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."

Present your Bodies (Part 2)

Present your Bodies (Part 2)

Until you get that glorified body, God wants your current one! What?? Why? What would God want with this weak, corrupt, vile, sinful body? The aim of this little study is to find this out.

Rom.12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If you have read, understood, and received what Paul has taught you in the first 11 chapters of Romans, concerning God’s righteous wrath and what He did through Jesus Christ to justify you and quicken your spirit, you will know that the only proper, and personal response you can make to His grace and love, is to present your body as a living sacrifice to God. But what good is our flesh body to God? Paul, in Romans 3 to 8, has informed you that your flesh is corrupt and sinful and that God’s work to save you was not achieved in your flesh, but judicially in His Son. So, why is Paul appealing to you to give God your futile body? Well God has a use for it, and it is for the glory of His Son.

Present your Bodies (Part 1)

Present your Bodies (Part 1)

The Start: Justification

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

When we believe the gospel of God’s Son, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is NOTHING that can change or threaten that peace we have! It is not dependent on us! That peace is through Christ. Justification is a legal word dealing with one’s judicial standing before God, the Judge. Biblical justification equates to the ungodly sinner being declared righteous, blameless, and innocent, being set free of all charges before God’s throne. Justification = just as if I never sinned.

The End: Adoption and glorification

Rom 8:23-24  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.