Monday, September 22, 2008
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who were once alienated and enemies . . . He has reconciled . . . to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight; if indeed you continue in the faith . . . and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard . . .
IF . . .
We all know what it is like to have conditions attached to things. Banks will give us loans IF we agree to their interest rate and terms. Telemarketers offer us various things IF we will buy this or that. We might even get to the jaded viewpoint that there is nothing that comes without conditions attached.
So it is that we tend to be skeptical when we read what Paul writes here in Colossians. Over and over again we hear him using the word ALL. Christ is Head over ALL things, He has reconciled ALL things through His blood. Paul gives us the very straightforward message that in Christ everything is done that has to do with our salvation -- EVERYTHING!
But then we hear that little word "if." "You are reconciled . . . IF indeed you continue in the faith . . ."
Is it really so with God as it is with so much else in life? Is it true that there is a condition attached to salvation; that there really is something we have to do?
The answer -- and listen carefully -- is yes and no. Yes, it is true that we need to believe. Everything that Jesus did only becomes ours by faith. God's message is clear: "He who does not believe will be condemned."
But may God grant it to us that we never, ever stop there, for that is not the whole story! This faith that God demands we have, where does it come from? Where is the origin of this ability to believe? It is NOT something we need to or can do by ourselves! "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." When God speaks of the faith we need to have to believe in His promises, He GIVES us what He tells us we need! The very faith we need to believe His Word and to cling to it is given to us in the Word itself!
So now, knowing that there are no conditions, that ALL we need God does give, now let's take Paul's words to heart, asking God to help us to "continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast," so we "are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel."
