We were alienated from God, even hostile in mind, loving the world and its evil deeds, when we were reconciled by Jesus. The reconciled are called to make their lives an offering that is holy, blameless and above reproach to their Lord. How can those who were such sinners be made holy? Paul said that it is by continuing in the faith. Demas, a coworker was with Paul at the time of this letter (4:14). Later Paul would write, “Demas has forsaken us, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). What a sad legacy, shifting from “the hope of the gospel” to the love of the world. Oh my brothers and sisters, hear the words, “if indeed you continue in the faith” (v. 23). We must continue in faith, stable faith, steadfast faith, non-shifting faith, hope-of-the-gospel faith (v.13-20). We must! By grace, we can!
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23 (ESV)
