For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
The hope laid up in heaven is an inheritance of eternal glory kept for believers, which they heard of beforehand in the true message of the gospel. It stands joined with faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints, with faith and love resting upon that heavenly hope. The gospel that brought the hope comes as it does in all the world and bears fruit from the day it is heard and the grace of God is known in truth, so that all who accept it become living letters known and read by all men. It calls for a vital and constant union between Christ and His disciples, for religion of mere profession is pretense and a union that ends with a name on the church roll leaves one no channel of light. It is a reason for gratitude to God and prayer and love for fellow believers, softening the heart and showing itself in faith working by love and purifying the soul.
Hope Heard in Gospel
The hope is laid up and kept in heaven for believers as an inheritance of eternal glory. They heard of it before in the word of the truth of the gospel, the true message of the gospel made known through that gospel. The gospel that proclaims it bears fruit in those who receive it. Remaining steadfast in faith holds the promise of the reward of being presented holy and blameless before God.
The verse is a decided address to every believer. It was given for the help of those who would afterward compose the church as well as for the first readers at Colosse.
The hope is joined with faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints. That joining includes love in the Spirit. Faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints rest on the hope laid up in heaven. The hope in Jesus Christ leads those who hold it to manifest His mind toward one another, showing the relation believers are to sustain to one another.
The heavenly hope gives believers something to look forward to continually. The prospect of that future honor can inspire hope, awaken desire, and spur effort. A present experience of heavenly happiness gives a foretaste of it. This stands in contrast to choosing sin whose wages is death.
Living the Gospel Hope
The gospel that carried the hope laid up in heaven has come to believers as it has come in all the world, and it brings forth fruit since the day it was heard and the grace of God was known in truth as taught by a faithful minister of Christ. All who accept the truth and receive faith in the gospel which works by love and purifies the soul become epistles known and read of all men, bringing joy and comfort to those whose ministry has led souls to Christ. The truth was presented in simplicity to saints and faithful brethren in Christ, joined to faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints and to love in the Spirit.
The verse teaches the vital union that should exist between Christ and His disciples, a union to be constantly striven for. Religion that consists only of profession is pretense. Those whose union with Christ ends with writing their names on the church roll are not channels of light.
The hope in Jesus Christ is a reason for gratitude, love for God, and prayer for fellow believers, and those who hold it are led to manifest His mind toward one another in the relation they are to sustain to one another. The words of the true gospel are to soften and tender the heart, and its truth is shown by faith working through love and purifying the soul. Faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints are joined to the hope laid up in heaven heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.
The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent, bearing fruit in good works that has the endorsement of heaven. It is a living principle that tells in word and deed in kindness, courtesy, and longing desire for the salvation of souls ready to perish. It has a nobility that allows no littleness and no mean, cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer.
The hope of the gospel is a reason to remain steadfast in faith and promises the reward of being presented holy and blameless before God. Believers possess a heavenly hope that sustains the higher life, even the life of God. The Christian hope is kept in heaven and is made known through the true gospel, joined with faith in Christ and love for fellow believers, and the gospel that proclaims it bears fruit in those who receive it.
A gospel minister must preach the Word in a way that brings forth fruit, for preaching that brings forth no fruit makes his labor vain. This message is present truth to be given to those in the darkness of error for the saving of souls ready to perish. Believers are called to refuse overwork that dwarfs health and courage and faith in God, to plan wisely so as to increase in spiritual, mental, and physical power, and to bring forth fruit that will in its turn bring forth more fruit unto eternal life. Those in responsible positions are called to make straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way.
The hope laid up in heaven is an inheritance of eternal glory kept for believers, which they heard of beforehand in the true message of the gospel. It stands joined with faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints, with faith and love resting upon that heavenly hope. The gospel that brought the hope comes as it does in all the world and bears fruit from the day it is heard and the grace of God is known in truth, so that all who accept it become living letters known and read by all men. It calls for a vital and constant union between Christ and His disciples, for religion of mere profession is pretense and a union that ends with a name on the church roll leaves one no channel of light. It is a reason for gratitude to God and prayer and love for fellow believers, softening the heart and showing itself in faith working by love and purifying the soul.
Hope Heard in Gospel
The hope is laid up and kept in heaven for believers as an inheritance of eternal glory. They heard of it before in the word of the truth of the gospel, the true message of the gospel made known through that gospel. The gospel that proclaims it bears fruit in those who receive it. Remaining steadfast in faith holds the promise of the reward of being presented holy and blameless before God.
The verse is a decided address to every believer. It was given for the help of those who would afterward compose the church as well as for the first readers at Colosse.
The hope is joined with faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints. That joining includes love in the Spirit. Faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints rest on the hope laid up in heaven. The hope in Jesus Christ leads those who hold it to manifest His mind toward one another, showing the relation believers are to sustain to one another.
The heavenly hope gives believers something to look forward to continually. The prospect of that future honor can inspire hope, awaken desire, and spur effort. A present experience of heavenly happiness gives a foretaste of it. This stands in contrast to choosing sin whose wages is death.
Living the Gospel Hope
The gospel that carried the hope laid up in heaven has come to believers as it has come in all the world, and it brings forth fruit since the day it was heard and the grace of God was known in truth as taught by a faithful minister of Christ. All who accept the truth and receive faith in the gospel which works by love and purifies the soul become epistles known and read of all men, bringing joy and comfort to those whose ministry has led souls to Christ. The truth was presented in simplicity to saints and faithful brethren in Christ, joined to faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints and to love in the Spirit.
The verse teaches the vital union that should exist between Christ and His disciples, a union to be constantly striven for. Religion that consists only of profession is pretense. Those whose union with Christ ends with writing their names on the church roll are not channels of light.
The hope in Jesus Christ is a reason for gratitude, love for God, and prayer for fellow believers, and those who hold it are led to manifest His mind toward one another in the relation they are to sustain to one another. The words of the true gospel are to soften and tender the heart, and its truth is shown by faith working through love and purifying the soul. Faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints are joined to the hope laid up in heaven heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.
The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent, bearing fruit in good works that has the endorsement of heaven. It is a living principle that tells in word and deed in kindness, courtesy, and longing desire for the salvation of souls ready to perish. It has a nobility that allows no littleness and no mean, cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer.
The hope of the gospel is a reason to remain steadfast in faith and promises the reward of being presented holy and blameless before God. Believers possess a heavenly hope that sustains the higher life, even the life of God. The Christian hope is kept in heaven and is made known through the true gospel, joined with faith in Christ and love for fellow believers, and the gospel that proclaims it bears fruit in those who receive it.
A gospel minister must preach the Word in a way that brings forth fruit, for preaching that brings forth no fruit makes his labor vain. This message is present truth to be given to those in the darkness of error for the saving of souls ready to perish. Believers are called to refuse overwork that dwarfs health and courage and faith in God, to plan wisely so as to increase in spiritual, mental, and physical power, and to bring forth fruit that will in its turn bring forth more fruit unto eternal life. Those in responsible positions are called to make straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way.