Colossians 1:23

"[And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister" Colossians 1:23.

This approval that we hope for upon Christ's' return, He will present to each of us, provided that we continue to stay with and in the faith in Christ. Paul is telling us here, what we can do to hear those cherished words, "Well done". In the Greek, the "if" indicates an assumption of truth. Paul assumes that the Colossians will continue in the faith. This is not an "if" of the future; it is an "if" of the past. The word can be translated "since." "Since indeed you continue in the faith." Our reconciliation is an accomplished fact. This continuing is tested throughout our life, but there should never be uncertainty of our reconciliation. The believer will be uncharged and without blemish when we stands before God (v. 22). Salvation was an accomplished event at the moment of our faith in Christ Jesus.

The word "continue" means to persist in or adhere to the faith. The Colossian heretics were trying to dislodge them from their faith to involve them in asceticism, which is the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state. In other words... going back to believing that we are able to achieve something desirable to God on our own strength. "Hello"...

Some Christians are so conscious of their sins that they are never quite sure they are a Christian. Sometimes they feel they are and other times they feel they are not. God does not give us eternal life until you sinned enough to lose it." He does not give you eternal life one day and take it back because we were too slow... not quite smart enough... etc. This is just one more reason Jesus says that Love is the most important of all commandments.

Having said that, it does not mean that we are to ignore this verse, which really can be seen as a warning. Continuance is the proof that we are "in Christ". If a person says, "I am a Christian" and shows no change in their life, they may not be a Christian. A true Christian is preserved by the perseverance of the Savior.

Well, we managed to get through one whole verse this time... hehe. Let's pick back up on verse 24, next time.

I love you.