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QUESTION 67:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel Colossians 1:23. Does this not teach that a person can be lost again?

ANSWER:
What a verse might imply and what it really means is often a different thing. The matter of a true born again believer’s security is clearly stated in John 10:28-29, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Colossians 1:22 is the key to the meaning of Colossians 1:23, In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: As you can see it is speaking about the Lord Jesus being able to present us faultless and unreproveable in God’s sight. Now it is saying that “if” we continue in the faith, this is not His work on the cross for us, but our works after were are saved that is in view. If we do, Christ will be able to present us holy and unblameable before God. At the Judgment Seat of Christ all believers will appear and their works will be examined. If they have not gone on well with the Lord there will be no rewards or presenting of them to God holy...... They will be saved, but all works and rewards lost. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If one continues in the faith grounded well then the Lord Jesus will be able to say to them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

Paul is writing to the Colossians who are plagued with all sort of false teachings and exhorts them to continue in the faith and hope of the gospel, so that they will be presented holy and unblameable in that day. The question is not their salvation, but their presentation at the Judgment Seat of Christ. If you are saved, and know it, then you should show it by your lip and life. If not, then the verse in question has no application to you. You need to be saved, This is the most important thing in your life. You must repent and trust Christ or perish in your sins. That means die and go to hell. Jesus said, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10. The thief is the devil. He will destroy you in your sins. Christ came to give you eternal life. You must repent of your sins and trust Him for this life. Do it today!

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen