Continuing in the Faith

The Christian faith is first and foremost a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9), granted to elect believers by God’s grace (Phil 1:29). We believe in God, revealed to us in the holy Scriptures, as three divine Persons, having the same essence (substance), but distinguished by each Person’s role.

It is the Holy Bible that reveals the one true God to us (Dt 6:4; Jn 10:30); and it is God the Holy Spirit who has given us the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). As our Teacher, the Spirit educates us on the estrangement of man from God (Gen 3). In his natural sinful state, man is alienated and hostile toward God (Eph 2:12–13; Col 1:21). Man’s hatred toward his creator and sustainer remains (Rom 1:30; Jn 1:3, 10; 7:7; 15:18–25; Col 1:15; Eph 1:2–3) because man has been deceived by Satan, into believing that God is somehow withholding goodness of some kind (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4).

The sad result of being deceived is sinful rebellion, manifest in evil deeds of various kinds (Jn 3:19–20). The inclination of the human heart, void of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is only evil all the time (Gen 6:5; Rom 8:9, 11). Man is not good nor does he produce good (Is 64:6; Rom 3:12). Man does not seek after God in order to remedy the enmity existing between himself and his Maker (Rom 3:11). He is neither willing nor able to initiate peace and reconciliation.

As the Holy Spirit works in the midst of the human situation, the world does not receive the Spirit (Jn 14:17), nor does the natural man accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him (1 Cor 1:18; 2:14). Man will go so far as to try and suppress the truth of God (Rom 1:18). Into this spiritual darkness and present evil age, God sends his Gospel ministers to preach Christ (Col 1:23, 28).

We proclaim Him (Col 1:28), the eternal Son of God and second Person of the Trinity, who came into the world to save His people from their sins and the wrath of God directed at sinners (Mt 1:21; Rom 1:18; 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). It is Christ, the Son of God, who is the Savior of His body of people from around the world and across history (Acts 4:12; 13:23; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1). Everyone who believes in Him will not perish in the second death (eternal lake of fire), but they are recipients of eternal life (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 5:11–13; Rev 20:14–15).

God’s stated intention is for Christ Jesus to reconcile the very people God the Father gave to Him before the foundation of the world (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; Col 1:22; 2 Tim 1:9; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). Jesus Christ accomplished this reconciliation through His perfect sinless life and atoning death on the cross of Calvary (Rom 5:9; Col 1:20, 22; Heb 4:15).

Jesus Christ mediated peace with God by representing His church at the place of both just judgment and mercy, also known as the cross of Calvary (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 9:15; 12:24). As our great high priest (Heb 4:14), Jesus offered Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29; Heb 10:12, 14). In this, Christ demonstrated His exclusive love for His church (Rom 5:8; Eph 5:25), receiving the imputation of all our sins (2 Cor 5:21).

It was in His fleshly body that Jesus bore the wrath of God on behalf of His chosen people (Col 1:22; 1 Pet 2:9, 24). By His meritorious work in life and death, Jesus Christ fulfilled all righteousness (Mt 3:15; 5:17). It is His imputed righteousness that Christians receive in order to be right with God (Jer 23:6; 33:16; Rom 5:21). There is no other way for our debt of sin to be forgiven and entirely cancelled (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Col 2:14).

The Christian hope is bolstered by the promise of Christ’s presentation of His church to God the Father. On that day in the future, following His second coming to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5), Jesus will present His bride holy and blameless before God (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22). Of course, these descriptive terms for His church are unthinkable apart from His Person and work to redeem and reconcile His beloved.

God is holy and blameless; and this status is required of those who will enter His presence. It is Christ, the holy One of God and holy One of Israel who secured this status, forever, for His people. His death upon that cursed Roman tree was the required atoning sacrifice on behalf of those He suffered in His fleshly body to set free (Lev 16; Is 61:1; Col 1:22; 1 Pet 2:24). Jesus laid down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11, 15). He died for us (1 Cor 15:3). By His stripes we are healed and made holy (Is 53:5) — set apart unto God by sanctifying work of the Spirit (1 Pet 1:2).

It is the devil who serves as the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10). As he did in Job’s case (Job 1:8–12), he is happy to bring charges against God’s elect (Rom 8:33). Of course, there is nothing and no one who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:35, 39). The blood of His cross avails for us (Col 1:20). Not only does Jesus remove the penalty for sin; He removes the guilt and shame…that we might serve Him all of our remaining days (Dan 7:14; Lk 1:74).

Jesus promised His disciples that the Gospel would be preached to the whole world and then the end would come (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15; Col 1:23). Faith comes to believers by hearing the Word of Christ proclaimed (Rom 10:17; Col 1:28). If it is God’s will for one to receive Christ unto salvation (Jn 1:12–13), then the preached Word will be planted in the heart and bring forth spiritual life (Mt 13:18–23; Jn 6:63; Jas 1:21). The blessed assurance for the born again of God is His promise that when God’s good work has begun in the saint, He will bring it to completion (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:3).

Christianity is no mystery religion with secret knowledge, rites, and rituals. It is firmly established; and believers are steadfast in that which has been handed down to all the saints (Col 1:23; Jude 3). Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word endures, forever (Mt 5:18; 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 16:17; 21:33). Christians have an anchor for our souls (Heb 6:19), that is, Christ in heaven at the right hand of Majesty (Ps 110; Heb 1:3; 8:1) — ever living to make intercession for us as our great high priest (Heb 4:14; 7:25).

All glory belongs to Christ, our God and Savior, who has successfully represented both God and His church at the table of mediation, also known as the Cross. He Himself is our peace with God (Eph 2:14), and our only hope for abundant life here (Jn 10:10), while we wait for Him and eternal life at our glorious resurrection, body and soul, on the day of His second advent (Jn 5:28–29; Rom 8:30; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11; 15:20–57).

True believers will never fall away from the faith in Jesus Christ because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5). All the promises of God are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20); and we, of course, take Him at His Word.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

January 10, 2024

Colossians 1:21–23