Salvation Summaries

Colossians 1:21-23 seems to indicate that salvation is predicated upon a person continuing in their faith, and thus it implies that salvation can be lost if one’s faith is lost. Is this true?  

I want to say at the outset that interpreting verses 1:21-23, especially verse 23, is difficult, and while more than one interpretation may be correct, I will give you the one that I believe is the most accurate.

I’ve included these verses in two different translations in an effort to help us understand them better.

• Colossians 1:21-23 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach– 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (NAS)

• Colossians 1:21-23 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it. (NLT)

On the surface, it appears that a Christian will be presented before God as holy, blameless and above reproach, but only if that person maintains their faith throughout their life.  If a person does not continue in their faith, and thus loses it, that person will not be presented as holy, blameless and above reproach, for that person would have lost their salvation.

Let me tell you why I believe this interpretation is incorrect.  If verse 23 stopped after the word “faith,” the interpretation would be correct, but the verse does not stop there. As you continue to read in this verse, you realize that the emphasis is on maintaining a steadfast and established faith. This type of faith is an unwavering faith, and one that does not result in a lack of assurance of one’s salvation.  As a result, verse 23 does not refer to a loss of one’s faith and salvation; it refers to the potential of wavering in one’s faith and losing one’s assurance of salvation.

So why would Paul caution or warn them about this?  Because of false teachers.  In his letter, Paul tells them not to be led astray by false teachers (see 2:4, 2:6 and 2:18), who taught that salvation in Christ alone was not enough.

If the Colossian believers became uncertain of their salvation due to a wavering faith, there is a consequence to this: they will not be presented as blameless (and above reproach, etc.) before God.

Blameless, as used in verse 22, is not the same as sinless, but instead refers to how well one lives. A blameless person is one who walks or lives in a righteous way.  For example, Noah and Job were blameless before God; Abraham was told to be blameless.

Living a blameless is something a Christian is supposed to do, but spiritual growth and effort are required.  In 2 Peter 3, we are told to make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and at peace with Christ. Philippians 2 and Titus 1 give us some specific examples (not all inclusive) of how a person becomes blameless, and that is by not arguing or complaining, not being quick-tempered, etc. In Philippians 1:9, Paul prays that others’ love and knowledge and discernment will increase so that they may be pure and blameless, and thus they must grow spiritually in order to be blameless.

To conclude, Jesus will present to the Father the ones He has chosen. These will be Christians, or believers.  Believers who lead a blameless life will be presented as such; believers who waver in their faith (but not lose it) and doubt their salvation will still be presented as believers, but not as blameless.  Leading or living a blameless life requires spiritual growth and effort on our part.