(Col 1:19-20) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell;  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven having made peace through the Blood of the Cross.

And it pleased the Father that we should be reconciled to Him by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We who were once enemies of the cross and alienated from God have been reconciled, praise the Living God! We have been presented to the Father, holy and blameless and above reproach by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is where we stand. This is how we stand. This is how the Father sees us. This is indeed, our position and will remains so. Now, I could stop right there and most preachers do. Most teachers do. You will get a thousand amens when you preach this and leave out the word that immediately follows. IF!!!! We all know what the word means. It means “unless,” or “if indeed.” And so we see that Paul tells the sainst’s that this position is conditional.

What are the conditions he states……..1. If indeed you continue in the faith. Meaning? If you continue to trust God and walk with Him. 2. If you continue to be grounded and steadfast. Meaning? Grounded means to consolidate. Consolidate as a verb means to bring together into a single or unified whole and as an adjective it means to solidify, form or coherent. So, to be one in Christ and go in the faith, becoming sons and daughters as opposed to babes in Christ. To continue on to maturity 3. Not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. Meaning? To be heavenly minded, to find joy not only on the mountaintops but also in the depths of the valleys. To be able to rejoice in the midst of your sufferings and trials. To be drawn ever closer to the Lord by your tribulations.

This is pleasing to the Lord. He takes no pleasure in those who draw back. To continue in the faith is oftentimes to endure. To continue in the faith is oftentimes overcoming. To continue in the faith is get down on our knees, with Job, after great loss, and worship the Lord still and cry out “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Will you continue in the faith? Have you continued in the faith?  Paul says ” Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Warning and teaching brothers and sisters, they go hand in glove.And Paul has of course done both in this very chapter. For we are handling riches. The pearl of great price. We direct the souls of men towards the heart of God which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is priceless, and we must treat it as such.