Colossians 1:21-23 reminds us of several powerful truths, and these truths have tremendous implications to our lives.<\/p>\n
21<\/strong> And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged <\/em> in evil deeds, 22<\/strong> yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach– 23<\/strong> if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Truth #1:\u00a0 There was a time when we were God\u2019s enemies (v. 21)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Our present condition was not good.\u00a0 We were estranged from God and enemies against God due to our evil deeds.\u00a0 It can sometimes be hard to think of everyone as an enemy of God.<\/p>\n
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- The little baby in the crib<\/li>\n
- The 4 yr old who functions in the world through selfish motives<\/li>\n
- The 15 yr old who tries to be kind and friendly, but whose works really are \u201cfilthy rags\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This verse is so universal and so powerful because it draws all of us to the cross and then to the importance of sharing the gospel of Christ.\u00a0 The people who live in your home, who you see at work, who you know from your neighborhood, who do not know Christ–are enemies of God even if they are good people.\u00a0 Being a socially \u201cnice\u201d guy never takes the place of the cross.\u00a0 Who is it in your circle of influence that needs to hear the gospel?<\/em><\/p>\n
Truth #2:\u00a0 Jesus reconciled us through His death<\/strong><\/h2>\n
I love the little words \u201cbut now.\u201d\u00a0 It is a reminder that for all those who know Christ things are different.\u00a0 We have been reconciled.\u00a0 To be reconciled means to be put into a right relationship.\u00a0 Our relationship with God used to be described with words like \u201cenemy\u201d and \u201cestranged\u201d but now we are \u201csons,\u201d \u201cheirs,\u201d \u201cchildren,\u201d and \u201cfriends.\u201d\u00a0 Ponder with me just for a few moments the reality that you are a child of God adopted into his family with full rights.<\/p>\n
The truth of reconciliation gets even more amazing when we see what it took to make it possible.\u00a0 Jesus reconciled us through his death.<\/em><\/strong> Wouldn\u2019t it be simpler if he just declared us reconciled?\u00a0 After all, he spoke the world into existence.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t it be simpler if he could just set a good example by living a perfect life?\u00a0 Simpler maybe \u2026 but not sufficient.\u00a0 The wrath of God needed to be appeased, and that only came from the death of Jesus.<\/p>\n
Isn\u2019t Christ\u2019s ministry of reconciliation worth sharing?\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it such good news that everyone should hear it?<\/p>\n
Truth #3:\u00a0 We were reconciled that we might be holy, blameless, and above reproach<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Jesus did not reconcile us so that we might feel valuable, so that we might feel good, so that we could live this life with confidence, or so that we might have purpose.\u00a0 Jesus reconciled us so that we would fulfill the mission God gave mankind from the very beginning:\u00a0 to represent him.\u00a0 He wants us holy, blameless, and above reproach.\u00a0 In other words, God wants us like him!<\/p>\n
Here are three simple steps you can take in order to grow to be more holy.<\/p>\n
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- Get rid of influences in your life that take away from your Christianity<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 This would include things like TV, internet use, and hours upon hours of hobbies.\u00a0 Scripture makes it clear that where your treasure is there your heart will be also.\u00a0 Either you love Christ for making reconcilation possible and you are taking steps to grow, or you are greatly devaluing the work of Jesus.<\/li>\n
- Seek to change one pattern of sinfulness<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 Maybe you struggle with anger, maybe you struggle with communication, or maybe you are struggling loving others.\u00a0 Whatever your struggle, seek this week to change one pattern of sinfulness.<\/li>\n
- Invest in your church<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Serving can be a wonderful \u201cperspective giving\u201d exercise.\u00a0 Serving people helps us remember our primary tasks.\u00a0 People who don\u2019t serve long enough will normally find several things to fuss about.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Truth #4:\u00a0 If you are struggling in your growth it is important to ensure you are genuinely saved.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Verse 23 provides a bit of a warning \u2013 becoming holy, blameless, and above reproach is not an option.\u00a0 God is in the business of making all of his children like him.\u00a0 Therefore, when one is really struggling, at least one question (not the only one of course) that is helpful to ask is whether he has ever truly come to Christ.\u00a0 If this is you, I want to encourage you to repent of your sin and trust Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.<\/p>\n