The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

Upon hearing of the faith and love among the Ephesians, Paul begins to pray for them and writes these profound truths to them. He would not have written the contents of Ephesians to the Corinthians, nor to the Galatians in the state they were in. The Corinthians were babes in Christ, incapable of perceiving and understanding spiritual truths. Paul addresses the Corinthians saying, 

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."  1 Corinthians 3:1-2. 

The Galatians had lost their footing—their faith was overthrown, and had returned to the law, striving to establish their own righteousness and salvation rather than placing their faith in Christ. Paul warned them, 

"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2.

Those seeking justification through the law had fallen from grace. Likewise, the Corinthians exhibited signs of immaturity—envy, strife, and division among them.

To truly grasp the deep spiritual truths contained in Ephesians, one must reach a certain level of maturity. Until then, these great depths of God's eternal plan and purpose remain beyond full comprehension. Paul highlights this progression in several of his letters. In the opening of Romans, he declares:

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Romans 1:8

By the time he writes to the Ephesians, he acknowledges an additional mark of maturity:

"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints." Ephesians 1:15

Who taught them to love God? Paul explains:

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4:9, KJV)

Later, when addressing the Thessalonians, he describes the full progression:

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Some dismiss this spiritual growth as insignificant—but they are mistaken. The journey begins with faith in Romans. Through growth and maturity, faith and love emerge in Ephesians. Finally, in Thessalonians, believers attain a work of faith, a labor of love, and a patience of hope.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, who already demonstrated faith in Christ and love for the saints, is that they would come to understand the hope of His calling. Faith and love are foundational, but hope—born through enlightened understanding—propels believers toward the deeper purposes of God. And through that hope, patience is cultivated.

This is the progression toward maturity that God desires for all believers. Yet, many remain stuck in an earlier stage. If someone never moves from faith alone to love for all the saints—if they are still entangled in strife, division, or superficial judgments about spirituality based on outward appearances—they remain spiritually immature. Such individuals are still caught up in the rudiments of this world.

But we are not of this world. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3

We are dead to it—crucified with Christ. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Galatians 2:20) and we are raised and exalted in Him, our head, the Lord Jesus Christ, where all spiritual blessings reside. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3). 

Thus, spiritual maturity is not merely about gaining knowledge but about transformation—moving beyond the foundational principles of faith and into a life characterized by love and hope. As believers grow, their understanding of God’s eternal plan deepens, their relationships with fellow believers strengthen, and their hope in Christ becomes unwavering. This journey requires patience and perseverance, but the rewards are immeasurable: an enriched faith, a heart full of love, and a hope anchored in the promises of God. May we all continue pressing forward, seeking to mature in Christ until the day that He calls us home.