Col. 1:21-23 - Reconciled in Christ

Reconciled in Him

Vs. 21 - And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,

- Verses 21 & 22 are an expanded explanation of verse 20 (In which ‘He reconciles all things’). Verses 21 & 22 are a pretty decent definition of 'reconciliation'. Note: vs. 21 is a good definition of an enemy, especially an enemy of God and Christ (see Eph. 2:2,3). These verses present a simple equation: we were alienated (enemies); He has reconciled us (turned us into friends).
Evil deeds are not the reason for us being enemies of the Holy God. They are the symptom. 'Actions speak louder than words' is a good representation in that our deeds show what our nature is.

Vs. 22 - yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--

- see: "God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8; Rom. 5:14-21.

- "in order to" - Now we will see the purpose, or reason for Christ's sacrifice. His death on the cross was so we may be presented 'holy and blameless and beyond reproach' (See: Jude 23, 24). Since 'God is light, and there is no darkness in Him' (1 John 1:5) we can have no darkness at all in us to be in His presence (see: Eph. 1:4, 5:27).
Only if we are as pure as Christ can we be with God. Think about that for a bit. Are you perfectly pure? If you say, "Yes" you are deluding yourself into thinking you are much, much better than you really are.
Now we need to behave differently. Go back to chapter 1:9-12 - see the list of characteristics: filled with knowledge, get wisdom and understanding, strengthened, walk worthy, please Him, bear fruit, steadfastness (endurance), and patience.
Christ's sacrifice HAD to be physical as well as spiritual. Sin came into the human race by a physical and spiritual actions - Adam and Eve decided to disobey, and did disobey - both spiritual and physical rebellion. We believe they were led by Satan, the original rebel. He lusted to be equal to God. We cannot see any direct evidence of that rebellion. We see 'circumstantial evidence' - sin in the world, a decaying and destructive world. The sin was a physical sin, the restitution, reconciliation must also be physical. Just as we must physically acknowledge Christ as Savior before men (see Rom. 10:9-10).

Why confess Jesus? (Other than the command...) If you and I merely think about Jesus, and make a mental acceptance, then it is easy for us to 'conveniently' dis-acknowledge our belief ("I really didn't accept Him as Savior..."). If we confess Him out loud, before witnesses, it is much more difficult to change our minds about our commitment. We can be held accountable by our fellow man. It is easier to rationalize misbehavior when it is only in our mind. To have it out in public, a renouncing, takes a major step.

Vs. 23 - if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

- I do not believe this verse deals with loss of salvation, but instead deals with loss of fellowship due to sin and wavering. It is speaking of a Christian who does not appropriate the cleansing qualities available to him through the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:9). See also: 1 Cor. 3:11-15.
At the judgement seat of Christ each Christian will be presented to Christ, purged of unconfessed sin and then presented pure and blameless to to the Father. Loss of faith and loss of hope, as a result of straying from the true gospel tends to break us down. We no longer live boldly for Christ, but blunder as if in darkness. If you do not remain faithful, then you will break away, to live and act as if not reconciled. We must live differently than when we were unsaved.

Col. 1:13-14 - Forgiveness in Christ

Vs. 13 - For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, -

"He has rescued us" - The Father has taken us out of Satan's rule and into His kingdom, into Christ's kingdom (John 18:36). Too often we stand up and look around us and think, "We are the masters of our domains, we are the rulers of our space." We don't know how helpless we really are. The power of the spirit beings, whether Satan's demons or the Father's angels is so much more vast than ours. There only two forces in control of the world, God in heaven, and Satan on earth.
- We know that Satan's rule is temporary at the mercy of God. God is not forced to let Satan be the power of darkness. (Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
- But do not lose heart. We are not expected to stand against Satan on our own. That is silly. It would be no contest. The gap between us and Satan is greater than that between a high school football and an NFL team, or high school basketball team and an NBA team. Remember how the "Dream Team" breezed through the Olympics a few years ago. Professional All-Stars versus amateurs or semi-pro players. The Dream Team toyed with the other teams - it was no contest. It is far worse for us versus Satan.
- Luckily, we are not on our own. We have Christ. Acts 26:18 - (Jesus prayed in the following: 'open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.') We have a helper. Jesus promised the Spirit of God would be in them and with them. (See: John 14:17, 26; 16:13, 15) He told His disciples there were things they could not accomplish until they had the Holy Spirit living in them. (John 7:39)
I think that we sometimes misunderstand the concept of 'Helper'. When we're working on task, and someone comes along and puts their 'should to the wheel' along side, that is a helper. Living the Christian life, maturing in our faith is not a matter of us doing it with a little boost from God. Paul says this so clearly in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Salvation is all Christ. Living for Christ is surrender to Him, and Him living in and through us. It is all Christ.

Vs. 14 - in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -

"In whom..." - This means Christ, His beloved Son. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." (Jn. 14:6). See also Acts 4:12, 10:43, Eph. 1:7,8, Rom. 3:24, 1 Cor. 1:30, Heb. 9:15.

"The forgiveness of sins" - a definition of redemption. Forgiveness is at the heart of the meaning of 'redemption'. We were bought (redeemed) by Christ's sacrifice of His blood (1 Pet. 2:24). It is a utilitarian purchase; we were slaves of sins - Christ bought us with His blood to be slaves to Him (Phil. 1:1; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:22-25)

"redemption" - When I was a child my parents would purchase items at stores that issued 'Green Stamps". The stamps were pasted into Green Stamp Books. We received a catalog from the Green Stamp company - items such as table lamps, small kitchen appliances, etc., could be 'puchased' by redeeming books of stamps. Today, we have credit cards that 'give back' a percentage of the purchase price. That "reward" can be redeemed for stuff or airline tickets.
- This analogy is weak in that It doesn't quite fit our salvation. In the first case, you and I have spent money for an item, and receive a "gift" to be able purchase another item. In the second - Jesus, Paul and the other apostles were very clear about this one thing: you and I can do nothing, can pay no price, can never meet the price required to redeem out souls, our lives. We cannot say, "I had a part of this salvation!" God Himself paid the price in full. (See: 1 Pet. 3:18, Rom. 6:10.) Our sin nature creates a chasm we cannot bridge. God has provided the bridge to eternal life - the cross on which Christ was crucified. We have been redeemed by His sacrifice, purchased by His blood. The gift of salvation has been supplied by the mercy and love of God. We are now His children - not enemies, not just good friends, but heirs of the kingdom. Praise God! We are no longer owned by a hostile power. We have been slaves to sin.

Col. 1:9-12 - Knowledge of Christ, Power will bring growth

Vs. 9 - For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, -

- Paul prayed that the Colossians would not only know God's will, but would also have wisdom and understanding. In other words, they need to find out what the Lord has planned for them - knowledge. They need to know what to do about that information - wisdom and understanding. The process of growth in the Christian life is to be worthy of the Lord.
- Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are concepts which come up often in the wisdom literature of the Bible (Proverbs, Ecclestaties, etc.). Some basic ideas of these words point to "facts" - knowledge, and how to "use" those facts - wisdom and understanding. Sometimes wisdom and understanding appear to be synonymous, however I think that wisdom has to do with correctly using the facts or knowledge you get. Understanding is knowing when to apply the wisdom you have gained.

Walk worthy

- The next few verses (10-12) tells of Paul's prayers for them.

Vs. 10 - so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

- "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" - (see also: Eph. 2:10, 4:1, 1 Thess. 2:12). We must always conduct ourselves so as to be a good mirror of Christ. It is in us, through us the world views Christ. Either the world sees a distorted, warped ugly Christ (because of our gross conduct), or it sees Christ clearly and for what He is. Also, if the world gets the wrong conception of Christ, there is no way that it will turn to Him as the Savior of mankind, because the world will not see the Christ.

- "and To please Him in all respects" - a further definition of the worthy walk, as the next phrase further defines the way we can please Him in all respects. We are to "bear fruit in every good work." I do not think "bearing fruit" means to win souls to Christ alone (although it clearly can mean that) - that in itself is a good work. I believe the fruit is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22,23) in every thing we do. Also we are to grow in our personal knowledge of God. This is to be more than head knowledge, book learning, or studied knowledge, but to be an intuitive knowledge gained by personal involvement and relationship with Him (John 8:55).

Strengthened with all Power

Vs. 11 - strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

- This is a continuation of the explanation of the worthy walk. This power is the living force behind the walk (Eph. 1:19,20). Without this power, there is no worthy walk. When we are filled with the knowledge of God's will, at the same time we can appropriate His power.

- "Steadfastness and patience" - the result of being filled with His power. Endurance in the faith and patience in all things and with all others is the key to a quiet spirit.

- Paul wants them to know he has more in mind for them as believers. He was an evangelist, but his motive was more than just 'getting them saved'. He wants them to grow in grace and faith in the Lord. Paul's desire for them is spelled out in these verses, and can be summarized as follows:

1. being filled with the knowledge of God's will
2. an understanding of Him and what he has in store for us
3. the blessing we receive by obedience
4. we can be, and are filled with joy

Paul knew that salvation in Christ meant eternal life, and so much more. He wanted them to experience the abundant life Jesus promised (see John 10:10).

Qualified

Vs. 12 - (Joyously) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Note: I think "joyously" should be added to the beginning of verse 12. (However, since I didn't come up with the verse structure, joyously remains in verse 11) (See 1 Thess. 5:18).
- Again, more information, more instruction about the worthy walk. We can joyously give thanks to the Father for strengthening us, for providing steadfastness and patience.

- "the Father, who has qualified us..." In GNMM (Good News for Modern Man) it reads "the Father who has made you fit..." (John 3:3, Titus 3:5 - spiritual regeneration). As sinful man we cannot have a personal relationship with Christ, or God. But the Father has seen to it, that by becoming a new creature (2 Cor 5:17), by the death of the old man (Rom. 6:6) we are fit to be in eternity with Him.

- "to share in the inheritance of the saints in light..." The inheritance is life eternal. Each of us get full rights, and we will be there with other sons of God. We will be in light because "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:4). See also Acts 26:18; 1 Thess 5:5; John 8:12.

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