Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae is filled with warnings against dangerous teaching that was taking place, which included underplaying Christ’s role and undermining a believer’s new status as being “in Christ.” He spends the entire book encouraging them to seek Christian maturity through their faith and identity.
As this will be the theme, it is understandable that he begins the letter by affirming them for the faith they have already shown. Paul took a moment to recognize the faith the church had and their love for one another that continued to grow as they grew in Christ.
The point to note is the why behind their growing faith in Christ Jesus and their love for others. It is not because it feels right. It’s not something they’ve earned, and it isn’t a result of a group of people all being the same in every way. No, it is “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (1:5).
The church in Colossae lived in relationship with Christ and one another because they had an unshakable hope in the unseen. As a body, they knew this world was not their home. They were looking towards eternity but also seeking to make the world they were already dwelling in more like God’s original design. This perspective had a profound impact on the way they lived, and Paul is highlighting it to encourage them to continue on.
The hope that the church had, and we can also understand, is not because they were mature enough. Rather, they were in Christ. We see this play out in the rest of the book as we read of Paul’s encouragement to them to remember their identity.
In Chapter 1 verses 3 through 8, Paul is encouraging them to hold fast to their hope as they live in community with one another and bear fruit. This community aspect is essential as we become a spiritual church family but also a physical, practical one as well. We see this through things like walking with someone through a difficult time or major life change or through efforts like meal trains or giving lifts to appointments.
These acts — and many not mentioned — are evidence of a church faithfully being “in Christ” and having an eternal perspective. They see the care and love for one another as an essential part of seeking to see God’s kingdom come here and now.
We can be greatly encouraged and challenged by all Paul is saying to the Colossian church. As we hear and receive the Word of truth, may it compel us to live lives that are faithful to Christ and rich in love for our brothers and sisters. And may it be true that our why is the same — because of the hope we have laid up in heaven.
We should also use these truths to stay alert. If, or maybe rather when, we aren’t loving our brothers and sisters or are experiencing a lack of faith in Christ, it will be a clear warning sign to us that our eyes and hearts are not properly fixed on the hope of heaven. We will be at risk of falling into complacency and, like the Colossians, removing Christ as supreme in our lives.
Just like 1 John 3:1-3 reminds us, we are God’s children, so we have hope that we one day will be like Christ as we see him for who He truly is. We do not wait for that day idly, but we pursue it here and now as we seek to see His Kingdom come. We have a hope that we will see Christ and be made mature in Him, which should cause us to press on to strive to live in that reality in the here and now.
