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The ultimate aim of this great work of the Lord is to present each member, and the
Body as a whole before Himself, in holiness and perfection. In the original will of the
Father, this company was `chosen in Christ' to be `holy and without blemish before Him
in love' (Eph. 1: 14 R.V.) in the future presentation day and that will is carried out and
completed in all its fullness through the redemptive work of the Son. Amomos, `without
spot', is used of Christ Himself in I Pet. 1: 19 and this means that this church has
nothing less than the very holiness of the Lord and in such a condition is `unreproveable',
literally, `not accused'. There are no grounds in them for any accusation (Rom. 8: 33,
34). What a goal for sinners such as we are! Can we ever thank the Lord enough for all
this? Surely words alone will not do. Our very lives must reflect here and now
something of this Christ-likeness.
The Apostle Paul was concerned that this glorious prospect which he brought before
the Colossian believers should not lead to complacency or slackness. If it is God's will
that they should be presented as holy as He is, then he wills their continuing in
faithfulness during this life:
"If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away
from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under
heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister" (1: 23 R.V.).
The Apostle assumes they will continue in the course in which they have begun, no
matter what temptations or difficulties come their way. He knew the danger of being
hindered in the `race' and the possibility of falling out with the Lord's disqualification at
His award day as regards reward for service. Did not Paul say of himself `I do not run
aimlessly . . . lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified' (I Cor. 9: 26.
27 R.S.V.). This indeed would be a shameful thing after all that God has accomplished
for the members of His Body. Hence the importance of their not being enticed away
from the truth by the insidious teaching that was being circulated in their midst. The
Colossian believers should not think that they were a small isolated group, for the
fullness of this great gospel had been declared far and wide to the limits of the then
known world.
In the Lord's strength they could stand and become `more than conquerors' through
Him that loved, died, rose again and ascended for them.