Faith, Hope, and Love: Virtues That Call Us to Action
- Tom Faletti
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
In the Scriptures, the apostle Paul uses the terms "faith, hope, and love" as action words, not as abstract concepts. He talks about the “work of faith,” the “labor of love,” and our “endurance in hope.” How do we put these virtues into action?
Many people have heard the words “faith, hope, and love” together so frequently that they don’t realize how revolutionary it was when the apostle Paul first wrote about them.
In the Scriptures, the apostle Paul developed the framework of faith, hope, and love to describe our life in Christ
The words faith, hope, and love don’t appear together in the Hebrew Scriptures, nor in ancient Greek texts. When the apostle Paul brought them together to describe characteristics he hoped to see in Christians, it was a new idea. As far as we know, no one had ever put those words together before Paul.
Some people know that Paul wrote those words in 1 Corinthians 13, his famous “love” chapter (“Love is patient, love is kind…. The greatest of these is love”). But few people know that this was not Paul’s first use of the three terms together.
Paul first put these three concepts together in his First Letter to the Thessalonians – the oldest piece of Christian writing we have today.
Faith, hope, and love are virtues for action
These 3 virtues are given to us by God and help us live in relationship with God. However, they are not just passive or static endowments. We aren’t meant to just sit around and wait for God to pour them into our hearts. They are already infused into us and are waiting for us to exercise them in our lives.
In other words, these are virtues for action.
In the very first chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul praises the young community of believers in Thessalonica for their “work of faith,” their “labor of love,” and their “endurance in hope” (1 Thess. 1:3, NABRE).
It is clear from the words Paul chose that these virtues are meant to be put into action.
The “work” of faith
What is the work of faith? What will you see us doing if our faith is genuine?
James 2:14-26 gives us some clues:
If you see us not only wishing a poor person well but also providing them the necessities they need, because of the faith we have in Christ, we are doing the work of faith.
If, like Abraham, we are willing to give up what is dear to us for the sake of God’s purposes in the world, then we are doing the work of faith.
If you see us putting our faith into action to further the plans of God, as Rahab did, then we are doing the work of faith.
Faith is a virtue for action.
The “labor” of love
What is the labor of love? What will you see us laboring over if our love is strong?
Paul gives us a roadmap in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
When we are being kind to those who are not kind to us and responding with the love of God in the face of rudeness, we are doing the labor of love.
When we hold back our temper though every nerve is frayed, patiently uplifting others when they are dragging us down, refusing to dwell on how they have hurt us but rejoicing in the truth of who we are in Christ, we are doing the labor of love.
When we put others first, not inflating our own importance but seeking the good of others, we are doing the labor of love.
Love is a virtue for action.
The “endurance” of hope
What is the endurance of hope? What will our endurance look like if our hope is fixed in the right places?
Peter gives us some ideas in 1 Peter 3:13-22:
When we are suffering for doing good rather than for doing evil, and we keep going, knowing that God stands with us when we are acting in accordance with his purposes, we are showing the endurance of hope.
When we are always ready with a gentle explanation for why our faith impels our actions, not responding with a torrent of anger but with a reverent expectation that the only torrent needed is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at every moment, we are showing the endurance of hope.
When our actions are grounded in a clear conscience and a confidence that, because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and has gone before us, we will certainly follow him in his good timing, we are showing the endurance of hope.
Hope is a virtue for action.
Faith, hope, and love are also useful for defense
Paul returns to the theme of faith, hope, and love near the end of 1 Thessalonians. He describes faith and love as our “breastplate,” the defensive equipment that protects our vital organs, and our hope of salvation as the “helmet” protecting our head (1 Thess. 5:8).
Faith keeps our spirit focused on what God has called us to be.
Love keeps our heart focused on what God has called us to do.
Hope keeps our mind focused on where we are going, the goal of our work and labor and endurance.
These virtues defend us in many ways. They protect us from giving in to discouragement. They protect us from falling away from our daily calling to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23). They protect us from getting so intent on succeeding that we lose the joy and honor of living in the Spirit of God throughout the journey.
Where do you need to exercise faith, hope, and love right now?
Since these virtues are intended for action, it doesn’t do much good to read about them without putting them to work in our lives.
Where might God be calling you to do the work of faith right now? What do you need to do to put your faith into action?
Where might God be calling you in a new way to the labor of love? Is there someone who needs you to extend God’s love to them in a practical way right now?
Where might God be calling you to the endurance of hope? Is there some area of your life where you want to move on, give in, give up, but God is calling you to hang on, lean in, rise up?
God hasn’t given us these virtues so that we can face the world in our own strength. They are gifts from a loving Father, meant to be exercised in the context of a life dedicated to our Lord Jesus and deeply dependent on the presence of God’s Spirit within us to empower us as we act. Is God calling you to spend more time with him, so that his virtues can flow through you more fully?
Whatever is your need right now, wherever God is calling you, don’t turn away. The most exciting life you can live is one infused with the faith, hope, and love that come from God.
May these three virtues be a lens through which we can see what God is trying to do in us and through us in our world.
See my Bible Studies on 1 Thessalonians 1 and 1 Thessalonians 5 to explore more deeply Paul’s wisdom for living.
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