… if …
Summary: A short little word can mean a lot, especially when used as a condition for Christ’s redemption.
It seems strange to write a meditation on two little letters, but here we are. The word “if” is a very small word, but the implications of this word can have eternal consequences.
Before diving in too deeply, I want to acknowledge that there are many views regarding this word and its placement in this passage. Taken at face value, Paul seems to be saying, “God reconciled you to him through Christ’s death on the cross IF you continue in your faith.”
Should we take this word at face value? If not, what value should we apply to it?
A lot of people believe that once a person comes to accept Jesus as Lord, there is nothing that can keep them from heaven. Some traditions believe there is little we have to say about our own salvation, whether we go or don’t go to heaven. Still, others believe that our choices affect our eternal outcome.
Recently, I found myself deep in a study of the “Parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:1-23). In the parable, Jesus equates the Gospel message to a seed. In two examples in the parable, the seed springs to life in a person, but something happens to cause the seed to wither or be unfruitful.
Is Jesus saying the same thing Paul is?
Without taking sides on any of the many theological views people might have on this topic, I would like to offer one observation: No matter what you believe about God’s salvation, don’t take it for granted. The gift of life is of too great a value!
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he addresses the issue of people telling the church in Galatia that they need to be circumcised. He addresses the same topic in his letter to the church in Corinth and flatly states, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing” (1 Corinthians 7:19).
So what is the problem? For Paul, the issue is the danger of diluting our faith in Jesus with faith in other things. He goes on to say that “Keeping God’s commands is what counts” (ibid).
And what does God command us? As Jesus famously answered the Pharisees in Matthew 22: 37-39, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Application: Continue in your faith!
Food for Thought: What does it mean to not continue in faith?
You are the righteousness of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Anon!
To walk with Jesus in faith is amazing! 🙂
I suppose there are many ways to answer this question. I think this passage, while perhaps not being the primary point, gives us an opportunity to evaluate the sincerity of our faith. I think that to not continue in faith (when not talking about salvation) is something we do all too often. If we think of continuing in faith as abiding in faith, living our faith out daily and in each moment, then every decision becomes a faith decision. Will we live out our professed faith by submitting to Christ, or will we rebel and take matters into our own hands?
Colossians 1: 21 – 23: Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. 22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
This passage begins with saying that before Christ we were hostile in our minds and engaging in evil deeds. If we are living out our faith then our minds will be transformed and those deeds should be transformed as well. If we end up having the same mindset and deeds as before we claimed Christ, something is wrong.
The gospel should be proclaimed, it should also produce fruit lived out in our lives on a daily basis. If that is not happening something is wrong. It is not that we won’t sin, we will (1 John 1: 9 – 10). But then there should be repentance and a desire to pursue Christ in both word and deed. We should be changed and that change should be noticeable.
Matthew 13: 23: “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Brother Rich,
I like how you say, “If we end up having the same mindset and deeds as before we claimed Christ, something is wrong.”
Knowing Jesus personally is transformative. You and Paul are both pointing us to that fact. Thank you!
I liked Rich’s response; it is very well-articulated.
When I read this question it makes me think about the difference between believing and faith. One can believe many things, but how they apply that belief to their life is very important.
I saw a video clip recently of a small child standing on a high wall, and his father was on the ground. The father held up his arms and the child just leapt from the wall and the father caught him. The impact of the video was that the boy stood up on the wall and kept his eyes on his father, and when the father held up his arms, the boys face went from fixation on his father’s face to pure joy. You could tell the boy fully believed that his father would catch him, and delighted in the joy of the experience, knowing he would be safely caught.
I think the difference is that the boy believed his father would catch him and not that his father could catch him. Faith was the boy leaping from the wall.
An interesting thing about the relationship in belief in faith is that are cyclical. One believes and acts in faith, which fortifies belief, which increases faith, which fortifies belief, which increases faith. Like a fire that grows.
We must first hear the Word to believe, in belief, we act in faith. In faith Christ works in us, and through us. As we progress in our walk, our understanding of God’s Word deepens through guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is a part of the transformation of our mind. In greater measure, our belief turns from what God could do, to believing what God will do.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true. When do not continue in faith, we weaken our belief. We begin to reside ourselves to what God could do, and not on what He said He will do. We exclude ourselves from what Christ has done. The fire diminishes in intensity, and in some cases the fire cools down to embers.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said! I like the “fire that grows” analogy. I also appreciate your point about the difference between believing and faith.
What does it mean to not continue in faith?
” or IF you DO?”
Every believer has been washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 6:18; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16 all believers have been set free from the power of sin and still we sin every day as we repeatedly live as the prodigal son?
At the same time, now many believers, on their way to Sunday service, take their spiritual eyes off God and covet the beautiful automobile that pulls up beside them at a stop light? Or during service will often check their watch to make sure they will be able to get home in time to see their football game?
People of faith have been cleansed of all unrighteousness, forgiven of all sin yet sin every day as we live in the process of sanctification.
Hebrews 13:20-21, 20 Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (AMP)
Ephesian 4:22-24, Believers enter the phase of sanctification, ceasing our old ways putting on the new self in the likeness of God which He has prepared for us.
1 Thessalonians, 5:21-23, Examine everything, abstain from every form of evil as we allow God to sanctify us so we will be without blame when Christ returns.
Romans,12:1 Become a living sacrifice acceptable to God, as we pursue being transformed by the renewing of our minds.
1 Peter, 1:16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Thank you, Ron!
You picked up on an important point with ” or IF you DO?”
Paul gives us a lot to think about. Many of the answers to questions we might have are beyond our ability to know. Fortunately God knows! And we can trust him to make the right decisions.
Wow continued great comments.