JESUS ABOVE ALL THE BLESSING OF RECONCILIATION Colossians 1:21-24 Last week’s message (talk about the Colossian’s heresy) Christology—the study of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Four major Christological passages: - Colossians 1:15-20 - John 1:1-18 - Hebrews 1:1-14 - Philippians 2:5-11 Colossians 1:21-24 Our need and God’s response: Colossians 1:21-22 Our need is because of our sin - We are separated from God because we have sinned in thought and actions. - Satan works in our mind and God (primarily) is interested in our heart. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 - Satan blinds the minds of the unbelieving. - God shines light in our hearts to give us knowledge. - We believe with our heart and are saved. (Rom. 10:9-10) - We guard our hearts for everything flows from it. (Prov. 4:23) - God guards our heart and mind against worry and anxiety. (Phil. 4:4-7) Evil actions will ultimately cost us greatly - we will pay here and in eternity if we are not reconciled to God. Pietro Bandinelli and Leonardo DaVinci (illus. of model for Christ and Judas Iscariot in Lord’s Supper painting) God responds because He is our Savior - God has reconciled us through Jesus’ death on the cross. - He took our sins upon himself in his physical body. 1 Peter 2:24 - God gives us a righteousness we could not have on our own. - Satan no longer has a basis for accusation against us. (Rom. 8:1) - God sees us as holy. (set apart) - God sees us as faultless. (without guilt) - God sees us as blameless. (beyond reproach) (past/present/future sins are covered by the blood of Jesus) Our response to being reconciled and God’s provision in this life: Colossians 1:23-24 - God calls us to respond to the hope of the Gospel that is being proclaimed. (v.23) - A response to the Gospel means that God will secure us. - God grounds us in the faith. - God makes us steadfast. - God keeps us from being shifted away from the hope of the Gospel. - The security we have is not conditional. - we must understand the “if” that is in verse 23. (if the Greek word for “if” is followed by a verb in the indicative mood it means that there is a definitive outcome) …if you continue in the faith (which you are sure to do)… - We will see this again in Colossians 3:1 - We see this in Phil. 2:1ff - God calls us to suffer with Him in the Gospel. (v. 24) - In response to the Gospel and being reconciled we should view our suffering in a different light. - We are to rejoice in our suffering: - We have opportunity to demonstrate trust and dependence upon God. We are completing what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings for his body—the Church. - Christ suffered for our sins. - That is done! Christ suffers with us because we are his body! (illus. of pain following recent surgery - ankle hurt - but whole body felt it, esp. the head!) ..see also Phil. 3:10 Next Step: - Focus this week on the blessings of reconciliation.