We are Pure Because we are Reconiled

Intro

Exegesis

Verse 21

Colossians 1:21 NIV

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

Paul reveals a difficult truth in this verse. Not only were we once alienated (seperated) from God; we were his enemies. We were opposed to what God wanted. This is a difficult truth for many to accept. People tend to think that God will be “cool” with them, as long as they are mostly good people. However, Scripture is clear. If you are not in a relationship with God, you are an enemy of God. You must choose a side. You’re either with God or against him.

Now, before you get on your high horse, remember that Paul is not talking to non-believers right now. He’s talking to Christians. He’s saying, you used to be God’s enemy!

Here’s where things get a little technical. The NIV, the translation I’m using, says that we were enemies BECAUSE OF our evil behavior. However, I don’t think this is an accurate translation. Because of technical Greek mumbo jumbo, the case of these words in the Greek make me agree more with how some other translations render this verse. The NET says this:

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 1

21 And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds

Our actions don’t just cause our separation from God, they reveal it. We express our separation from God through our actions. The distinguishing mark of the unsaved is their behavior. A good example of this is the great king Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. A lot happens with him. He goes through a long journey before he finally submits to God. After conquering Jerusalem, he brings a bunch of strong, good-looking, intelligent Jewish men into his castle to become his servants. A few of these men stood out among the others. They didn’t eat what the others ate, didn’t do what they others did, and ended up being much smarter, stronger, and better looking than all the others. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were renamed by the chief as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

One day, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He brought in many of the wise men of Babylon to interpret the dream. He demanded that they interpret the dream without him telling them what the dream was. No one was able to do it except Daniel, because him and his friends prayed for God to reveal it to them. After hearing the interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar venerated Daniel and said, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries.”

Sounds to me like Nebuchadnezzar was submitting to God now, right? Well, he then constructed a 90 feet golden statue for people to worship. If anyone refused to worship they were thrown in a fire. His real relationship with God was revealed by his actions.

Well, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel’s friends) refused to worship the statue. Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown in the fire and, as you all probably know already, they did not burn up. God sent an angel, or perhaps Jesus himself, to sit in the fire with them. Nebuchadnezzar called them out of the fire and, amazed at the fact their God protected them, issued a decree that stated that if anyone disrespected their God, they would be tortured, killed, and their house would be demolished.

Again, sounds like Nebuchadnezzar has come to his senses. However, as before, his actions showed differently. After being told by God in a dream that if he didn’t straighten up his act, he would lose his kingdom, he said to himself, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have buit to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?” His pride clouded his judgement and he was stuck with insanity and he lived in the woods eating grass like a cow. Finally, he realized the error in his ways and repented.

As you can see, his life was full of “moments with God” that may have looked like turning points for him, however he kept revealing his true relationship with God through his actions. He is the perfect example of Colossians 1:21, because although he claimed to be “cool with God,” he revealed his alienation from and opposition to God by his actions. You were once like that. You may even be like that now. Claiming to be a follower of Christ, yet revealing your alienation from and opposition to God through your actions.

But, our hope is not lost. Paul continues with a beautiful truth, The Gospel. He says:

Verse 22

Colossians 1:22 NIV

22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

Here, we see Paul claim the opposite of the previous verse. It’s like his flipping the script. He says in verse 21 that we were enemies and we showed this by our actions. Here in verse 22, he says that we are reconciled with God and are shown as holy and clean. Just like we revealed our opposition to God with our actions, we now reveal our relationship with God with our actions.

Verse 23

Colossians 1:23 NIV

23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.