5. Your faith and love are based on the hope you have. What you hope for is stored up for you in heaven. You have already heard about it. You were told about it when the message of truth was given to you. I'm talking about the good news
6. that has come to you. All over the world the good news is bearing fruit and growing. It has been doing that among you since the day you heard it. That is when you understood God's grace in all its truth.
7. You learned the good news from Epaphras. He is dear to us. He serves Christ together with us. He faithfully works for Christ and for us among you.
8. He also told us about your love that comes from the Holy Spirit.
9. That's why we have not stopped praying for you. We have been praying for you since the day we heard about you. We have been asking God to fill you with the knowledge of what he wants. We pray that he will give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10. We pray that you will lead a life that is worthy of the Lord. We pray that you will please him in every way. So we want you to bear fruit in every good thing you do. We want you to grow to know God better.
11. We want you to be very strong, in keeping with his glorious power. We want you to be patient. Never give up. Be joyful
12. as you give thanks to the Father. He has made you fit to share with all his people. You will all receive a share in the kingdom of light.
13. He has saved us from the kingdom of darkness. He has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
14. Because of what the Son has done, we have been set free. Because of him, all of our sins have been forgiven.
15. Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can't be seen. He is first, and he is over all of creation.
16. All things were created by him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can't be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. Everything was created by him and for him.
17. Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together.