Hello Friends!
Welcome back! This week we’ll continue to work our way through the
powerful
book written by the Apostle Paul to the Colossians as we consider the PERSON and WORK of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “The Supremacy of Jesus
Christ!”
This
week we will begin our reading of verses 19-23
in chapter 1 as
we consider our Reconciliation IN Jesus
Christ…
Colossians:
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ! (Chapter 1:19-23)
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The particular term “reconcile” is derived from the verb to be
“reconciled” in the past tense and
thus “reconciliation” is the noun
form of which is a very IMPORTANT
term within Biblical Christianity! And when the Apostle Paul is writing in his
“epistles” to the Romans and the Corinthians
concerning “reconciliation,” the Greek
word – katallasso – is utilized. However, the Greek word for “reconciliation” found here in THIS epistle is apokatallasso having
greater INTENSITY going far BEYOND a mere kinship between two human
beings. Incidentally, whenever a preposition is added in front
of a Greek word it intensifies the meaning. Therefore, the word “reconciled” is used here SPECIFICALLY in speaking to the “doctrine” of “sinful”
man's restored RELATIONSHIP to our
thrice “Holy” God in terms of
complete RESTORATION through the PERSON and WORK
of “Jesus Christ” Himself – Completely RECONCILED to God!
Reconciled IN Jesus Christ!
As we learned in our last study, the Apostle Paul told us that we
find “Jesus Christ” in relation to GOD, the UNIVERSE, the UNSEEN
WORLD and His CHURCH body.
And now here in this passage we find “Jesus Christ” in
relation to EVERYTHING else!
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the
fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to
Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace
through the blood of His cross – Colossians 1:19-20
In
other words, just in case anything was left out… Absolutely EVERYTHING of God the “Father”
is found ONLY in “Jesus Christ” – God the “Son” – Himself! And “Jesus Christ” is
not only going to “reconcile” the REPENTANT lost “soul”
to Himself, He will also “reconcile”
the entire MATERIAL universe. WHY? Because His CREATION
is suffering
from a temporary “curse”
and one “Day” it will ALL be “reconciled”
back to Him. In fact, although mankind’s “disobedience”
and “sin” expressed through the “fall” ruined this present universe… EVERYTHING will be RECONCILED
back to Jesus Christ!
Incidentally,
the eternal “peace” found in the precious
“blood of His cross” has made it possible
for the “fullness” of God to “dwell” richly within “us”
as “believers” in “Jesus Christ” our
Lord – Saved BY His Blood!
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to
Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing
their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through
us: we implore you on Christ’s
behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him – 2
Corinthians 5:18-21
The
powers
of DEITY and the attributes of SOVEREIGNTY were not distributed
among a multitude of beings. They are ALONE
possessed by the “Only Begotten Son of God”
the “Father” and are ONLY
manifest in the PERSON and WORK of “Jesus Christ” the
GOD-Man!
And contrary
to what the Gnostic nay-saying “false teachers” were espousing, we do not
need “angels” or “other spirits” to help us get “saved” by God. WHY?
Because we are COMPLETE in “Jesus Christ” – ALONE!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Here in this epistle
to the Colossians we find that Paul
is also personally FIGHTING in a “theological” counter‑attack of which is being propagated by “false teachers” seeking to destroy
lost souls. These “wicked” men were confronting
the “church” at “Colossi”
by promoting the LIE that says it was NOT possible for a “sinful”
man to be “reconciled” to “God” through the shed “blood” of “Jesus
Christ” poured out on “His cross”
for those who “trust” in Him – WICKED!
Therefore,
Paul gets very specific concerning the “you”
in this “reconciliation” message of REDEMPTION in “Jesus Christ” Himself:
And you, who once were
alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and
above reproach in His sight – Colossians 1:21-22
The
living, breathing “reconciled” Christian “Colossians” were themselves evidence that
“Jesus Christ” through His SUBSTITUTIONARY atoning “death” and SACRAFICIAL
shed “blood” was SUFFICIENT enough to “reconcile” lost “sinners”
back TO God. It was “you”
who were once “alienated” from God and
found to be “enemies” in “your mind” to Him, of which was made EVIDENT by your “wicked
works” of the will. And yet, “you”
have been “reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death” and are NOW
found to be “holy” and “blameless” in God’s “sight”
forever as a “new creation”
in Him – Praise the Lord!
Therefore,
from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known
Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new
– 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
In
fact, when “we” become a “Christian” soldier, the Apostle John also
made this PROMISE pertaining to
God’s great “grace” to “reconcile” us IN
Him:
And of
his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace – John
1:16
Therefore,
when we became a “new creation” in “Jesus Christ” His “fullness” was “received” and He ALONE
becomes “ours” to behold – A GREAT truth!
Lastly,
Paul expresses the EVIDENCE of “reconciliation” in the life of the TRUE “believer”
in Jesus Christ:
if indeed you continue in the
faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the
gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of
which I, Paul, became a minister – Colossians 1:23
QUIZZING QUESTION: How can you DISCERN the TRUE
person who is “reconciled” to God through
the “gospel” message? In ONE
word – CONTINUE!
The
TRUE Biblical “Christians”
who are “grounded” and “steadfast” in “faith”
from God WILL “continue” IN
our Lord! And so Paul says to the “Colossians” that “Jesus
Christ” can “reconcile”
you to God. Therefore, “we”
must NOT fool around with “false teaching” hucksters! The “Gospel” they heard “preached”
is the SAME ONE that “saved” Paul. And the “message”
of which the “Apostles” of “Jesus Christ” were “ministers”
unto the lost, “we” too must “abide” and CONTINUE
on in “living” by – The ONLY Gospel!
They on
the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these
have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away – Luke 8:13
But there are some of you that
believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not,
and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man
can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time
many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him – John 6:64-66
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing – John 15:4-5
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall
ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue
ye in my love – John
15:8-9
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had
been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that
they might be made manifest that they were not all of us… Let that therefore
abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have
heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the
Son, and in the Father – 1 John
2:19 & 24
POINGNANT POINT: Paul also sternly WARNED the Galatians
of “false” and FATAL
“gospel” FACADES
of which damn souls:
But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed – Galatians 1:8-9
Therefore,
if ANYONE comes “preaching”
any “other Gospel” let them “be” forever – ACCURSED!
Finally… The “doctrine”
of “reconciliation” does NOT
end when you get “saved” by God – It becomes yours to SHARE with someone else!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give
US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith” that was signed,
sealed
and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints –
Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
In closing:
Concerning
the “gospel” of “Jesus Christ”
and His Godhead, the English theologian John Owen has well said:
“The revelation made of Christ, and the
blessed gospel is far more excellent, more glorious, more filled with rays of
divine wisdom and goodness than the whole creation, and the just comprehension
of it, if attainable, can contain or apprehend. Without the knowledge hereof,
the mind of man, however priding itself in other inventions and discoveries, is
wrapped up in darkness and confusion. This, therefore, deserves the severest of
our thoughts, the best of our meditations, our utmost diligence in
them. For if our future blessedness shall consist in living where He is
and beholding of His glory; what better preparation can there be for it, than
in a constant previous contemplation of that glory, in the revelation that is
made in the gospel unto this very end, that by a view of it, we may be
gradually transformed into the same glory.” ~ John Owen (1616–1683)
May
our PRACTICLE response
to the “reconciliation” we ENJOY through the ETERNAL
saving “hope” of “Jesus Christ” also echo the WONDERFUL
words of the Apostle Peter:
But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear – 1 Peter 3:15
Thanks be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 19-23 in the first chapter of
the excellent book to the Colossians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
