Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Even though Paul was not involved in the starting of the Colossian Church, he had heard all about it from Epaphras who had started the work there. Colossae was a typical city of the Roman Empire, and its people were devoted to the Greek and Roman gods. Some of this worship involved interaction with shrine prostitutes, both male and female. And the lifestyle of the empire was known for its carnality and its focus on pleasure.
Such behavior was easy to identify as sin, even though it was the behavior of the culture and was sanctioned by the government. And the people of Colossae were guilty before God of violation of His moral standards.
But then Epaphras brought the gospel to the city, and for those who heard and received it, everything changed. Where the darkness had lain deep and thick, a new light began to shine: the light of grace, and salvation, and real spiritual life. Through faith in Christ, they had been reconciled to God. They were baptized, they received the Holy Spirit, and they became a member of God’s household, God’s family. And they began to share this new life they had experienced with their family, their friends, and their neighbors, and so the Church began to grow throughout the city.
This was cause for great joy, not just for the Colossians, but for Paul as well. He had given his whole life to the gospel, and it was great for him to be able to see this new work springing up and growing without his involvement.
Paul does give one word of caution, signaled by the word “if”. The Colossian Christians had been saved and had received the Holy Spirit. It was God’s intention for them to come before his throne holy, blameless, without blemish, and free of accusation. But that could only happen IF they can continued in their faith, IF they remained established and firm in their faith, and IF they refused to move away from the hope held out in the gospel.
This was no casual warning. Paul had already seen some of that those in other Churches turn away and go back to the world, even though the pressure from family and coworkers had been minor. But Paul understood that, just as he had had to suffer and sacrifice for the gospel, it was quite possible that, when future persecution came to that area, the Christians in Colossae would have to consciously choose to stand firm and not turn away for the sake of preserving comfort, property, or even their lives. The gospel holds forth many amazing promises, but they can only be received by those who stand fast to the very end (Matthew 10:22).
Father, I agree that your salvation literally transforms lives. My own life was completely changed when I turned to you. I literally experienced the movement from darkness to light, from death to life. And, just like the Colossians, I couldn’t keep this wonderful transformation to myself. You saved me, melted me, molded me, and handed me back a life shaped in the image of Jesus. But I also realize that just like Adam, just like Saul, just like Solomon, I can take the wonderful, pure, God-blessed life you have given me, and I can ruin it by sin, by self-focus, by using what you have given me for my own ends, my own gain. Lord, help me to keep my focus on you, to be true to the very end, so that I can come before your throne dressed in a robe of pure white, made righteous and holy by your hand. Amen.