figured it out...the following code worked. Thank you Leith for all of your help. You are a life saver

  Dim filepath As String
    Dim Rng As Range
    Dim template_file As String

    Dim ws As Worksheet

    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("IAS")
  
    Dim i As Integer

    Dim intRowCount As Integer

    intRowCount = Range("D3").CurrentRegion.Rows.Count - 1

    For i = 4 To intRowCount
       template_file = Cells(i, 4).Value
       filepath = Cells(i, 5).Value
       Workbooks.Open Filename:=template_file
       ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=filepath _
       , FileFormat:=xlNormal, Password:="", WriteResPassword:="", _
       ReadOnlyRecommended:=False, CreateBackup:=False
       ActiveWorkbook.Close      
    Next i

End Sub