What does 'if ye continue in the faith' mean in Col.1:23?

What does 'if ye continue in the faith' mean in Col.1:23?

A lot of people read the verse below and think that it means they can lose their salvation, or more specifically, their reconciliation with God, which is specified in verse 22. Let's take a look at what this passage of scripture is saying.

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he RECONCILED  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, TO PRESENT YOU holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  (23)  IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;  ...  (28)  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may PRESENT every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Note: I have capped certain key words for emphasis. Now, let's work through what Paul wrote and look at the proper context to learn what is really being said here.

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he RECONCILED."

DM#26: The results and reward of the Judgement Seat of Christ

Doctrine of the Mysteries #26

The results and reward of the Judgement Seat of Christ

In the previous article we learned about the Judgement Seat of Christ and what we will be judged for. In this article, I’d like to draw attention to what the results of this judgement is and its subsequent reward.

Let us understand again that this judgement, for members of the Body of Christ, is not for sins or damnation, since our sins have already been judged at the cross of Christ, and through imputation of Christ’s righteousness, we stand justified and completely atoned before God, Rom 5.

Thus, the judgement we will face is to determine the degree of responsibility and commission we will be given, based on our knowledge and understanding of our Father’s will and purpose in the ages to come. The accompanying reward is a measure of the glory and authority of Christ that one will hold in the ranks and positions of the hierarchy of heaven.

To relate to this more easily, let’s apply an analogy concerning a father [re: God], who is a carpenter, and his son [re: you], who is being groomed to inherit the father’s carpentry business [re: heavenly reward].

DM#25: Every man's work shall be made manifest

Doctrine of the Mysteries #25

Every man's work shall be made manifest:

1Co 3:11-13  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  (13)  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Many of us believe that our good works in this life will determine how we are judged when we stand before Christ's judgment seat. This is not true! What you did in this life has little bearing on that day. It's all related to what you know. The knowledge of Christ within you is what's represented by the gold, silver, and precious stones. In essence, it's a judgment of your understanding of Paul's doctrine and your development within it.  It is the degree to which the wisdom and knowledge you have gained from studying His Word has formed Christ in you, Pro 24:3-5.

DM#21: The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

Doctrine of the Mysteries #21

The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

Paul writes the following to the Corinthians,

1 Cor.3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The above is one of a few passages of scripture that provides us with insights into the judgement seat of Christ; that time after the rapture of the Body of Christ when we are judged according to what we have done in his body (not our body).

2 Cor.5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

What ‘work’ will survive at the Judgement Seat of Christ

What ‘work’ will survive at the Judgement Seat of Christ

1Co 3:11-15  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  (13)  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  (14)  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

So many of us think that when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ, we will be judged by what we did in this life. The Bema Seat of Christ has got nothing to do with what you did in this life. It has all to do with what you know. It is essentially a judgement of one’s knowledge concerning Paul’s doctrine and your growth in it.

Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

Php 2:12-13  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

To keep this short, let me get straight to the point. “Working out our own salvation” is not us doing good works to justify our salvation. It is not acts of kindness. It is not giving money to the church. It is not activities of any kind that make us feel we did something right or good. To put it bluntly, it is not any type of ‘physical’ actions that we do in this world that ‘works out our salvation’. How can I know this and confirm this? Well, consider this to start with. If our salvation is ALREADY SECURE in Christ (Rom.3:21-28), just by us believing in Jesus and trusting His death, burial, and resurrection (1Cor.15:1-4), then what is this ‘work’ I must do in fear and trembling? What can this ‘work’ do to contribute any more to a salvation I have that is ALREADY 100% SECURE? That does not make sense! In this regard, the ‘work’ being mentioned here has a different context than, to earn, or contribute to, or justify, salvation.

The Glory and Power of God’s Word within Us

The Glory and Power of God’s Word within Us

Paul provides some valuable insights into what will happen at our transition from these earthly ‘tents’ (flesh bodies) to our heavenly ‘building’ (spiritual, eternal bodies), 2Cor 5:1.

First, we must know that there are bodies for different purposes, for different environments, and which emit different levels of glory. Read the following passage to get the context,

1Co 15:39-43 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay, and Stubble

Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay, and Stubble

Paul writes the following to the Corinthians,

1 Cor.3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The above is one of a few passages of scripture that provides us with insights into the judgement seat of Christ; that time after the rapture of the Body of Christ when we are judged according to what we have done in his body (not our body).

2 Cor.5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The Righteous are not Immune to Vanity

The Righteous are not Immune to Vanity

If your view of life is focused only on this current world and your time in it, then it is a natural thing to build a life, gain wealth, make memories, and aim for a comfortable retirement. However, this is not the view that the Bible promotes. In the context of a Biblical view, an eternal view, a view that places value on a human life after death, the Bible speaks of life as vanity, which literally means "vapor" or "breath", and is also translated as "meaningless", "emptiness", or "futility". Both Psalms and Ecclesiastes raise this topic throughout their pages,

Q-A: The Judgement Seat of Christ

I can stare at this image for ages.

It never ceases to make my imagination run wild!

A List of End Time Judgements

As the end of time draws near for this creation, (the time just before what Paul's refers to as the 'fullness of the times', Eph.1:10), every living being will be subject to judgement based on their individual motives and actions during their life and ultimately their faith in the existence of God and His Word. According to Hebrews 9 below, what one does during their life, their choices and actions, is what they will be held accountable for after they die. 

Heb.9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Let's list out the various judgements that will follow this age and provide a brief context of each.