Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 12

Paul Declares these Colossian Believers Reconciled to God in Christ Part 3 (The Condition)

Colossians 1:23 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; KJV

Just as we discovered that the Body of Christ in the last verse of this first Chapter of this letter to the believers in Colosse is the cause of their/our salvation, so now we discover that Paul declares unto them and to us the ‘condition’ of their/our salvation by saying, “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;” (Colossians 1:23) (KJV). Note: “Let us be clear that Paul is not saying here that someone must work for their salvation, that is impossible to do, for salvation is by grace through faith which is the gift of God to sinners (Ephesians 2:8-9), but let us unpack this verse to get a clear picture of what this great Apostles does mean.” First, Paul begins with the use of the tiny phrase ‘ye continue’ which is translated by the Greek word epimeno which means to stay over, that is, remain (figuratively persevere): - abide (in), continue (in). In other words, Paul here is doing what he was compelled to do with every one of the Churches in his day (because of false teachers, especially Judaizers) and that is to produce in them and in us a single mindedness in Christ alone for our salvation adding nothing to His finished work on the Cross @ Calvary just as he lamented over the struggle of faith by many in the Galatian Church having been seduced by these false teachers when he said to them at the beginning of his letter these words, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) (KJV).

Note: “What Paul means when he says, ‘If ye continue in the faith’ is literally ‘If ye continue in your faith’ meaning every individual’s personal trust in Jesus Christ as their sin bearer.” Next Paul says that they/we be ‘grounded’ and this English word is translated by the Greek word themelioo which comes from the Greek word themelios meaning something put down, that is, a substruction (of a building, etc.), (literally or figuratively): - foundation. In other words, personal faith in Jesus Christ alone is the rock solid spiritual foundation for every sinner to rest upon knowing that even as we shift and move and waiver on the solid Rock that is Christ, He (the Rock) never moves as it is perhaps best said with these words, “On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” (Matthew 7:24-25) and as this Apostle Paul himself said with these words to the Corinthian believers, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11) (KJV). Next Paul says to them and to us to be ‘settled’ and this English word is translated by the Greek word hedraios meaning (to sit); sedentary, that is, (by implication) immovable: - settled, steadfast. In other words, Paul wants to reiterate his desire for these Colossian believers and we believers today to make ourselves at home ‘in Christ’ not moving but staying firmly, fully, and finally seated in Him for all time and eternity (it is a metaphor of being seated in a chair trusting it to support your full weight without waiver or breaking) just as he said also with these words to the Corinthian believers, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) (KJV).

When Paul says, ‘be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard’, he simply means for them to trust him as an appointed Apostle of Christ Jesus our Lord, that he is declaring to them the one and only true Gospel and in turn to shun or stay away from the seduction of the false teachers and their works gospel, which is again no gospel at all. The ‘hope’ or confident expectation of the true Gospel is these Colossian believers and we believers today receiving the end of their/our faith the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9) having a new glorified resurrected body to live in the presence of Christ and of God the Father for all eternity. Paul declares to them that this true Gospel is being preached in all the known world at that time (not by himself only) but by him and many other faithful servants of Christ as He (Christ) commanded with these words before His Ascension, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:15) (KJV).

“A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the Apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.” Adam Clarke

“If we are lashed to the unchangeable Christ by the ‘cords of love’ and faith, we too shall, in our degree, be steadfast. And, says Paul, that Christ-derived steadfastness will make us able to resist influences that would move us away from the hope of the Gospel. That process which their steadfastness would enable the Colossians successfully to resist is described by the language of the Apostle as continuous, and as one which acted on them from without. Intellectual dangers arose from false teachings. The ever-acting tendencies of worldliness pressed upon them, and they needed to make a distinct effort to keep themselves from being overcome by these.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

“Salvation is free from God to us through the sacrifice of His Son our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and there is no good living, or good works, or good deeds that would ever be able to earn for us our salvation, but there is spiritual work that must be done after receiving this free gift and that is waging warfare with the world, our flesh or old nature, and the devil as the Apostle Peter put it using these words, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11) (KJV). Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…