Colossians 1:23, commentary and pictures

Those reconciled through Christ's death will be presented holy and unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight on the condition that they continue in the faith grounded and settled and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel. To continue is to remain firmly established and hold fast to the hope offered by the gospel heard, without turning or being drawn away from it. That hope is Christ dwelling within believers as the hope of glory, to be revealed in pity, tenderness, love, patience, kindness and forbearance toward others. The gospel the Colossians heard had been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, a worldwide witness fulfilled before Jerusalem fell when the disciples carried it to every nation in a single generation despite fierce opposition. Of that worldwide gospel Paul was made a minister, a stewardship given by God to work with Him to save souls.

Steadfast in Gospel Hope

Those reconciled to God through Christ's death are to be presented holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight, to stand holy and blameless before Him and to be presented in the presence of the Father in the kingdom of glory. This presentation is conditional, on the condition that they continue in the faith grounded and settled and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which they heard. The promise belongs to the steadfast who remain true in allegiance to the God of heaven, a rich and wonderful and cheering assurance with a reward to which nothing in this world can compare for those who hold fast to the hope of the gospel. God's promises never fail those who constantly watch unto prayer, and it is the privilege of everyone taught the great plan of redemption to be thus grounded and settled, with earnest thanksgiving, sanctified body, soul and spirit and purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word by a faith which works by love and purifies the soul.

To continue is to remain firmly established, grounded and settled in the faith and to hold fast to the hope offered by the gospel heard, without turning or being drawn away from it. This continuing faith and hope belong with a life that reflects belief in the truth and with the missionary effort God expects. The hope rests on Christ's reconciliation through His death, by which those once alienated from God may be presented holy and blameless before Him. Its mystery is Christ dwelling within believers as the hope of glory, and church members are to let His Spirit guide them so that pity, tenderness, love, patience, kindness and forbearance toward others reveal Him.

The faith of the verse lifts and refines the believer, sanctifies the judgment, ennobles the character, and prepares for companionship with Christ and the Father and angels. The religion of the chapter makes all who possess it truly benevolent, giving true Christians a nobility that shuns actions that disgrace the doer, and it countenances no littleness and no mean, cheap, covetous transactions. It calls church members to conversion and repentance when they err from Christ's principles, to a living principle told in word and deed in kindness, courtesy and longing desire for the salvation of perishing souls, and to the bearing of fruit in good works that has heaven's endorsement. It calls those in responsible positions to make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.

Gospel Preached to World

The gospel heard at Colosse had been proclaimed throughout the world to every creature under heaven. It had been heard and was being preached everywhere, and its hope rested on reconciliation through Christ's death by which those once alienated are presented holy and blameless before God. Its mystery is Christ dwelling in believers as their hope of glory. The verse identifies Paul as a minister of that worldwide gospel.

That worldwide witness was fulfilled before Jerusalem fell. About thirty years after Pentecost the proclamation had already spread widely through the work of heavenly helpers. Through the Holy Spirit the disciples carried the gospel to every nation under heaven in a single generation, in a short time despite fierce opposition. The church was entrusted with heaven's message to keep working until the message of mercy reached the world for the salvation of others, but selfishness and worldliness deprived the world of the blessings God intended.

The apostolic worldwide preaching is compared with the worldwide proclamation of the everlasting gospel before Christ's return. Paul was made a minister of that worldwide gospel. Gospel ministry is a stewardship given by God to work with God to save souls and faithfully discharge that responsibility. Those who receive the faith can in turn preach the gospel to others.

Being made a minister means bearing a heavy spiritual responsibility as Paul did. A true minister is weighted with the Spirit of Christ, carries a burden for people, and lives in intercession and consecration to God that opens the way to receive light from God. He feeds upon Christ and is built up spiritually by what he eats, with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, and from that inward wisdom he both partakes of Christ himself and feeds the flock of God at the right time, giving every person his portion. Going to the work light-loaded with no burden for people proves a mistaken calling.

Living Out Steadfast Faith

Remaining grounded and settled and unmoved from the hope of the gospel is the privilege of everyone taught God's great plan of redemption, and that privilege calls for earnest thanksgiving. God's promises never fail those who constantly watch unto prayer. Continuing firm requires full sanctification of body, soul, and spirit through being purified and cleansed by the washing of the Word, and through a faith that works by love and purifies the soul.

Continuing in the faith firmly grounded and settled and not drawn away from the gospel's hope is the condition for knowing the mystery of God. It requires searching the Scriptures and deliberately training every God-given faculty. Those trained powers are to be used as a skilled, experienced builder works with God, strengthening believers and reaching those who have not yet learned the truth.

Mere profession of faith does not save unless the person continues grounded and firm to the end rather than turning from the gospel's hope. That continuance includes holding the third angel's message and holding the confidence begun in the gospel firm to the end, and the Lord remains with His people as they remain with Him. Being rooted, grounded, and unmovable in present truth protects against the harm caused by false doctrine, and safety comes from being firmly attached to Christ, the eternal Rock.

Continuing requires becoming rooted, settled, and grounded in the truth, and that truth is life, with firmness and makeup of character. It stands opposed to becoming weak through departure from God's ordinances and to connection with misleading influences that work against firm standing and lead away from faith. Believers must remain firmly grounded and settled in the truth rather than be moved by changing feelings or impulses. Genuine faith is joined to repentance, transformation of character, and the fruits of the Spirit.

Dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ and holy, complete obedience strengthen the soul to remain steadfast in the faith and hope of the gospel even when choosing righteousness brings persecution rather than worldly prosperity. Being strong in God's strength and firmly grounded in the hope of the gospel supports continual growth in grace even in ordinary duties. That growth follows holy motives and forms Christian character, encouraged by Christ's self-giving life.

The church was entrusted with heaven's message and heaven's truth for the salvation of others and was to keep working until the message of mercy reached the world, as the gospel was carried to every nation under heaven in the apostolic generation. When the church became selfish and worldly, the world was deprived of the blessings God intended it to receive. The hope of the gospel is something those outside the fold must find courage to grasp. Followers of Christ must therefore be filled with God's love and exercise patience and kindness so they do not take that courage away, since how they treat outsiders affects souls in the day when Christ shall come.

Continuing faith belongs with a life that reflects belief in the truth. It belongs with the missionary effort God expects for firmly establishing faith and holding fast the hope of the gospel heard and preached throughout the world. It is present truth to be given for the saving of souls ready to perish in the darkness of error, since continuance in the faith is the condition for remaining reconciled and holy.