(Col. 1:23.)

(Continued from page 93.)

Verse 23 opens with a form of conditional statement. The wonderful issue for us of the reconciling work of the Godhead has been stated in verse 22, and as to us he immediately says, "If indeed ye abide in the faith founded and firm." He is not expressing doubt as to the continuance or perseverance of true believers; he simply means that verse 22 is to be regarded as real and certain, the following condition being true. The former could only be a fact, the latter being true. Since the purpose of God in this respect cannot fail, there are those of whom the condition is true, they do abide in the faith.

Of those who thus abide, two things are stated – "founded and firm." The first suggests what is done for us. The believer is securely grounded, anchored to, the foundation, to Christ Himself. This is from God's side, and is consequent upon our acceptance by faith of what God presents in His word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. Perhaps we might illustrate it by the gold-covered boards of the Tabernacle with their two tenons set into the silver sockets. The second thing is rather God's work in us, by which inward strength is developed, producing full assurance.

In view of these things, the next statement becomes somewhat explanatory of the condition with which the verse opens-"Not moved away from the hope of the glad tidings." It is certain that those who are grounded and firm are not moved away from that hope. They are characterized by steadiness, not shiftiness. Whether the assault of evil be in teaching, temptation, or persecution, they remain unmoved. These things are the tests or evidences of reality in those who profess the name of Christ.

The apostle specifically mentions the hope of the glad tidings. The hope here mentioned is not, as it is sometime, the thing hoped for, but the expectancy inspired by the gospel of God concerning His Son, which being received in the heart, fills it with hope, ruling the Christian's life. Paul says to Timothy, "Because we hope in a living God we labor and suffer reproach, accounting that godliness is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and that to come; for God in whom we hope is the preserver of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4:8-10). The incorruptible seed implanted in the believer is that from which the beautiful flower of hope springs and blooms, filling heart and mind with fragrance exhaled in a happy Christian life, bearing the marks of the Spirit-"Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22, 23). Little wonder that the apostle says of the glad tidings, "Which are come to you, as they are in all the world, and are bearing fruit and growing, even as also among you, from the day ye heard them and knew indeed the grace of God in truth" (chap. 1:6).

Of these glad tidings the apostle now states, "Which have been proclaimed in the whole creation which is under heaven." It is not a question of every creature having heard, but of the sphere in which the proclamation was made, as Paul said to Timothy concerning the mystery of godliness, "Preached among the nations," or as in this chapter, "Come.. .in all the world." The statement is specific-"under heaven." Incidentally, this does not allow the idea of the gospel being preached to disembodied spirits, as some suppose 1 Peter 3:19 teaches.

Paul was made a minister of these glad tidings. A brief epitome of what this substantially meant for him, he gives in his defense before Agrippa. John Bloore