WEDNESDAY March 9, 2022
Christ Reconciled Us to God
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:21-23
Paul explained to the Colossians that they were once alienated from God. The word alienated in the Greek language means “to be cut off.” We all used to be cut off from God, as we were sinners doing wicked works. But through Christ’s death, we were reconciled to God. We did not reconcile ourselves to God; that would be an impossibility. Reconciliation cannot happen through Mary, Jesus’ mother, nor angels, or any other person except for Jesus Christ: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all... (1Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus is the only One who can reconcile us to God.
Salvation is available to all––not for the few. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to those who are alienated from God. He does the converting and the convicting. Listen, if there is no regeneration, then there is no spiritual life––no true conversion. A person cannot become just religious; they have to be regenerated in order to become sanctified. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and by repenting and receiving Jesus as Savior, regeneration happens.
When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, those who accepted Him as Savior were reconciled––presented to God as holy, blameless, and above reproach––sanctified. That is the work of Jesus Christ––it is all by grace.
Notice the important condition in regards to your Christian walk––if indeed you continue in the faith. Are you continuing in the faith? This can only happen as you remain grounded and steadfast in the hope of the Gospel.
Here we see the infinite love of God, that He has been pleased to think of us poor creatures from everlasting and make it His work to reconcile us to Himself.
~Jeremiah Burroughs~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
