COLOSSIANS 1: 21-23. NKJV. SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2021

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (22) in the Body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight – (23) if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, for which I, Paul, became a minister

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul – the theme of our verses is reconciliation. He never visited Colosse but Paul is confirming the doctrine they received. He returns to the past to remind the Colossians of what they were in contrast to what they are now in faith in Christ. They were strangers to the covenant of promise; without hope and without God in this world. He writes of this estrangement to show that God’s mighty action in His plan of redemption in Christ means one day we will be presented holy to God.
In verse 23 Paul explores the truth of the believer’s eternal security – the truth of our profession of faith. Paul is countering the false teachers/Judaizers who taught false doctrine corrupting the gospel. His point was to examine the foundation of our faith – to test it. Some who said they believed the gospel were in danger of forgetting the message, proving they never really believed the truth of Christ in their hearts. Some of these unfortunates will endure for a time but soon forget the claims of the gospel. Paul is not saying who of the Colossians was reborn in faith – he had confidence that most of them were – but he wrote to stir up the conscience of any who were drifting. A readiness to adopt new and fanciful systems was a cause for grave concern.
The faithful are in this world are now fighting sin which has not been eradicated in our lives. We are not yet free from temptation; sow a thought and reap an action – sow an action and reap a habit – sow the habit and reap a destiny. In faith in Christ we are reconciled with God which is something man could never do – or in his sinful nature would not want to do. In faith He will bear you up on eagles wings – bear you on the breath of dawn – and make you to shine like the stars – and hold you in the palm of His hand.

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