A note from our Pastor:

“ 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

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Before we begin to examine our study verse, let us refresh our memory. Our verse falls amid long statement by the Apostle Paul. Verse 21 was the first verse of this statement and it established the focus of the teaching. There the Apostle said, the saints at Colossae (and others through time) were reconciled to God. The rest of the thought, including our study verse, ties back to that core idea.

Now Paul sets forth two precepts to be followed in order to continue to feel that reconciliation. The first is to remain in the faith. In this context, “the faith” has a dual meaning. It means to maintain your personal faith as a believer of Jesus Christ. If you desire to feel reconciled unto God you must have faith in the truth of Jesus Christ. Second, it means to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It means to understand his teachings, instructions, and actions in more depth and apply them to your life.

Remember, the reconciliation spoken of is the believer feeling connected with God. Faith, in both senses, allows the child of God to know their sins have been forgiven. This breaks down the wall between man and God. It eliminates the shame of sin and, as such, allows the saint to feel at peace with God.

The second aspect mentioned in this verse is the “hope of the gospel.” The focus here is not on the gospel, which is the same as “the faith”, but rather the hope. The nature of life, with all of its trials and tribulations, can weigh down on the heart, mind, and soul of a disciple. It can quickly make one feel distant from God. But hope is the antidote to that despair. It does not end the difficulties, but it maintains the connection between the child of God and God.

The Apostle felt the desire and inspiration to write these words to the congregation at Colossae. However, the words and instructions remain true for each believer throughout time.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah