He gained fame as Nixon’s hatchet man during the Watergate scandals. After he was saved, and after his sentence in prison was over, he established Prison Fellowship and became a best-selling author.
He has now gone to God’s presence, a testimony of God’s saving and transforming power.
“He has now gone to God’s presence, a testimony of God’s saving and transforming power.”
Indeed it is Dave. “A new creation in Christ”, where “all things are possible.”
He was a Soldier Of The Cross. He had true grit which was sanctified into a courageous godliness when he became a follower of Jesus.
I recommended his book entitled: “God & Government to Ryan Abernathy just recently. He will be greatly missed.
‘something’ changed the life of Charles Colson
from a man who famously once said he would ‘walk over his own grandmother’ to get his political ends accomplished
to a man who came out of prison,
and, instead of taking jobs offered that would have paid him a great deal of money,
decided that he wanted to serve people who had been “forgotten” in society.
I hope Charles Colson is remembered most for the good he tried to do for those in prison, those released from prison, and for their families.
I will remember him for this work, as someone who gave up wealth to serve those who had been ‘forgotten’. That is the kind of service is done out of love for Christ.
As DAVID said, Colson is now in ‘the presence of the Lord’, Who was recorded in the Gospel of St. Matthew as saying these words:
““ Come,
you that are blessed by My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food,
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed Me,
36 I was naked and you gave Me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of Me,
I was in prison and you visited Me.”
(from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 25)
He made it very clear what changed him – its no mystery and it was no new commitment to a social gospel.
He was changed when he repented of his sins and trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He did not start Prison Fellowship to attempt to win his salvation by works, but because he had experienced the grace of Jesus Christ and wanted others to receive the same grace he had received.
Salvation does not come through good works, through religion, or through personal reformation. Jesus changes the lives of those who repent and believe in him.
Colson made this clear in his book, “Born Again.” It might be a good book for you to read.
L’s,
Please don’t bring conflict to this post. It will not be well received so I beg you to stand down, just this once.
Colson was changed exactly as David Miller has stated. He recognized himself as a sinner before a just and righteous God, he repented, and believed the biblical gospel, being immediately born again, forgiven, changed, sealed, and now completely delivered into the presence of He who called at first and and now at last and made him His child forever— Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
As David Miller has stated and I gladly affirm, Colson’s salvation did not come through good works, through religion, or through personal reformation. It came by the wonderful grace of God wrought through the atoning work of Christ. Charles Colson was washed in the blood of the Lamb.
I thought Christiane’s tribute to Chuck Colson was beautiful. I didn’t see her implying anything about this getting Mr. Colson to heaven.
Very obviously, L’s comment was an attempt to suggest that he was saved by his “nicey-ness” and imply a works based salvation. Wouldn’t you be more helpful if you actually told L’s that she doesn’t believe the gospel and plead with her to repent of her sins and trust Christ to save her?
No Joe, I won’t.
She knows and I believe has done that very thing, but if not, nagging her isn’t going to get her into heaven either.
No she hasn’t. She believes mormons and muslims will be in heaven. She doesn’t believe the gospel.
Lying to her and telling her she does is the most unloving, hateful thing anyone can do.
Another thing is for sure, Charles Colson was more receptive and affirming of Catholic theology than most Southern Baptists. He believed that Catholics who were faithful to the official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church were indeed Christians. He was not one – as is so often done – to characterize Catholics as believing in some salvation through good works.
Aside from his prison ministry, I’d say his most important and long-lasting contribution is his efforts to bring Evangelicals and Catholics together. Relationships have been forged and attitudes have changed dramatically between these two groups in the last 20-30 years.
Colson played a role in that process. Colson helped get a dialogue going that has had a huge influence on American Christianity and will continue in the foreseeable future.
Big Daddy,
That being all true, you still would agree with us in the following would you not?
“As David Miller has stated and I gladly affirm, Colson’s salvation did not come through good works, through religion, or through personal reformation. It came by the wonderful grace of God wrought through the atoning work of Christ. Charles Colson was washed in the blood of the Lamb.”
“He was changed when he repented of his sins and trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He did not start Prison Fellowship to attempt to win his salvation by works, but because he had experienced the grace of Jesus Christ and wanted others to receive the same grace he had received.”
Yep. I disagreed with him on that.
But I still respected him.
Which part?
‘Chuck Colson Remembered’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_0mk16wNfs
I spent some time this evening trying to find a clip of Chuck Colson giving his testimony. I had the priviledge to sing ‘Alleluia, The Praise Continues” with Bill and Gloria Gatiher and Chuck gave his testimony during this beloved musical. I have the CD at home, but can’t figure out how to upload just that one part. If you love the music of Bill and Gloria Gaither and want to hear Chuck’s testimony it’s well worth the cost. You’ll be encouraged by the musical ministry of Sandi Patti, Mylong LeFevre, Russ Taff, Cynthia Clawson and others. I’ll keep looking to see if I can find a clip on YouTube or perhaps Vimeo.
Because HE Lives………………………..
Oh the Grace, Grace, Grace.
I Found it on a Yolanda Adams video. It’s exactly the same as the one I heard Chuck give.
BTW…. please excuse my typos. My fingers are ahead of my brain, yet again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsHNcZEKuY8
Well done, Chief Petty Officer Katie!
You really are a grand person. Thank you for posting Charles Colson’s testimony of Christ as his Savior and Lord. Truly it is Christ and Christ alone who makes men, women, boys, and girls free of the wrath to come.
Chuck Colson was a trophy of God’s grace and new creation. He never left the prisons and was an inspiration and example for all of us.
Dave, CB & Joe,
What part of the following can you guys not understand?
James 2:20
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Jake meets can…Jake opens can…Out of can springs forth thousands upon thousands of worms. Jake should not have opened can.
Oh Smus,
That can must be opened…..in order that belief may be multiplied and strengthened. It is time that these guys read other parts of GOD’S Holy Word……even if it hurts.
Jake,
What part of the following do you not get?
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In other words Jake, someone who says that people of other faiths will be saved without personally, consciously trusting Christ and repenting of their sins in this lifetime proclaims and believes a false gospel.
there are no ‘in other words’
when Christ speaks . . .
And Christ speaks only through the gospel. Anyone who does not repent of their sins and trust Christ to save them will not be saved, no matter how sincere their belief in islam is or how faithful a mormon they are.
Joe,
I have no problem with Scripture even that which disagrees with YOU! You see, I believe that Scripture is “infalliable”, in case you don’t understand……that means it cannot fail! Even that which contradicts.
Scripture is inerant. In other words, there are no errors. There are also no contradictions.
Joe,
Scripture in the “original autographs” is inerrant. Have you got one of the Apostles letters to one of the original churches? I thought not.
Colson was a great guy and will be missed.
I recently saw him interviewed on C-Span re: Watergate and he was super.
His testimony and life after he came to know Christ were inspiring.
He did much to influence Christians in the U.S. and the public dialogue regarding Christianity.
Even tributes stir up anger around here these days…
My prayers are with the Colson family and to all of the people who were blessed to call this man their friend. He is truly in a better place and though he may be gone from this world, his story of redemption remains as a testament to salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ and hope in a lost, dark world.