jewish and Gentile backgrounds.. warning against an "exclusive" or "club-like" Christianity, in which only. certain segment of the church is fellowshipped.