Expressing the Truth
Colossians 1:21 – 2:7
In order to express the truth of our life in Christ, we must realize:
What we were (v. 21). Verse 21 explains our former spiritual state. Paul used three words to describe our condition before coming to Christ: alienated, hostile, and evil. We were alienated and hostile in our minds and evil in our deeds. The word alienated means to be separated from God or to be cut off. Those who are lost and living in sin have no fellowship with God. They are estranged from Him. However, we were not only estranged from God. The word translated hostile means we were the enemies of God. As a result of this state of alienation and hostility toward God, we engaged in wicked actions. We sinned against God. Our deeds were evil or wicked because they did not meet God’s standard for what is right in His sight.
What we are (v. 22). We are now reconciled to God. First Peter 3:18 states, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” The separation and estrangement between God and us was healed through the physical death of Jesus on the Cross. Christ died as our substitute. Our sins were transferred to Christ and God looked at our sins as if they belonged to Christ. Christ paid the penalty for our sins. As a result, Christ brought us to God. Those who were once not welcome are now in His presence. We may not be allowed into the Queen of England’s presence or into the President’s presence, but we have full access to God. This is the only way of salvation.
Paul used three words to describe the result of our reconciliation to God: holy, faultless, and blameless. Let’s look at the word holy. Holiness is a separation of all that is sinful. As a result of the righteousness of Christ being applied to believers, God now considers Christians to be as holy as Jesus Christ. We are now holy before God. That means that when He looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ. Consider the word faultless. The word faultless means to be without blemish. The word blameless means to be beyond reproach.
The big “if” (v. 23). The event of reconciliation to God and resulting holiness is conditioned on a genuine faith in Jesus Christ to begin with. Without faith in Christ, reconciliation with God cannot take place. What is the evidence that one has true, genuine saving faith? Perseverance. Those who are saved will be “grounded” and “steadfast in the faith.”
Proclaim it (v. 23). This is good news worthy of proclamation. Paul proclaimed this good news to all. God shows no partiality. All may be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Melton– Lessons by Frankie Melton, pastor of Heath Springs Baptist Church, Heath Springs. He has a B.A. degree from Charleston Southern University, and a Ph.D. and M.Div. from Southern Seminary.