IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH
21 AND YOU, WHO ONCE WERE ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN YOUR MIND BY WICKED WORKS, YET NOW HE HAS RECONCILED
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—
23 IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, GROUNDED AND STEADFAST, AND ARE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL WHICH YOU HEARD, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Colossians 1:21-23 (NKJV)
We are reconciled to God through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that we might be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach in the sight of God (Colossians 1:21,22; 2 Corinthians 5:18).
The being presented holy will happen on the condition that, If indeed you, as a professed believer, continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard (Colossians 1:23).
Your steadfastness in the faith is the condition or basis for your ultimate salvation at the end of your journey on earth.
Some are with the notion that salvation can not be lost, but such people did not read the Bible, or they did not understand what they read in it, because the passage in our text is about continuity of a believer who would be presented to God at the end, the last Day (Colossians 1:23).
The blessings of God are conditional!
For a believer to be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach before God; such a believer had to continue in the faith, believe the truth and stand firm in it, that is, be grounded and steadfast in the truth; and such should not move or drift away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).
You, as a believer in Christ, had a responsibility to continue in the truth that you know:
1 "NOW IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF YOU DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, TO OBSERVE CAREFULLY ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND YOU TODAY, THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL SET YOU HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 2 "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God. 15 “BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF YOU DO NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, TO OBSERVE CAREFULLY ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES which I command you today, THAT ALL THESE CURSES will come upon you AND OVERTAKE YOU" (Deuteronomy 28:1,2,15 NKJV).
Your relationship with God can only be intact, unshaken and flourish, if your interest in Him and His kingdom is firm and unfaded: “YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU" (John 15:14 NKJV).
And for your friendship with God to be cordial and lasting, you have to be prompt in doing whatever He commanded you to do (Genesis 22:1-3; Hebrews 11:8).
Two cannot walk together, unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3). For you to walk together with God, you must agree with Him, obey the instructions given in His written word, the Bible, and whatever you are specifically instructed to do through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you.
Presenting you holy and blameless on the last Day is premised on the condition that you continue in the truth you know; when you kept walking in the light of his Word:
4 HE WHO SAYS, “I KNOW HIM,” AND DOES NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. 5 BUT WHOEVER KEEPS HIS WORD, TRULY THE LOVE OF GOD IS PERFECTED IN HIM. BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM" (1 John 2:4,5 NKJV).
As we are concluding the past and we are in a bid to seize or take or access the future, the new year; Are you still walking with God?
Seizing or accessing the future could only be a reality If your walking, or your relationship and communion, with God is still intact!
Remember, whatever God will do or give to you would be based on your cordiality, your fellowship or communion, with Him. Thus, If there is any broken aspect of your relationship and communion with God, you would do well to amend such now!
You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!