December 5th
Seventh Day of Advent
And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him – provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.
Colossians 1:21-23
Do you remember comparing Paul’s letter to the process of building a house? Remember how Paul clears the land, pours the foundation, frames his lesson, and then slowly adds clarifying details? This section of Colossians completes the foundation for Paul’s letter. Today, Paul turns yesterday’s grand theological poetry into practical words. Notice Paul uses the word you four times in two verses.
You who were once estranged and hostile of mind, doing evil deeds…. Being Greek, the Colossians understood being outsiders… being estranged and hostile of mind, worshiping false gods, and participating in unholy acts.
Today’s disciple can relate. Perhaps our sin seems overwhelming, or perhaps our sin seems minor. Perhaps you came to the faith like the Greeks, once fully estranged. Or perhaps you grew up in the church, slowly growing in faith. Either way, we all wrestle with sin. Some struggle with sexual sin. Some consume more than give. Some struggle to love their neighbor. Some gossip instead of offering encouragement. Some control surroundings rather than daily abiding in Jesus. We all fall short; we have all been estranged. But…
He has reconciled you in his fleshly body through death…
He presents you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him…
You were once estranged and hostile of mind, doing evil deeds… But in Him, you are reconciled, holy, blameless, and irreproachable. Confessing our sins changes us and brings us freedom, reconciliation, and peace.
You continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel you heard…. Paul invites the Colossians to remain grounded in Christ, walking in the hope of the gospel, daily living in freedom, reconciliation, and peace.
As this first week of Advent ends, let us remember that Jesus invites us to steadfastly walk in the hope of the gospel, confessing our sin, holding fast to the eternal hope to come… holding fast to Immanuel, God with us.
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