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Thankful For The Cross | November 24, 2024

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by Randy White Ministries Sunday, Nov 24, 2024

Colossians 1:20-23 | Thankful For the Cross

The Universal Scope of Reconciliation (v. 20)



Verse 20 reveals God's amazing work through the cross, where He "made peace" through Christ's blood.

This peace extends to "all things" - everything held together in Him (v. 17), which had fallen under the curse.

When Adam disobeyed, God cursed all creation through the "adamah" (ground) - affecting not just soil but the entire Earth, as seen in Genesis 3:17.

Romans 8:22 confirms this, showing how all creation needs reconciliation with God. The cross brings peace to both humanity and creation.

This peace came through Christ's death, which addressed sin's punishment. In Christ - in whom all fullness dwelt (v. 19) - God accomplished a complete death that satisfied judgment and offered life.

The reconciliation of "all things" refers to the created order, not salvation. While Paul will address people's salvation later, here he focuses on the reconciliation of "things."

The Reconciliation of Humanity’s Enmity (v. 21)



Verse 21 addresses the Colossians, and by extension, all of us, by revealing a time when our thoughts and actions alienated us from God, making us His enemies. Despite this alienation and enmity, God's infinite love and mercy led Him to reconcile us to Himself, underscoring the depth of His reconciliation. He even reconciled those whose own minds and behaviors had turned them against Him. This reconciliation is a testament to the all-encompassing peace God achieved through the cross, which extends to all creation.

It's crucial to understand that being 'enemies' of God is not humanity's original or inherent state. Genesis 1:31 shows that after creation, God deemed everything He had made 'very good,' indicating a state of harmony and goodness, not enmity. However, the Fall, as described in Genesis 3, drastically altered this relationship by introducing separation from God.

Moreover, individuals like the Colossians compounded this separation by embracing godless thinking and the ensuing wicked actions, becoming "alienated and enemies" of God. Paul clarifies in Romans 8:7 that "the carnal mind is enmity against God." Yet, God has reconciled even those actively opposed to Him, demonstrating the vast scope of His reconciliation: not just all things and humanity, but even His enemies.

The Physical Nature of Christ’s Reconciliation (v. 22)



The reconciliation of the alienated and enemies was carried out "In the body of His flesh through death." This phrase emphasizes the necessity for the incarnation - God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ - and underscores the reality of His physical death. This was not a spiritual or metaphorical death, but a physical one. It was in Christ's physical body, through His actual death, that reconciliation was accomplished.

The purpose of this reconciliation was "to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." It's important to clarify that this doesn't mean that God's sovereignty is dependent on the achievement of this goal in every person's life. God remains sovereign regardless of our choices and actions. However, the potential for each person to achieve this state exists because of the reconciliation accomplished through Christ.

The Necessity of Continued Faith for Final Presentation (v. 23)



Being "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" depends on maintaining faith and not departing from gospel hope. While Paul doesn't specify the outcome for those who stray, they may miss this presentation.

Yet salvation comes through grace alone, not works. As Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Adding works-based requirements after salvation would contradict this grace-centered principle.

Second, our completion in Christ (Colossians 2:10) means we are made whole through His work, not our own holiness. Our completeness comes from the cross, not our works.

Third, the concept of different eternal categories for believers contradicts Revelation 21:4's promise of no tears or pain. Our eternal status depends solely on faith in Christ's finished work, not our own achievements.

So, how can we reconcile these concepts? It's undeniable that there is a "worthy walk" and an "unworthy walk" with the Lord, even for those who are completely under grace. A worthy walk would enable someone to present themselves before God as "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Perhaps we've placed too much emphasis on the "presentation" as a formal gathering. Instead, it could simply reflect God's desire for believers' lives. The Greek word παρίστημι [paristemi] means "to stand nearby," suggesting God's desire to bring us near as His children rather than a formal ceremony.

This interpretation emphasizes relationship over performance, focusing on God's desire for us to live worthy lives.

Paul's statement about the Gospel being preached "to every creature under heaven" demonstrates the rapid spread of Grace's message. Though initially well-received worldwide, the pure Pauline message was later rejected and distorted, leading to theological errors throughout Christian history.

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