Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
Colossians 1.21-23a
Yesterday we focused on reconciliation and it is here again today as the context shows why it is so important.
Simply and bluntly, with no beating about the bush we were, in our natural state alienated from God as were Adam and Eve as they were driven from the Garden with no way of return.
But now…….. what a thrill of expectation these word should generate!
But now God has reconciled us to himself through the sacrificial death of his Son – The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
But it is more than reconciliation for in the act we are changed. Presented before God as holy, unblemished and free from accusation.
Holy meaning that we can stand in the presence of the Holy God without being destroyed!
Without blemish meaning that we are accepted and fit for the master’s use. The book of Leviticus makes it very clear that those animals offered to God to atone for sin had to be perfect and that anything or anyone unclean had to be removed from the assembly of God’s people.
Free of accusation meaning that the devil, the evil one has nothing on us! As Paul writes in Romans 8. 33 ‘Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?’ the demonstrating that no one can!
Here however in Colossians there is a condition attached – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel
In the light of the blessings listed that is surely not an onerous condition but such is the nature of our old selves, while we still wait the final destruction of sin and evil at the return of Jesus Christ , we cannot rely on our own strength and ability to continue. Rather we must ask for his strength, which he will freely give, to bring us to glory.
Thank him this day for the blessings you have received and ask him to bring you to glory. It is a prayer he will undoubtedly answer for he has promised that of his none will ever perish , and that no-one can snatch them out of his hand.
(John 10.28)