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Colossians 1:22 states that through the Death of Jesus we can be presented holy and unblamable and unreprovable to God Father. Jesus' blood has washed us and He keeps us safe.
Colossians 1:23 IF WE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH grounded and settled and not moved away from the HOPE OF THE GOSPEL.
Which everyone has heard and which was preached by Paul.
We will be saved IF WE CONTINUE in the faith.
And what is our faith?
It must certainly be what Jesus taught.
Paul himself says that Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us for lawless deeds and PURIFY for Himself a people for His own possession, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God created us for good works in Christ Jesus.
If we read Philippians 3:9-14 Paul is saying that we do not have a righteousness of our own, derived ONLY from works, THE LAW, But we have righteousness through faith in Christ.
This does not abolish the Law...Mathew 5:17. It does give us a new way to follow it and to make our work count for something since it is for God that we work and not for man.
In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul says that he feels he has not yet attained the prize for which he works. But he presses on that he may lay hold of it. He says that he does not have the prize YET.
Though we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus, we are STILL expected to do good works. This faith of ours does not exhonorate us from good works.
Romans 12:6-20 is packed with those works we are to do.
Romans 12:6-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, [a]according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with [c]liberality; he who [d]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [e]give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the [f]saints, [g]practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute [h]you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. [j]Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [k]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
