Praying to Continue in the Faith

So, we’ve been looking at Colossians 1:21-23.  We saw what we were, we saw what Jesus did to change us, and today I want you to consider the evidence of that change as we seek to learn to pray and praise.  Verse 23, “…if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”  The moment you are saved God justifies you…He declares you not guilty and He declares you righteous with the righteousness of Christ, but the salvation that saves us continues to save us…that is, God makes us holy and like Him through His indwelling Spirit.
We shouldn’t just profess faith…we should possess faith.  Faith makes us “stable and steadfast.”  It settles us and grounds us in hope.  When you doubt come to this passage and ask God to move in you…ask Him to help you continue in the faith and to make you stable and steadfast.”
Faith roots us in the Gospel and bears fruit.  What God starts in our salvation is continued until Jesus takes us home and glorifies us.  Ask the Spirit to help you to stay steadfast and not shift from the hope of the Gospel.
My good friend Ryan Whitley shared three questions that I think would be good for us to use and to meditate upon as we look at our own salvation.
1) Do I hate my sin?  Ask God to help you see sin as He sees it.
2) Do I have new passions?  Ask God to move in your heart and help you love what He loves.
3) Do I hunger for holiness?  Ask God to give you a hunger for Him and to help you obey His command to be holy because He is holy!