Bible Truth #67 - Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:21-23

21  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds, as shown by your evil behavior.

22  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

23  if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Starting with verse 21, which balances perfectly with Romans 8:7 (Bible Truth #7), we were at enmity with God, or hostile to God. And this was clearly seen in our behavior. We were not alienated from God BECAUSE of our behavior. Our behavior was an expression of a condition that existed from the moment of our conception. We didn’t care about God or what He thought, because we hated Him. Although some hate God more than others, there is no question the lost hate the Light, Jesus. (John 3:20)

But then He reconciled you (us) to Him through Jesus Christ. Do you see anywhere in that verse, or within any other Holy Scripture, a requirement we have to meet BEFORE He reconciles us? The answer is no! HE does it all by Himself, there is no requirement that we have to believe or accept first. Our believing is what happens as a result of Him reconciling us, God gives us belief (Philippians 1:29). God chose us in Him before the foundation of the World (Ephesians 1:4), and then at a point in our lives (also of His choosing), He did a work in us (regeneration) and reconciled us to Him.

The Arminian might say, “But in verse 23 it says ‘IF’ we continue in our faith.”

Now I know you don’t believe that you can lose your salvation so what is Paul speaking of here? Depending on whether the English translation is accurate, Paul is not talking about “getting saved” or losing your salvation, but a warning to us and others that if we don’t continue in the faith, we were never saved to begin with.

Another explanation would be if this (the first word in Verse 23) is a Greek “first-class conditional” IF and actually means “SINCE.” That would make sense too. We were reconciled and presented holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation - since (as proof) we continue in our faith, established and firm...

Either way, it does NOT affect the point of being reconciled to Him without our involvement in the least.