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Again, in Heb. 10: 22-24, we find these three together:--
"Let us draw near in full assurance of faith."
"Let us hold fast the profession of our hope" (elpis).
"Let us . . . . . provoke one another unto love."
In Rom.5: 1-8 we find them in pairs:--
"Therefore being justified by faith . . . . . we have access by faith . . . . . we rejoice in
hope of the glory of God . . . . . and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts . . . . . but God commendeth His love toward us."
These are passages that come readily to the mind. There are doubtless others, but
sufficient has been shown to make it clear that in the apostle's own ministry, faith, hope
and love occupy an important place, and therefore they should be prominent in the
teaching of all who profess to follow him.
Faith in Christ Jesus.
We must, however, leave this wider range, and make a closer approach to the teaching
of Colossians. The faith here spoken of is "faith in Christ Jesus". The first mention of
this expression is found in Gal. 3: 26: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus." The second reference that uses the expression "faith in" is Rom. 3: 25,
where we read of "propitiation through faith in His blood". Eph. 1: 15 is practically
parallel with Col. 1: 4, the only difference being in the title, "the Lord Jesus". In
Col. 2: 5, the apostle rejoices because of the stedfastness of their "faith in Christ", but we
must observe here a slight difference in the wording. Literally it is "your faith into (or
unto) Christ". The expression, "faith in Christ Jesus", occurs throughout the epistles in
such a way as to attract attention by the grouping, a feature often found in connection
with important themes:--
A | Gal. 3: 26. Children of God.
B | Col. 1: 4. Since we heard.
C | I Tim. 1: 14. Paul put into the ministry (diakonia).
C | I Tim. 3: 13. Those who have served as deacons (diakoneo).
B | II Tim. 1: 13. Which you heard of me.
A | II Tim. 3: 15. Salvation.
"Faith in God" was not sufficiently precise to meet the situation which Paul was
facing. Strictly speaking no one can have faith in God and reject His Christ, but the great
conflict for the truth that was commencing at Colosse demanded an explicit recognition
of the Lordship of Christ; consequently, it is not simply faith in the Word, or even faith
in God, but faith in Christ that the apostle commends.
"Faith in (epi) God" was among the "first principles" that the Hebrews were urged to
"leave" if they were to go on unto perfection (Heb. 6: 1). This cannot mean a denial of
faith in God, for the same epistle tells us that without faith and belief that He is, it is
impossible to please God (Heb. 11: 6). It was necessary that these Hebrew believers