For the past couple of weeks we have been looking at a passage in Colossians that talks about Christ. This passage says a lot about who Christ is and what he’s done - but it also says a lot about us. The goal of this series has been to give us a new resolve - new convictions that should change the outcome or the actions of our life. If you feel defeated, then you act defeated, right? If you feel abandoned, then you will act insecurely and feel as if no one loves you, right?
Last week we ended by talking about how God has made peace with us through the work of Christ on the cross. The blood of Jesus covers our sin and we are made right with God - Paul continues in this line of thought in todays passage - READ Colossians 1:21-22
He gets very specific, and he says this work that Christ did - it applies to you! You once were far off from God. You once were enemies. You were separated from him by your thoughts and your actions - but God didn’t want to leave it that way...
One of the take always that I get from this passage of scripture is that God made the first move. Do you ever fight with your spouse or a friend, and you get so angry. You want things to get better, but you are offended - so what do you do? You wait... You wait for them to come to you. The one who waits the longest has the power. The one who can hold out shows strength...
Imagine this. You and I were separated from God, and he made the move toward us. He chose to fix the relationship. He loved us so much that he wanted all barriers removed... We hear this other places in scripture too - Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” While we were sinners, separated by God, he sent Jesus.
We see it also in John 3:16, 17 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” Because of God’s love, he made a way. It wasn’t for judgement that Jesus came, but reconciliation...
You know that should be the way that you and I live our lives. God’s example to us is to always be the one with open arms. Imagine how our lives, and the lives of the people around us might be different, if we would open our arms first...
The act of reconciliation, what brings us a reunion with God is the work of Christ. Look at the passage again... His death is what allows for judgment to be waived. Because of Christ’s atonement for our sins, we now can be reunited with God... Listen to how Paul describes it: “...he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col. 1:22)
You once were separated from God, but because of Christ’s work on the Cross, you are now ushered into his presence... From “far away” to “right beside me” - close to me, in my presence... That should change the way that you think and act. That should change you, right?
Do you remember as a kid being on the playground and choosing teams? I do... I hated it. Anytime we chose teams, I really hated it because I was small as a kid. I almost always got picked last. I wasn’t last, but I was one of the kids that was chose right near the end. “Okay, I’ll take Charles, you take Billy, and we are done...” But something changed in second grade. In second grade I started playing baseball on the mustangs. We were a pretty good little baseball team - in fifth grade we won our city championship tournament - but you know... From then on, getting picked changed. Scott Wallace was typically one of the kids that did the choosing - and he was on my baseball team. From then on, whenever we chose teams, I was always chosen early... That was a new feeling for me... Do you get this - You were chosen. God says, I want you close to me. I want you in my presence. You are mine and you matter to me...
God’s holiness is one of his defining Characteristics. He is holy. He is blameless. He is perfect. He is set apart. He is unique - and in Christ we become holy like him.
We are also blameless - this is language from the Hebrew sacrificial system. Only the most perfect, spotless lamb or dove could be sacrificed - only it was worthy to be a sacrifice - all the other animals weren’t good enough for a holy God. What does Paul remind us we are in Romans 12:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
You and I are living sacrifices. We worship God by giving him our lives - by laying ourselves on the alter - but you say, I am not good enough. I am not worthy. I’ve done too much. My sin is too great. I am imperfect... Not in Christ. you’re not! In Christ, because of what he has done, you have been reconciled with God and now you stand in his presence Holy and blameless...
There’s one final image here too. It’s along the lines of “blame” and guilt. We’re all aware of the imagery Paul is using, right? It’s court room imagery. God is the judge and we have been found guilty. Our sin has separated us from him. But, Christ has paid the price for our sin. Christ died on the cross so that our sin could be erased, and we walk out of the court free. Innocent. blameless.
If you have trusted Christ, this passage is saying that there is no one to accuse you anymore. Satan will try and say, “look at you, you are nothing. Look at you, you are a sinner.” Because of what Christ did, “your sin is no more.” God is not your accuser. Jesus is not your accuser. Satan is not your accuser. You have ben set free...and you are free indeed... You have been shackled by sin and guilt, but now because of Christ. You are free...
