A note from our Pastor:

“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

Colossians 1:22

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Colossians 1:21 and 1:22 are a model of where the split of a thought over two verses makes interpretation more difficult. Before we delve into our examination of Colossians 1:22, consider the two verses when they are combined.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [i]n the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

By looking at the verses in this manner, it is abundantly clear that the last portion of Colossians 1:21 “hath he reconciled” and the first part of 1:22 “in the body of his flesh through death” is one continuous thought. With that in mind, our focus in this study is on what is meant by being reconciled by the death of Jesus Christ and what is the presentation mentioned in the second half of the verse?

First, as discussed in the study verse last week, the reconciliation highlighted by the Apostle Paul is from the standpoint of those saints at Colossae. It reflects how they saw their relationship with a sovereign God. They had felt separated and alienated from God by their sins, but as the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached, they learned about forgiveness. Thus, they could set aside the weight of their guilt and feel the peace of a relationship with Christ.

Second, the reconciliation of the elect children of God happened one time on the cross. It happened by the death of the incarnate Jesus Christ. However, the application of the work of Jesus Christ is new each time a regenerated saint learns about the completed work of eternal salvation. In the case of the Colossian congregation, it was a bold application because the Apostle brought them the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. In our lives today, it happens individually and often quietly.

The second half of our study verse mentions a presenting in “his sight”. The one being presented is each and every elect child of God. The one looking upon those being presented is God the Father. By the work of Jesus Christ, by his death upon the cross, each of those being presented is holy and unblameable. They are not marred by sin in the sight of God because they were redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Finally, none of this needed to be declared openly for it to be true. The Godhead, the three in one, created a covenant before the foundation of the world for the elect of God to have eternal salvation. It was agreed that the legal work of death would be done by the Son of God. It all could have been accomplished quietly and with no record. However, it is recorded and provided unto the people of God that they might be reconciled to God. That they might have hope, peace, and love.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah