Lord Paid it All

Colossians 1:19-23

Colossians 1:19–23 “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 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— 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.”

Introduction

Colossae was 10 miles east of Laodicea, and Hierapolis was 6 miles past that. Epaphras planted this Church since Paul never visited the city himself. Paul is writing a letter of encouragement to prevent them from allowing mystical religion and Jewish teachings. Both were brought in philosophical teachings that hindered their growth and tried to discredit Jesus Christ.

We, like the Colossians, are grappling with the same challenges today. Our Church is under siege from mystical and philosophical ideologies that threaten the very bedrock of our faith. As believers, we must remain vigilant, just as Paul cautioned the Colossians. This warning is not just for them but for us, too, in our shared journey.

Have you ever had someone pay your entire bill when you went out to eat? How did that make you feel? How would paying one of your bills, or even your mortgage or rent for the month, make you feel? I would feel relief from the stress of that one bill. Would it make you feel like you should pay it forward? Not in a condemning way but out of gratitude. How should we think about Christ paying all our debt for us? Most people talk about a legacy, but legacies start with Christ first! If you want to leave a lasting legacy, it begins and ends with Christ being Lord of your life.

Paul reminds the Church in Colossae that we now live debt-free because Christ was our sacrificial atonement for our debt from sin. Paul gives us four ways in which his payment was made for us.

1. Lord paid it all so we can be reconciled with God.

2. The Lord paid it all so we would have peace.

3. The Lord paid it all so we could be presented to the Father.

4. The Lord paid it all so we could proclaim the Gospel.

The Lord Paid it so we can be reconciled with God.

What is reconciliation? Reconcile comes from the Greek word “ἀποκαταλλασσω,” which means “to make things right with one another.” It is used three times in this form in the New Testament, Ephesians 2:16, and in these passages here. The root of this word is “καταλλἀλλσσω,” which means “to overt hostility and restoration of original friendly relations.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,”

Everyone outside of repentance and faith in Christ is an enemy of God, Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Consider a courtroom where a guilty person is declared innocent and set free because a perfect substitute took their punishment. This is analogous to how Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, took our place and paid the penalty for our sins, granting us forgiveness and freedom.

1. Paul explains it was the Father’s good pleasure for the fullness to dwell in Christ, which offers reconciliation to all who call on His name. John 1:16 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

2. Without someone paying for our transgressions against God, we could not be in union with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:18 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,”

3. There was hostility between God and His people because of sin. The penalty had to be paid. Nobody could pay such a price except Christ Jesus, God in human form. Leviticus 26:23–24 “‘And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with hostility against you; and I, even I, will strike you seven times for your sins.”

Imagine a family torn apart by years of conflict and bitterness. Through the power of forgiveness and a reconciliation attitude, they come together, seeking healing and restoration. This personal example shows the transformative impact of choosing reconciliation over resentment.

The Lord paid it all so we could have peace.

How many of us woke up this morning and something happened? We are not fully awake, or maybe we were, but something just happened, and peace fled. The peace of the morning vanished without a trace. Now, you are looking at whatever the culprit has taken your peace. Think about that moment. Now, that peace you just lost is a fragment of the peace we lost when Adam and Eve sinned against God. From that moment, everything in the Universe has been out of whack. One does not have to wander far to see how unbalanced the world is. Turn on the news. Something needed to happen to tilt the scales back to peace. Someone had to say ‘sorry’ this morning to regain some of that peace. But with our relationship with God, there had to be payment for this peace.

Have you ever walked into your house and felt like something was wrong? Men, we walk in, and the wife is nippy towards us. We think to ourselves, “What have we done now?” We do what any good husband does and tiptoe to any area they are not occupying. We dare not say a word because the next breath might be the fire that consumes us. There is absolutely zero peace, and all the time, we are racking our brains trying to figure out how to restore the peace. Guess what? We walk into heaven; it will either be a hostile environment for those Christ does not know or a peaceful one. If it is hostile, you won’t be able to change it to calm. Only Christ can bring this peace here and now. There is no second chance once you die.

1. Peace comes from the Greek word “εἰρηνοποιεω,” meaning to make peace or to make things right. Ειρηνη root for peace, and ποιεω is to make. This word is only used here.

2. Peace, whether from the world or worldly things, is not peace. It might briefly make you feel at peace, but it will wear off. Eventually, it will captivate you, and you will spend more time chasing after it and less time being what God commanded and called you to. The family neglected friendship and even the Church family.

3. The peace that comes through the blood of Christ is everlasting. Will you face hardship? Yes, He never promised you a rose garden. But He promised He would be with you forever, Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

What peace are you chasing after? True peace, not as the world gives but as it comes from the Father. John 14:27 ““Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

The Lord paid it all so we could be presented to the Father.

Present (παρἰστημι) means to cause to be, to cause to serve as, to make something be. Make to stand or stand beside. Paul is explaining to the Colossians that the blood of Jesus was spilled for them, and His death was the penalty for their sins. They could not stand in front of a Righteous and Holy God apart from Christ. But once they became new in Him and through Him, He now presents us as Holy, Blameless, and beyond reproach before God the Father.

What does it mean to be Holy? (ἄγιος) (hagios) means set apart, consecrated, dedicated, saints, or devout.

1. What does it mean to be blameless? (ἄμωμος) without defect, blemish, spotless.

2. What does Paul mean Beyond Reproach? (ἀνἐγκλητος) without accusation.

3. There is no longer any condemnation in you. Romans 8:33–34 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

When I was in the Army, we had to present ourselves once a month in our Class A uniform. You took responsibility for your actions as a soldier when you presented yourself. How did everything have to be uniform in your Class A? Your rank was on your collar, so many inches off the tip. Ribbons had to be displayed correctly. The buckle had to be shined along with your shoes. It would be best if you had creases going down your pants, your shirt had to be starched, and facial hair and your hair had to be tidy. Any one of these could cost you points, and you could use leave because of this. Next, you had to present your room for inspection. Once again, everything had to be uniformly displayed. There was nobody who could help you or present themselves for you.

1. If we are presented through Christ’s sacrifice, why are we not teaching our children this lesson?

2. Why are we not living this way if we are Holy, Blameless, and Beyond Reproach?

Make it simple: stop living your old life and start living your new life. You can live this new life because Christ and His shed blood and death for each of us.

We are refugees from the sinking ship of this present world order, so soon to disappear; our hope is fixed in the eternal order, where the promises of God are made good to his people in perpetuity.

F. F. Bruce

The more seriously we take the future promise of God’s kingdom, the more unbearable will be the contradictions of that promise which we meet in the present.

Jürgen Moltmann

The Lord paid it all so we could proclaim the Gospel.

Paul warns them to continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, and not allow anyone to move them from the Hope of the Gospel. This Hope was proclaimed under all of heaven, so there will be no excuse for not believing. One of the scariest and sobering truths in the Bible is not all who profess to be Christians are saved! Matthew 7:22–23 ““Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

What does Paul mean proclaimed, in all creation under heaven? It means to announce or preach. To tell someone. We are to be a vessel that the Holy Spirit uses to share the Gospel. Do you want a legacy that will last forever? It is built upon Jesus Christ and His Truth! If this is not the thing that guides you, you are being misled by the liar of this world.

Could you imagine having the ability to share the blueprints of a building that is self-sufficient and can protect lives in it? Would you keep this to yourself? What if you had the technology that could detect cancer in everyone so their survival rate would exponentially increase? Would you keep this a secret? Why do we not share the blueprint of eternal life with people? How many of us are witnessing to our families, friends, or coworkers? Would fear keep you from running into a burning building to rescue them?

1. We are commanded to spread the Gospel. Matthew 28:19 ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

2. True Hope that comes from Christ is what this world needs.

3. What will you say when we are standing in heaven at the judgment and everybody you had an opportunity to share stands with you?

1. Paul tells us to speak the word of God without fear. Philippians 1:14 “and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

2. God did not give us a spirit of timidity. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

3. God has commanded us to be courageous and strong. Joshua 1:9 ““Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Application:

1. Legacy starts with the Lord. If we do not spend more of our day with the Lord, then we cannot get upset when the community God has placed us in is in despair.

2. We can share the peace we received with others to comfort them. God did not make this an individual body but a corporate body. Sharing is caring!

3. His precious blood has bought us to be Holy, Blameless, and Beyond Reproach; it is time we act like it.

4. We have the ability and the power to stand in the Gap for our families and to share the Gospel with them. Let us take our families back over with LOVE, TRUTH, and COMPASSION!

The more seriously we take the future promise of God’s kingdom, the more unbearable will be the contradictions of that promise which we meet in the present.

Jürgen Moltmann