PODCAST
The Goal of Faith
June 7th, 2013
Colossians 1:24—2:5
Faith is not the goal of the Christian life. Christian life begins as we accept God’s invitation to enter the open gate of grace (Colossians 1:6). But it is also the “disciplined” (2:5) path we follow in our daily walk with Christ. Along the journey of faith we enjoy the blessings of present-salvation: “love . . . for all God’s people” (1:4; see 2:2), fruitful lives (1:6, 10), increasing understanding of God’s will, Spirit-empowerment to do it (1:11), joyful thanksgiving to the Father (1:12), rescue “from the dominion of darkness,” life in “the kingdom of the Son” (1:13), “redemption”–real freedom, “forgiveness of sins” (1:14), reconciliation–friendship with God (1:22), and Christ in us (1:27).
Faith is goal-oriented. It has a direction and a destination. Our journey leads us toward increasing maturity in Christ (1:28), lives “worthy of the Lord [that] please him in every way” (1:10). Present blessings “spring from the hope stored up for [us] in heaven” (1:5). Hope encourages us that we will experience “the full riches of complete understanding” of God (2:2).
Author: George Lyons
