Col 1:23 IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (KJV, emphasis added)
This
clause “if ye continue in the faith,” found in Colossians 1: 23
has posed much difficulty to many Believers, because of the way translators
have rendered the Greek text in English translations, thereby making it very
difficult for many to comprehend what the apostle Paul is saying.
Many have read a religious meaning into that clause, saying that we are only saved if we continue to believe till the end, if not we will lose our salvation if we stop believing. But is this really what Paul means by that statement? If so, then is Paul implying that a Believer can stop believing in Christ, and then lose their salvation?
On the surface, this verse of Col. 1: 23 appears to say that the sustenance or security of our salvation lies in our own hands or performance. Implying that it’s up to us to keep ourselves saved. “keep believing and you’ll secure your salvation,” and “stop believing and you’ll lose your salvation.”
But I must tell you categorically that such a viewpoint arises only because of the jumbled work if I may say, of translators. You have to realize that the majority of our highly esteemed translators are religionists. So, most times they express or render certain Hebrew or Greek words into English, in a way that supports, agrees with, or leans towards their religious views, or to say the least, conceal the full meaning of the words they are translating into English, thereby rendering the comprehension of those words or expressions and their connections very difficult if not impossible, for English readers to see.
Before we proceed, let me point out this one thing here; anyone saying you’ll lose your salvation if you stop believing, is saying so because they do not truly understand what Bible believing means, i.e. what it means to believe in Christ. They talk that way because they think the belief that gets an individual Born Again is mere mental ascent. They think it’s head knowledge belief. No, it’s not. Head knowledge believing isn’t believing in Christ. Any belief that can be lost is merely head knowledge belief. That’s not the belief the bible speaks of.
The “belief” the bible speaks of, which brings a person into Christ is “HEART belief,” or the belief that comes from the heart. Paul beats this drum very clearly in our ears, telling us it’s HEART BELIEVE, not HEAD BELIEVE, not SENSE KNOWLEDGE BELIEVE, as many erroneously speculate.
Paul declares!
Rom 10:10 FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV, emphasis added)
Observe the clarity with which he speaks. He says it’s with the HEART that one believes.
This kind of “believe” is not something losable, because it is something born out of the heart — an irrevocable and irreversible conviction or persuasion that the word of GOD creates in a person’s heart. Your heart is not your head or brain. This “believe” that Paul speaks of is not like the love you have for your spouse, and then maybe something terrible begins to happen and over time you lose the love or stop loving them, and then you seek divorce. That’s the kind of idea religionists have about believing in Christ. Sloppy indeed! But like I said, that’s not “Bible believe.” Whatever the case, the Lord isn’t divorcing you, no matter what!
In true “Bible believe” which brings salvation — you can only receive it once, but can’t lose it. Once it's in, then it’s in. You cannot undo the spiritual change it has created in you. You may pretend outwardly not having it, or disclaim it in the face of apparent threat. You may even falsely claim to renounce it out of ignorance, pressure, confusion, or challenge of life. The Lord understands all of such sorry conditions. But then if you truly had this "believe" in you that Paul speaks of, then it’s still there, unchangeable, immovable — permanent.
Ok, that said, let's now proceed further!
There are five "ifs" in Colossians.
1) "If ye died with Christ" - Col. 2: 20
2) "If ye were raised with Christ" - Col. 3: 1
3) "If any man have a quarrel" - Col. 3: 13
4) "If he come to you" - Col. 4: 10
And the fifth "if"
5) "If ye continue in the faith" - Col. 1: 23
In the "if ye continue in the faith" case, the word "if" is from the Greek word "eige" (pronounced as 'i-gheh').
"Eige" is a conjunction from the root words "ei" (G1487) and "ge" (G1065)
The "ge" is in the indicative mood and a primary particle of emphasis. Implying that it qualifies the "ei".
What this implies is that the word "ei" = if, when followed by the indicative mood "ge", is used to indicate certainty without the expression of doubt, a condition as to which its occurrence is already ongoing and is expected to continue without fail.
Many Preachers interpret the "if" in Col. 1: 23 to mean; "unless ye continue believing," or "except ye continue believing." Such interpretation misses the point totally because "if" = "eige," used here isn't referring to a condition that requires fulfillment by the individual in order to secure or maintain their salvation, but is based upon the condition or stand taken by the Believer on the basis of what Christ has done and continues to ensure on our behalf.
A better way to render the word "if" = "eige" in Col. 1: 23, is "therefore," or "so then." Paul used this word to connect to what he already said in Col. 1: 21 and 22.
Now the second word we are to look at is the word "CONTINUE" (Col. 1: 23). This word is from the Greek word "epimeno," which is derived from two words "epi," which is used here as genitive of place, meaning; rest, on, upon, as in the idea of something resting on the table. The second word is "meno," which is also here used of place, or position, and meaning; to remain.
Therefore, "epimeno" when used literally means, "to remain in a place."
But when used in the metaphorical sense, as we see Paul use it here, the word means;
a) to
continue making progress in your present state or course, i.e. to move on in a
particular course, state, or direction, to grow on or advance in it.
b) to be constant, be steadfast, i.e. to take your stand in a particular course, direction, or position, without wavering.
Tying these together, we can see that the clause "if ye continue in the faith..." is a beautiful admonition from the apostle of Grace, Paul himself, to us, and it does not suggest we'll lose our salvation if we stop believing, because we can't stop believing. Anyone who's Born Again in the sense that the Bible speaks of it, can't stop believing.
"If ye continue in the faith..." is a poor translation of Col. 1: 23.
The expression "CONTINUE IN THE FAITH" (Col. 1: 23) is simply another way of saying "keep growing in faith.” or “keep making progress in your faith.”
What Paul is saying is this; based on what he had earlier said or taught them in the preceding verses of Col. 1: 21, 22, in these they are then to keep making progress, or in this they are to continue growing in their knowledge and understanding in the faith.
A clearer way to render the beginning part of Col. 1: 23 would be;
"So then (or therefore) ye continue growing (i.e. continue making progress) in the faith grounded and settled..." (Col. 1: 23)
This is a better way to understand what Paul means in that verse.
If this Gospel article has blessed you richly, you can send a gift.
You can also follow me on this blog, and on YouTube by watching my videos in this blog. Subscribe to my channel to get notifications of my new videos. Visit www.youtube.com/@prizechukwuka.
.png)
