The Reconciliation of Christ – Colossians 1:20-23

Ninth lesson in a verse by verse series through the Epistle of Colossians. This sermon explores the Reconciliation work of Christ.

1. This section: Christ the Reconciler of the Universe and the Saints
2. Key phrase – “…by him to reconcile all things unto himself…” (Vs. 20)
3. The Grand words of salvation in the N.T. – Adoption, Justification, Redemption, Forgiveness & Reconciliation
4. The immediate context: The glorious description of Christ’s Person in the previous verses adds tremendous significance and wonder to these words concerning His work of reconciliation.

The Facts of Reconciliation (Vs. 20)

The Price of Reconciliation (20a)

1. The Blood shed on the cross
   1. Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
   2. Illustration: Israel reconciled through the blood of the sin offering. “And the priests killed them (the goats for the sin offering), and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” (II. Chron. 29:24)
   3. Scriptures emphasis on the Blood of Christ: we are purchased by the blood (Acts 20:28); Atonement/propitiation is by the blood (Rom 3:25); we are justified by the blood (Rom 5:9); we are redeemed and granted forgiveness through the blood (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14; 1 Pt. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9); we are drawn near to Christ by the blood (Eph. 2:13); we are cleansed by the blood (1 Jn. 1:7); we are washed from our sins in His blood (Rev. 1:5)
2. The Peace secured (Rom 5:1)

The Scope of Reconciliation (20b)

1. The entire universe
2. The effect of the fall upon the created universe
   1. Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
   2. Ephesians 2:2 “…the prince of the power of the air…”
   3. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “…the god of this world…”

The Goal of Reconciliation

1. “unto himself”
2. 2 Cor. 5:18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ…”

The Recipients of Reconciliation (Vs. 21-22)

Their Past (Vs. 21a)

1. They were Estranged
   1. ‘alienated’ = cut off, separated, a foreigner or stranger
   2. “…without Christ…without God in the world.” (Eph 2:12)
2. They were Enemies
   1. ‘enemies’ = hostile, hateful
   2. ‘mind’ = the rational faculty, the heart, seat of moral judgment
   3. 1. Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
   4. Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
   5. Psalm 10:4 “…God is not in all his thoughts.”
   6. Note: For a sinner to be saved, he must repent. Repentance involves a radical change of mind!
3. They were Evil
   1. James 1:15 – sinful deeds are conceived in the mind and birthed in the actions
   2. “wicked works” = sinful practice

Their Present (21b-22a)

1. The Intervention of God
   1. “yet now”
   2. Read Ephesians 2:1-4
   3. Romans 5:6-9 “For when we were yet without strength…”
   4. 1 Timothy 1:13 “Who was before a blasphemer…”
2. The Substitution of Christ
   1. “body of his flesh” – important due to Colossian heresy
   2. ‘death’ – Christ died a real death for sin
   3. Illustration: Estranged wife and husband reconciled at the grave of their only son.

Their Future (22b)

1. Holy = set apart
2. Unblameable = without blemish, spot (1 Pt. 1:19)
3. Unreproveable = unaccusable, beyond reproach. Lit. “not to be called in” No charge can be laid.

The Evidences of Reconciliation (Vs. 23)

1. Note: Paul is not placing a condition on salvation. Rather, he is outlining the evidence that demonstrates that someone has been truly reconciled (saved). The word ‘if’ is used like it is in 3:1. It is almost like “if, and I assume you will”.
2. Note: Departure from the Gospel does not mean that someone was saved but lost their salvation. It reveals that they were never saved to begin with! The Bible clearly teaches that some profess Christ, even shew promising signs but in time reveal that they were never truly saved.
   1. Illustration: The Parable of the four soils (Mark 4). The stony ground hearer receives the word with joy but then withers in the face of persecution. Only one bears fruit.
   2. 1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
   3. John 2:23-24 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men”
   4. Matthew 7:21-22 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in they name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
3. Those who are reconciled will demonstrate stedfastness in regards to two areas:
   1. The Faith (23a)
      1. ‘continue’ = translated elsewhere as ‘tarry’ or ‘abide’
      2. “the faith” = body of Divine truth
      3. ‘grounded’ = means founded (Matt 7:25). Noun form always translated as ‘foundation’
      4. ‘settled’ = stedfast (1 Cor. 7:37; 15:58)
   2. The Gospel (23b)
      1. “not moved away” – not shifting from one place to another (Eph. 4:4)
      2. “hope of the gospel” The Received Gospel The Universal Gospel The Apostolic Gospel

Conclusion

1. Have you been reconciled?
2. Have you given Him your all? “Thou hast done that for me, what can I do for thee.” Count Zinzendorf

Sermon 9 of 28 in Colossians Series

Sermon Audio Id: 730162243480