Faith, Hope, and Charity: A must possession of a heavenward Christian

Faith, Hope, and Charity: A must possession of a heavenward Christian

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

These three wonderful gifts of God’s graces are to be possessed by every Christian who have his heart fixed on getting to heaven. Pure faith is of no bargain, precious hope is unwavering, preeminent love is indispensable, as the pilgrims journey towards heaven.

1. Faith

Faith is the condition of obtaining salvation, as grace is the substance of it. When salvation is obtained by grace through faith, the believer is expected to keep the purifying faith.
There are many kinds of faith (1 Corinthians 13:2) but the one that helps us towards heaven is the purifying faith (Acts 15:9). And this purifying faith should be exercised in frequent prayers by believers; seeing they have purified their souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren; and the apostle commands them to love one another with a pure heart fervently.

However, it’s important to understand this, the saving faith is different from purifying faith, as also the faith of working miracles, healing, or casting out devils. Therefore, one can have faith to work miracles and not have true saving faith. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

2. Hope

Hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. Every believer in Christ must have hope. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

And because of this hope we have in God, we rejoice. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, what doth he yet hope for? But Christ in us, the hope of glory. Yet, this hope worketh not alone, but by that pure faith. “For every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure.”

3. Charity

Charity is the greatest of them all, for he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Charity is the Christian perfection: pure love towards God, and men. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Therefore, love is the heart of the Christian faith. For what room is there for sin therein, when the heart is encapsulated by the love of God? Yet, this love worketh not alone, but by that pure faith (Galatians 5:6.) And he that endureth in these to the end shall receive a crown of life that fadeth not away. For it is charity that endureth all things.

And now abideth faith, hope, and Charity, which is the three indispensable substance of the Christian institution.

Also Read: The Supremacy of Love