December 21, 2021 CONTINUING IN THE FAITH
Colossians 1:21-23 “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”
Only because of the grace of God and by His doings can we know Him; we were dead in our trespasses and sins but have now been made a live. Ephesians 2:1-5. We may not think of it this way, but we have been resurrected-we were dead-and have been made alive in our spirit, and raised up with Christ. Ephesians 2:6. God has indeed done awesome and mighty things on our behalf because He loves us and has been gracious to us. However, there is a truth we must not overlook as we consider all that He has done for us. Note the words in verse three above; ‘if indeed you continue in the faith.’ We must understand that in order for us to walk in, and to experience all that God has for us, there is a part for us to play. Our part is ‘to continue in the faith.’ We are to keep on growing in the faith; to keep on seeking Him first; to keep on hearing and obeying what He says; to keep on being a part of the body of Christ; to keep on studying His word and praying; and to keep on fulfilling the one-another commands we find in the scriptures. As we walk in His ways, as we continue in the faith and are firmly established in the hope of the gospel, we stand before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. That is the good news of the gospel. I am not suggesting that we are sinless, but I am saying that we can walk in His ways, and we can say no to sin. To sin is not to walk in His ways; yet, if and when we sin and we confess our sin and turn from it, our confessing and turning from our sin is a part of walking in His ways. No matter the circumstances, we are to remain steadfast in the hope of the gospel; the gospel is the only sure hope for mankind. The gospel is God’s message to all; it’s a message of forgiveness; of love; of purpose; of our new identity in the Him; and a message of how to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and how to live in the light. Let us be fervent in our continuing in the faith, knowing that we will be rewarded and that we will stand before Him holy, blameless, and beyond reproach.
Colossians 2:6-8 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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