Tuesday, June 13th, 2023

The Gospel means the good news, and when we receive it, it is truly good news. But after receiving salvation, what happens next? The Bible tells us we begin a walk of sanctification, putting off the old and putting on the new as a new creation, as Paul says. So much of the New Testament is dedicated to what this means. But other than sharing it with others, are we done with the Gospel? Has its purpose been fulfilled in our lives, and we’re ready for new things? It's easy to lose the forest for the trees in sanctification. It’s also easy to become legalistic or burdened by the perception of a new kind of law. The pressures of the world can creep into our lives – even into secure faith – but Paul tells us what to do. He says in Colossians, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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.” Here, he reminds us of the Gospel and how it saves us. But then he continues in verse 23, “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the Gospel.” Paul beckons the Colossians, and us today, to not move from the hope inherent in the Gospel. The Gospel does more than just save – it gives hope because this is not all that life is, it is the smallest part of life. Because Christ gives us his righteousness, and has gone before us in resurrection, we have hope. The writer of Hebrews echoes Paul’s sentiment, saying, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Thus, it is imperative for Christians to live life in praise of Christ who in his mercy gives us life but also to take hold of the hope the Gospel sets before us, allowing this hope in Christ to be the anchor of our soul. The world may be dark at times, but we fear not because our Lord, Jesus Christ, has overcome it.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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 -- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the Gospel.” – Colossians 1:21-23

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” – Hebrews 6:19