Title: Faithful Brothers in Jesus
Contents Colossae Church was founded by Paul's disciple, Epaphra, and was built in a beautiful landscape in a small rural town. When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Epaphra came to report the situation of the church. It was reported that the church, which was established with the right faith according to Paul's teachings, suffered because of the heretical beliefs of some people. Some people worship angels, emphasize excessive asceticism, and claim that only the spirit is good and the material is evil. They fall into gnosticism that denies the divine tolerance of Jesus, believing that sinning in the flesh has no effect on the salvation of souls. He seduced these weak people and made them shake.
Even today, heretical beliefs have infiltrated immigrant churches and the church is in turmoil, and there are cases where some members leave the church to visit strange gatherings. Often, heretical groups such as Rema, Jehovah's Witnesses, Salvation Sect, and Jesus Shincheonji make what they believe is real and offend established churches.
The members of Colossae Church were a very good church if it were not for these things. In the text, Paul and Timothy commended that they were saints, that is, faithful brothers in Christ. What should I do to tell them that they are faithful saints in Jesus? I was very envious when I read the text. When we say, “Any saint, you are a true Christian!” Happy are those who listen.
There is a reason Paul calls believers in Christ saints.
1. It refers to a person who has been reconciled with God. Those who lived far away from God because of their sins were forgiven of their sins through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and they live in obedience to God in holiness and righteousness.
2. It refers to a person who is under God's control. Those who belong to the kingdom of God are called saints.
3. It refers to those who know Christ. Those who do not just know by knowledge, but who live in a relationship with Him, and who please God.
Usually, when you look at the stage of living your life of faith, when you first come to the church, you are in the stage of watching. Then, how do you learn and know the Bible and live your life of faith? We know what the members of this church are like, and we enter the next stage of meeting members with each other. At times like these, who you meet is important. After going through this process, the last step is to enter the church work and serve. When believers always do what they do, they must first think about whether this is pleasing to God. This is what 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, do it for the glory of God.”
It was an outrage to everyone who read the article. We live in a world where there are many such things. I think that it would be good if a movement to become truthful in immigrant churches and immigrant societies would occur everywhere.
A movement that was created to infuse warmth into this grim world is gaining popularity in the United States.
There is a group called Promise Keepers. This is a gathering of pure men, and based on the Christian spirit, men are good husbands, good fathers, and return to the place of good believers. It is a faith movement that prays, repents, and solves the problems and burdens of men only through faith. The reason why modern society has become turbid is the movement to realize the responsibility of a father, repent, and protect the family with an ethical and moral Puritan spirit.
We all look forward to becoming saints who strive to live as faithful saints in Christ. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the American Declaration of Independence and served as the 3rd President of the United States, said that someone recommended someone to work with the President at the White House and asked the person who recommended him.
1. Is the person honest? It's a personal question. Honesty is the basic virtue of character.
2. Does the person want to work? It is a question of belief. It also asks if you have a passion for work.
3. Is the person faithful? This is a question of accountability. That is, it is a question that requires someone who can be trusted, have a vision, and can take responsibility. In a word, it is a question of whether you can trust and entrust the work.
Finally, in verses 3-5 of the text, Paul and Timothy wrote the words of thanks while praying for the Colossians. He said that he was thankful to hear that your faith in Christ Jesus is good, and also to thank you as you share your love for all the saints and hear them live their life of faith. In verse 5, it says thank you for the hope laid up in heaven for you. In other words, he said he was grateful and happy to hear that the members were living a life of faith filled with faith, love, and hope.
Faith, love, and hope are absolutely indispensable in the life of faith. It becomes an essential element of the life of faith. Faith has to do with salvation, love has to do with how the believer should live in real life, and hope has to do with receiving a glorious heavenly inheritance.
I hope that there will be more members in our church who have good faith, share love among the members, and live with hope in the kingdom of heaven, who are called faithful saints in Jesus Christ by the same members.