From Alienation to Reconciliation: The Power of Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truths found in Colossians 1:21-23, which encapsulate the gospel in its essence. We began by acknowledging our initial state of alienation from God due to our sinful nature. Paul does not sugarcoat our condition; he describes us as enemies of God, highlighting the severity of our separation from Him. This alienation is not just a passive state but an active opposition to God, a reality that underscores our desperate need for reconciliation.
However, the narrative does not end in despair. The transformative power of reconciliation through Christ is vividly portrayed in verse 22. Through the physical body and death of Jesus, we are reconciled to God, moving from a state of enmity to one of holiness and blamelessness in His sight. This reconciliation is not merely a legal transaction but a profound change in our relationship with God, where we are no longer under accusation but are seen as holy.
The passage also emphasizes the importance of perseverance in faith. Paul reassures us that true faith, rooted in the genuine gospel, will endure. This perseverance is not about earning salvation but is evidence of the reconciliation we have received. It is a call to remain steadfast, grounded in the truth of the gospel, and to resist the sway of false teachings.
Finally, we are reminded of the personal nature of reconciliation. It is not just a cosmic event but an individual transformation. Each of us, once alienated, is now invited into a personal relationship with God through Christ. This reconciliation is a testament to the supremacy of Christ, who alone bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Reality of Alienation: Before reconciliation, we are alienated from God due to our sinful nature. This alienation is not just a passive state but an active opposition to God, highlighting our desperate need for His grace. Understanding this reality is crucial for appreciating the depth of reconciliation. [44:52]
2. The Power of Reconciliation: Through Christ's physical body and death, we are reconciled to God. This transformation moves us from being enemies to being holy and blameless in His sight. It is a profound change in our relationship with God, emphasizing the power of Christ's sacrifice. [48:32]
3. Perseverance in Faith: True faith, rooted in the genuine gospel, will endure. This perseverance is not about earning salvation but is evidence of the reconciliation we have received. It calls us to remain steadfast and grounded in the truth of the gospel. [51:08]
4. Personal Transformation: Reconciliation is not just a cosmic event but an individual transformation. Each of us, once alienated, is now invited into a personal relationship with God through Christ. This personal aspect of reconciliation underscores the intimate nature of our faith. [57:36]
5. The Supremacy of Christ: Jesus is the only one who can reconcile us to a holy God. His death on the cross is the key to our reconciliation, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This underscores the supremacy of Christ in our salvation. [01:06:42]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [44:52] - Introduction to Colossians
- [48:32] - The Reality of Alienation
- [49:54] - The Power of Reconciliation
- [51:08] - Perseverance in Faith
- [53:10] - Personal Transformation
- [57:36] - The Supremacy of Christ
- [01:02:46] - The Need for Reconciliation
- [01:04:49] - Hope in Christ
- [01:06:42] - The Cross as the Key
- [01:08:29] - The Moment of Salvation
- [01:10:04] - Living a Reconciled Life
- [01:11:45] - Proof of Reconciliation
- [01:12:53] - Perseverance Illustrated
- [01:14:11] - God's Unyielding Love
- [01:16:11] - Call to Reconciliation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Colossians 1:21-23
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he describes our initial state as being "alienated from God" and "enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior"? [44:52]
2. How does Paul describe the transformation that occurs through reconciliation in verse 22? [48:32]
3. What role does perseverance play in the life of a believer according to verse 23? [51:08]
4. How does Paul emphasize the personal nature of reconciliation in this passage? [57:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize the severity of our alienation from God before reconciliation? How does this understanding impact our view of grace? [44:52]
2. In what ways does the reconciliation through Christ's physical body and death change our relationship with God? [48:32]
3. How can perseverance in faith serve as evidence of genuine reconciliation with God? What might this perseverance look like in daily life? [51:08]
4. How does the personal transformation aspect of reconciliation challenge or encourage believers in their faith journey? [57:36]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt alienated from God. What steps did you take to seek reconciliation, and how did it change your relationship with Him? [44:52]
2. How can you actively remind yourself of the transformation from being an enemy to being holy and blameless in God's sight? What practices can help reinforce this identity? [48:32]
3. What are some false teachings or distractions that might sway your faith? How can you remain steadfast and grounded in the truth of the gospel? [51:08]
4. Consider your personal relationship with God. How does understanding reconciliation as an individual transformation affect your daily walk with Christ? [57:36]
5. In what ways can you acknowledge and celebrate the supremacy of Christ in your life, especially in moments of doubt or struggle? [01:06:42]
6. Identify an area in your life where you need to persevere in faith. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your perseverance? [51:08]
7. How can you share the message of reconciliation with someone who feels alienated from God? What personal experiences can you draw from to encourage them? [57:36]
Devotional
Day 1: The Depth of Our Alienation
Before reconciliation, humanity exists in a state of alienation from God, characterized by active opposition due to our sinful nature. This alienation is not merely a passive condition but an active enmity against God, highlighting the severity of our separation from Him. Understanding this reality is crucial for appreciating the depth of reconciliation. It is a stark reminder of our desperate need for God's grace and the transformative power of His love. Recognizing our alienation helps us to fully grasp the significance of being reconciled to God through Christ. [44:52]
Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced a sense of alienation from God in your life? How can acknowledging this alienation deepen your appreciation for His grace today?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Reconciliation
Through the physical body and death of Jesus, we are reconciled to God, moving from a state of enmity to one of holiness and blamelessness in His sight. This reconciliation is not merely a legal transaction but a profound change in our relationship with God, where we are no longer under accusation but are seen as holy. The power of Christ's sacrifice is transformative, changing our status before God and inviting us into a new life of holiness. This transformation is a testament to the power of Christ's sacrifice and the depth of God's love for us. [48:32]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: How has the reconciliation through Christ transformed your relationship with God? What steps can you take today to live out this transformation in your daily life?
Day 3: The Endurance of True Faith
True faith, rooted in the genuine gospel, will endure. This perseverance is not about earning salvation but is evidence of the reconciliation we have received. It calls us to remain steadfast and grounded in the truth of the gospel, resisting the sway of false teachings. Perseverance in faith is a testament to the authenticity of our relationship with God and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is a call to remain faithful, trusting in the promises of God and the truth of His word. [51:08]
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."
Reflection: What challenges do you face in remaining steadfast in your faith? How can you actively resist false teachings and stay grounded in the truth of the gospel today?
Day 4: The Personal Nature of Reconciliation
Reconciliation is not just a cosmic event but an individual transformation. Each of us, once alienated, is now invited into a personal relationship with God through Christ. This personal aspect of reconciliation underscores the intimate nature of our faith, where we are known and loved by God. It is a reminder that God's work in our lives is personal and transformative, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. This personal transformation is a testament to the love and grace of God, who desires to know us intimately and transform our lives. [57:36]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: How have you experienced the personal nature of reconciliation in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your personal relationship with God today?
Day 5: The Supremacy of Christ in Reconciliation
Jesus is the only one who can reconcile us to a holy God. His death on the cross is the key to our reconciliation, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This underscores the supremacy of Christ in our salvation, highlighting His unique role as the mediator between God and man. The supremacy of Christ is a reminder of the centrality of His work in our lives and the importance of placing our trust in Him alone for salvation. It is a call to recognize the significance of Christ's sacrifice and to live in light of His supremacy. [01:06:42]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: In what ways do you acknowledge the supremacy of Christ in your life? How can you live in a way that reflects His central role in your salvation today?
Quotes
But a couple days ago, I was preaching my sermon to my dog because she's the only one to listen to me. And when I was listening to her, this is what happened. I think Tyler's got a picture of her. So maybe there's a picture. There we go. She fell asleep. And Tom, if Chaz does this this morning, just reach down and rub his belly. He'll wake right up. Works on her. But, you know, so we don't want anybody falling asleep. So I cut that out this morning. But I'm excited today to share this passage with you in Colossians about Paul and how he talked about reconciling us to Christ. And we're going to answer the question, why did Christ die for us so we could be reconciled to him? These three verses are the gospel in a nutshell. And I'm so excited to be able to share these with you today. Verse 21 says this. It says, once you were alienated, you were born again. You were born again. You were born again. You were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. So right off the bat, Paul starts out by not playing favorites here. He just starts right out laying it on the line saying, hey, you have evil behavior, right? A couple weeks ago when we talked, he was complimenting them about how they were doing great and sharing the gospel. But now he's saying you were alienated because you were sinners. He reminds them that they were alienated from God based on the fact that they were born again. So he's saying, hey, you were born again. You were born again. You were that alienation means that they are separated from someone. And being alienated from someone is not a good place to be. Being alienated means that you have no relationship with that person, that you have no fellowship with that person. And he explains that they are alienated from God because, again, of their evil behavior. He pulls no punches. [00:45:00] (101 seconds)
So many times in our society today, we're used to, you know, people kind of glossing over, well, you know, you made a few bad choices or, you know, you just did the wrong thing. But Paul says, no, you had evil behavior. You were evil behavior. You had evil behavior. Well, the world wants us to see ourselves as basically good people that do some bad things from time to time. But my friends, the truth of the matter is all of us are sinners. All of us have sinned and all of us are alienated from God before we are reconciled to him. And so reconciliation is this place where we are in need for grace. We are in desperate need for forgiveness. And that grace is only available through the blood of Jesus Christ. [00:46:41] (39 seconds)
That means that they are completely separated. They are an act of opposition to him at this point. That's what he's saying here. Think about a country that the United States is an enemy of. And what that means is we want to destroy them, but they want to destroy us or we want to be completely separated from them. And that's where we were with God before we came, before we reconciled. We were actively opposed to Christ. But praise God, we don't stop with verse 21, right? Verse 21 paints a pretty grim picture of our condition before we come to Christ. But if we look at verse 22, read this with me. It says, but now, but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you wholly in his sight without blemish and free from accusation. Wow. [00:47:25] (53 seconds)
What a difference, my friends, between verse 21 and verse 22. Do you see the difference? We were once enemies, but now, but now we are in this place of freedom and forgiveness. I love those first two words. But now, but now, but now, Paul is saying, you were lost, you were desperate, you were hopeless, you were in a dire place. But now, say that with me, but now, but now, you have, things have changed. We have been reconciled. Paul says we have been reconciled through the physical body of Christ. Through his physical body. It's not a small price that had to be paid for you to be reconciled. [00:48:31] (42 seconds)
The very words of being reconciled here, we were lost, but we were found. We were blind, but now we can see we were enemies of Christ, but now we are in fellowship with him. Because of his reconciliation, Jesus had to die so that we could know forgiveness. He goes on to say that we aren't just forgiven, but we are made holy in his sight. Holy in his sight, my friends. Imagine what that looks like. And we're going to go a little bit deeper into that a little bit later on in the story. But we were holy in his sight. And just take a minute to grasp what that looks like. Going from being his enemy to now being made holy in his sight. And then it goes on to say that we were free from blemish and free from accusation. [00:49:59] (43 seconds)
The power of the reconciliation that we can know in Christ, it's so powerful. And Satan absolutely hates that. He hates that we can be free from blemish and free from shame. And be holy in his sight. He wants us to wallow around in this place where we're like, oh my goodness, I'm desperate. I'm lost. I can't do anything right. I just want to turn back to my sin. But my friends, let's start living the way. Let's start living the way and remind Satan in ourselves that we are no longer to live as enemies. But we are holy in his sight. [00:50:54] (35 seconds)
And the idea of the Christian life is that we must continue in our faith. That we must continue in our faith. That we are growing in our faith. We are moving forward. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is growing stronger. He used the word firm and rooted. And so here, guys, the idea is that these false teachings that come along, they won't sway. They won't lead us astray because our faith is firm in him. Our faith is firm in him. And Paul reminds them that they have indeed heard the true gospel from Epaphras and from others that proclaimed it. A false gospel can't do that. If they were listening to a false gospel, they could easily be swayed. But because they heard the true gospel, their faith is strong. Their faith is rooted deeply in him. [00:51:08] (45 seconds)
He doesn't say here that, you know, he preaches the gospel from time to time or when it's convenient to him or when it feels good. He says, It literally consumes everything that Paul does. Everything that Paul is. His passion, what wakes him up in the morning. And my friends, that's what the gospel should look like in our lives as we persevere in our faith. We should want to have that daily. We should be a servant to the gospel. [00:51:53] (27 seconds)
The first couple verses, verse 15, talked about how he's superior in his relationship with God. It talks about the sun is the very image of the invisible God. The next couple verses talked about, verses 15 through 17, they reminded us that everything in heaven and on earth was created in him and through him and for him. Then we talked about his supremacy, his relationship with the church in verses 18 through 20 declares that he is the head of the church. That the God reconciles all things to himself through Christ by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. And now as we dive into verse 15. Verses 21 through 23. We're going to look at a fourth way that Christ is supreme. And that is in his ability to reconcile us to God. Paul writes, and my friends, Jesus is the only one. Let me be clear about this. Jesus is the only one that can reconcile us to a holy God. Paul writes, once you were alienated from God you were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. [00:55:32] (61 seconds)
Paul here honors the great reconciler. Jesus is the great reconciler. Verse 20 said through him to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through his blood on the cross. And think about that. Jesus' death on the cross reconciled not just individuals but it's so powerful that his death on the cross reconciled all of creation back to him. The same Jesus that holds the universe in his hands. The same Jesus that is over all of creation. The same Jesus that is there and is the head of the church. He changes our hearts individually. [00:56:33] (40 seconds)
Romans 5 .10 tells us. For if while we were God's enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of his son. How much more having been reconciled shall we be saved through his son. life. At the end of the day, only Jesus can reconcile us back to a holy God. Colossians 1, 21 through 23 gives us a clear picture of what reconciliation looks like and how we can be reconciled to God. Today, we're going to talk about three different things. One, why we need to be reconciled, looking at what life was like before Christ. Second, how reconciliation happens, that moment when we come to Christ and we find forgiveness in him. And third, what reconciliation looks like in our lives, how we show it as we live our daily lives. So let's dive in. Why do we need reconciliation? [00:57:36] (50 seconds)
You know, a lot of people will wrestle with the idea of how a good God could send good people to heaven. But here's the truth, and I might step on your toes. I'm sorry if I do. Not really. There are no good people. There are no good people. R .C. Sproul put it perfectly when he was asked, why do bad things happen to bad people? His answer, because there are no good people. I don't know any. You don't know any. Some of you though, you may have a very powerful testimony of how you came to Christ, how you're reconciled to Christ. Maybe your life before Christ was a complete mess. Maybe you were involved in gambling or immorality or an alcoholic. Maybe you had this lifestyle that was completely opposed to God. And when you turned your life to Christ, it was as different as night is today. Like, you could see that reconciliation was done so beautifully. [00:58:29] (54 seconds)
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