"…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 1:23 ESV)
The gospel offers to us the assurance of salvation. It assures us of our salvation, which was obtained for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it assures of our salvation, which is received by faith in him.
We have a tendency, however, to believe that our salvation cannot be lost. We have a tendency to believe that we remain saved, regardless of our faith and life. As long as we’ve said the prayer, been baptized at the font, or answered an altar call, we believe that we will always remain saved.
Even if we no longer trust in Christ, we believe that our salvation is sure. Even if we no longer believe in him, we believe our salvation is certain. And even if we live only to satisfy our sinful appetites, we believe that we remain saved.
This mindset, however, is not consistent with the gospel. It’s not consistent with the gospel which tells us that it’s by faith we’re saved. Nor is it consistent with the gospel which tells us that we have been saved from sin.
We see this, in the above passage, as Paul discusses the salvation of God. We were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he says. But, in Jesus, God has reconciled all things to himself, making peace by the blood of the cross.
We learn, here, that God is the source of our salvation. It is dependent not upon us, but upon him. And it was provided to us not by our activity, but his own.
This is true of us, we are reconciled, Paul says, if indeed we continue in the faith. It’s true of us if we continue in faith, stable and steadfast. And it’s true of us if we do not shift from the hope of the gospel we’ve heard.
The faith by which we are saved, you see, is not a one-time event. It’s a constant throughout our life in this world. And it’s by this faith that we receive the promised blessings of God.
Apart from faith in Christ, there is no certainty. Apart from faith in Christ, there is no hope. And apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation.
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