If Ye continue in the Flesh

Colossians 1.23 (KJV). This is the consistent biblical position on the perseverance of the saints. Paul says that Christ has reconciled believers in Colossae "to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his right: If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel."

"Continue in the faith," Paul encourages the Colossians, "be not moved away from the hope of the gospel." These are crucial words to heed.

The Word of Truth = The Gospel

So says Paul in Col. 1.5. If Pilate had only understood this. When he asks Christ, "What is truth?" (John 18.38), Christ doesn't bother explaining to Pilate because Pilate obviously was not open to what exactly truth was. He commands/allows the murder of Christ (heeding the predetermined plan of God by making his own choices—a mystery). A guy who is going to let an innocent man be murdered in the most heinous manner is not a person who is open to hearing the truth; however, it does explain why he allows Christ to die. If one does not believe in absolute truth, then whatever is expedient is fine.

Hidden With Christ

So says Paul in Colossians 3.3. We have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. I believe that Paul speaks of our lives as being hidden with Christ in that, while we are now spiritually alive, this fact is not fully manifested until Christ's appearing. Thus the Bible Speaks Today commentary says: The perfect union between Christ and his people is a heavenly union, and therefore is hidden from man’s observation.

Fervent Prayer

Reading in Col 4.12 this morning and I was struck by Epapharas' fervent prayer for the church in Colossae. Paul calls him a "slave of Christ Jesus" and says that he was "agonizing in prayer" for the church. This humbles me because I struggle to "agonize in prayer" for my family, more less anyone else. Thomas Constable, commenting on this passage writes: Epaphras’ fervent agonizing in prayer (cf. Luke 22:44) reflects his understanding that God would provide illumination and continued growth in proportion as people requested these of Him (James 4:2). This is spiritual work that only God can do. Just so. However, if only God can do it, then why am I not praying more fervently for those to whom I minister?