IF indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Col. 1:23
It’s just too easy to disconnect when life gets ugly. We must be those who are prepared to endure hardness as good soldiers with an understanding trials, temptations, persecutions and sufferings, as believers, are absolutely normal. We face daily the pressures to live by faith. Everything in our world demands faith.
Our faith is not given to avoid hardships but rather enabling us to stay firmly established and stedfast, not moved, not giving up, not casting away our confidence in HIM.
The principal of faith is universal and is daily applied by everyone. We have faith in our doctors, banks, government, parents, etc. etc. You name it. At some point, we as believers shifted our’s from the natural to the spiritual and placed our primary trust in God. We made a choice to believe that He is, and He is a rewarder for those who diligently seek Him.
Paul highlights in our verse today four words that delineate the condition for our salvation.
* IF
* continue
* firmly…established and stedfast
* unmoved.
If we continue in the faith presents our first requirement in order to be presented before our Father, holy and blameless and above reproach before him. We don’t get to simply live the benefits of a legal truth without the vital practice of that truth. Christ has done his part to reconcile us through the body of flesh by his death; now we must do our part…continue in the faith, believing every word that has proceeded from the mouth of God.
This ongoing lifestyle is marked by a faith that is firmly established and stedfast; which makes me think of those who build on the rock with the storms assaulting yet remaining unmoved, because they have been built upon a firm foundation.
The need to continue in what we have heard, seen, received and believed provides the foundation for being firmly established and steadfast. It gives us the ability to rightly divide all words that come to us. We are able to discern accusations that would separate us in our relationship with the Father and/or others. With that understanding, we have the right, responsibility and ability to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive and bring it into obedience of Christ; 2 Cor. 10:5.
It is through continuing, this daily searching of the scriptures, participating with the teaching and leadership of the Holy Spirit that the word implanted is able to save our souls. It is the continuing in this word that the revelation of Jesus illuminates our hearts and minds and we become not simply hearers of a word but doers, thus removing from our lives the potential for deception.
What I give my meditation towards, shapes the framework of my believing i.e. faith. The principle of faith is that it is increased by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17. Since this is the principle of God - Satan who is a counterfeit in all things - presents his lies and strategies through the words he brings. It matters what and who we give time and attention to.
Disciples are to attend to the word. Give attention and meditation to the word. They are to hold the knowledge of God through the word He has spoken so that it could be written, heard and read and repeated.
It is through the continuing of this process we are firmly established and not moved from the gospel we have heard. Our trust is continually strengthened because we continue feeding and fellowshipping with Him.