Colossians 1:23

if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof. Paul was made. minister.

'IF SO BE' -Which is tied to the preceding verse. Standing right in the sight of God (holy, without blemish and unreprovable), also demands certain things of us. Clearly, our salvation is conditional (2 Timothy 2:12). And if salvation is conditional, then the whole system known as Calvinism completely falls to the ground, including the doctrine of Predestination.

'THAT YE' -We are accountable for our own spiritual welfare. Nobody can serve God for us. So much for the idea that parents can believe for their children (Mark 16:16) or that you can be baptized for someone else.

'CONTINUE' -'The verb means to stay at or with.' (Vincent p. 476) 'This reconciliation assumes, of course, that you maintain. firm position in the faith.' (Phi) Now everybody continues in something, but for the Christian continuing in one realm is the only one that counts.

'IN THE FAITH' -

Points to Note:

1. The phrase "the faith" can mean two things: (a) One's own personal conviction. (b) The contents of Christian doctrine, i.e. what must be believed by Christians (Judges 1:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). And for all practical purposes, you really can't separate the definitions. The Christian must believe the right doctrines, but the conviction they have must also be their own. It's not enough merely to be. member of. church which teaches the truth, you must be convicted of such truths in your own heart.

2. The word "continue" is the same concept as the word "abide". To end up saved we must remain loyal to everything that Christ taught. (John 15:1; 2 John 1:9).

3. Far from the gospel needing any supplement. The real danger is in embracing any supplement, of adding man-made rules and regulations to the will of God (Matthew 15:8). Continuing in the faith means rejecting any notion that the Word of God isn't sufficient.

4. 'It is easy to twist the idea of the love of God and to say, "Well, if God loves me like this and wishes noting but reconciliation, sin does not matter.. can do what. like and God will still love me." The reverse is true. The fact that. man is loved does not give me carte blanche to do as he likes; it lays upon him the greatest obligation in the world..' (Barclay p. 125) That is, of demonstrating that in my life the sacrifice of Christ was not wasted nor was it done in vain. (Hebrews 10:26 ff)

'GROUNDED' -2311. themelioo them-el-ee-o'-o; from 2310; to lay. basis for, i.e. (literally) erect, or (figuratively) consolidate: -(lay the) found(-ation), ground, settle.

Which reminds us of Jesus' story about the house built upon the rock (Matthew 7:24). The only solid foundation in life is. life built upon what God has said.

'STEDFAST' -1476. hedraios hed-rah'-yos; from. derivative of hezomai (to sit); sedentary, i.e. (by implication) immovable: -settled, stedfast.

'AND NOT MOVED AWAY FROM' -As opposed to continual shifting (Ephesians 4:14).

'THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL WHICH YE HEARD' -

Points to Note:

1. There is only one true gospel (Galatians 1:6). And there is only one true hope (Ephesians 4:4). The gospel that was preached by the apostles is the standard. Any message that deviates from that message does not lead to salvation, rather it leads to destruction (2 John 1:9).

2. Emphatically only one religion leads to salvation, i.e. the religion of Jesus Christ.

3. The verse infers that there will be various things or people in life who will try to move us away from the truth. We cannot be so naive as to believe that everyone who claims to be. Christian is. Or that everyone who claims to preach the truth, actually has it.

4. The verse infers that the individual Christian, in order to succeed must have their own strong convictions concerning right doctrines (1 Peter 3:15).. must be sold on the faith myself-not just the elders or the preacher.

5. From this verse every eldership, preacher or teacher derives the right to teach classes which are designed to "ground" members in the faith.. warning here exists for all Christians, especially new Christians--Make sure you take advantage of classes which are designed to give you. solid foundation in the faith.

'WHICH WAS PREACHED IN ALL CREATION UNDER HEAVEN' -Which again emphasizes that Christianity is the only valid religion upon the planet-yea in the solar system. The Great Commission cries out that all other religious systems are vain (Mark 16:15); being "good" isn't good enough. And simply being sincere, won't save you.

'It recognized no boundaries whether racial, national, or regional..it had actually invaded every large center of the then known world.' (Hendriksen p. 85)

Christians in the First Century were convinced that everyone outside of Christ was lost and hell bound, that salvation couldn't be found in any other person or religious system (Acts 4:12). Maybe that is one reason why they were so zealous. And maybe, just maybe,. reason that we at times don't seem so enthusiastic about teaching people, is because we have allowed something to convince us that people can be saved without being. Christian.

Erdman notes. 'The message which has been found to meet the needs of all classes and races commends itself as being. message from God.' (p. 60)

'WHEREOF. PAUL WAS MADE. MINISTER' -This statement forms. natural transition into the verses that follow: (a) The same gospel that the Colossians had heard, is the same gospel Paul preached. Thus Paul throws his apostolic authority behind the gospel they had heard from Epaphras. (b) And since Colossae was predominately. church composed of Christians from. Gentile background, they naturally fell within his God-given sphere of work (Acts 26:18). (c) Paul's area of service was to get this message of reconciliation (Colossians 1:21-22) out in the world. (d) 'He reminds them that the gospel they have heard, the gospel he himself preaches, is the very gospel Christ commissioned him to proclaim.' (Erdman p. 61)

THE AIM AND PURPOSE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY: