Many Bible students would recognize the triad of “faith, hope and love” as the three things that Paul said would continue to “abide” among Christians after miraculous gifts “ceased” (1 Cor. 13:8-13). But how do these abide among God’s people? Are they merely matters of the heart?
Paul frequently emphasized “faith, hope and love” in his letters (Col. 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 1:3-4; Tit. 2:2; etc.). When he penned his first epistle (First Thessalonians), “faith, hope and love” were the focus of his second sentence. In fact, chronologically, this is the first place in the New Testament where these three come together. What can we learn?
Read the text: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God” (1 Thess. 1:2-4). Note the word “of” before each of the key words in this text. Behind this English word is a prepositional case in the Greek which indicates that “the first word” is being produced by (i.e., “of”) “the second word.”
Paul was thankful for the brethren’s “work of faith.” Their faith was not merely a matter of the heart. Paul was not thankful that they had faith in their heart. Grammatically, their faith produced work. Of course, that is what true faith does (Jas. 2:14-26). Do you have faith in your heart? If you do, it will be evidenced (on the outside) by work for the Lord.
Paul was thankful for the brethren’s “labor of love.” Their love was not merely a matter of the heart. Paul was not thankful that they had love in their heart. Grammatically, their agape love produced labor (a Greek word that indicates arduous, wearying toil, that involves sweating, fatigue and straining one’s all). Of course, that is what true love does (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3). Do you have love in your heart? If you do, it will be evidenced (on the outside) by labor for the Lord.
Paul was thankful for the brethren’s “steadfastness of hope” (NASB). Their hope was not merely a matter of the heart. Paul was thankful that they had hope in their heart. Grammatically, their hope produced steadfastness (a Greek word that indicates persistent endurance). Of course, that is what true hope does (Rom. 8:24-25). Do you have hope in your heart? If you do, it will be evidenced (on the outside) by steadfast endurance for the Lord.
Thus, when the Bible explains itself, it teaches us that faith, hope and love are not merely heart matters, but they produce the steadfast, wearying work that the Lord is looking for in His followers. Do you have true faith, hope and love?