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, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

 

God is at work in this world and specifically in the lives of every believer.  Because of our lost condition, we could not save ourselves.  Were it not for God’s work, everyone would be lost and under eternal condemnation.  This passage is the testimony of every believer.  It reveals who we were, what God has done about it, and who we have become.

 

SIN’S WORK AGAINST US: Because of the sin nature with which we were born, every person starts life in a precarious position.  We were alienated from God.  Our sin separates us from God because of His perfect holiness.  We were condemned to spend eternity separated from and without access to God.  We were hostile in our minds.  We were not born as innocent people at peace with God.  Our hearts and mind were hostile towards God or at war with Him.  Rebellion and rejection are the attitudes that best described our mindset towards God.  We practiced evil deeds.  Since we were separated from God and at war with Him, it is only logical that our actions will be sinful.  Even our “good deeds” were often motivated by self-interest and self-promotion as opposed to the glory and worship of God.  Those who practice sin and are at war with God can only expect to be alienated, separated from, and condemned by God.

 

GOD’S WORK FOR US: Because of God’s great and amazing grace, He did not leave us in. our sinful condition.  Through the death of Christ on the cross, He has made a way to reconcile us with Him.  We have the promise of living in His presence for eternity and enjoy a relationship with Him today that will expand and grow close forevermore.  Instead of being separated from Him; we are now holy or separated for Him.  We are blameless before Him because Christ took all our blame upon Himself.  Our deeds are now considered to be above reproach or without impurity right down to the motivations of our hearts.  None of us feel this way right now.  However, this is the work of God for us that will be our eternal reality and is our eternal hope.  This is the promise of salvation.

 

GOD’S WORK IN US: God’s work for us is made possible by His work that is accomplished in us.  The only prerequisite for salvation is faith alone in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  Faith is not a work that we accomplish in order to earn our salvation.  Faith is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that causes us to turn from confidence in our own works or man-centered religion to trust only in Jesus.  The faith that God grants to us is not some passing whim.  It is something that is continuous in our lives, the result of which is stability and steadfastness.  Faith is not a temporary response to the work of God in us.  It provides a steady and secure hope that is based on the absolute truth of the Gospel.  The faith and hope we have are secure because they are the works of God in us.

 

GOD’S WORK THROUGH US: The only logical response of those who have been given such amazing gifts is to share them with others.  The message of the Gospel is to be spread to every person in every nation around the world.  God’s glory is revealed universally through the world He has created.  However, the message of the Gospel must be heard in order for salvation to occur.  This is why Paul and many others throughout the history of the church have dedicated themselves to ministering this Gospel to the nations.  This is the highest calling possible.  God equips us through gifts and expects us to use those abilities to spread the Good News of the Gospel to all nations. 

 

APPLICATION: Repent from the sin that infected our hearts and minds.  Trust in Christ alone to rescue us from our sin and make peace between us and God.  Be eternally grateful for being to live with hope.  Share the gift of the Gospel with those around us.  Dedicate ourselves and whatever work we do to make a contribution to the advancement of the Gospel to all nations.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and   dignified in every way.    This is good, and   it is pleasing in the sight of   God our Savior,   who desires   all people to be saved and   to come to   the knowledge of the truth.    For   there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is   the testimony given   at the proper time.    For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),   a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   Prayer is one of the greatest privileges believers have and it should be one of our greatest priorities.  Too often our lives are more often marked by complaining about our circumstances and our political leaders than by prayers for them.  The government in Paul’s day
Read more