Colossians Refutes “Eternal Security” & “Faith Alone”

Feb 13, 2026

Colossians is addressed “to the sanctified and faithful brothers” (Colossians 1:2) who have been “delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son” (1:12-13). Colossians 2:11-12 describes them as “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through the faith”. Obviously, therefore, it’s addressed to justified Christians. Yet, in Colossians 1:23 St. Paul teaches that their salvation is not guaranteed. It’s conditioned upon their perseverance in the faith.

Colossians 1:21-23- “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…”

If St. Paul were teaching “eternal security” or “once saved always saved”, he would not teach (as he does above) that justified Christians might not attain salvation. In Colossians 3 he also warns them that grave sins bring the wrath of God. But upon whom or what will the wrath of God fall for such sins? Certainly he means that the wrath of God will come upon the believers if they commit such sins. This further indicates that their salvation can be lost for such acts, which contradicts both “faith alone” and “once saved always saved”.

Colossians 3:5-6- “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”