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0:55So tomorrow, we celebrate the wedding of Grant and Kirsten. Not only that, tomorrow is also Memorial Day, where we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by American soldiers in defense of our country. Men have given their lives so that we can be free. 2,403 of these men lost their lives on December 7th, 1941, in a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the armies of Japan. Thousands of miles away on that same December day, a young American man named Jacob de Shazer heard about The attack and swore to take revenge on the people responsible for it. His opportunity for this revenge came a few months later when General James Doolittle organized a daring bombing strike on Tokyo. DeShazer flew in one of the 16 bombers that day, and he later wrote of the attack: My heart was filled with bitter hatred for the people of that nation. Along with a few other Doolittle raiders, DeShazer was captured, became one of the first American prisoners of war in Japan. He would spend 40 months in imprisonment there, 34 of those in solitary confinement. He watched three of his friends executed, another one starved to death. He was beaten, tortured, and starved. And his hatred for his captors and the Japanese people continued to grow. But near the end of DeShazer's imprisonment in Japan, he got his hands on a Bible. He read through it multiple times in the three weeks that he was given, and he became a believer. DeShazer writes about his conversion: quote, When I looked at the Japanese officers and guards who had starved and beaten me and my companions so cruelly, I found my bitter hatred for them changing to loving pity. I realized that these Japanese did not know anything about my Savior, and that if Christ is not in a heart, it is natural to be cruel. I read in my Bible that while those who crucified Jesus on the cross had beaten him and spit upon him before he was nailed to the cross, He tenderly prayed in his moment of excruciating suffering, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And now, from the depths of my heart, I too prayed for God to forgive my torturers. And I determined by the aid of Christ to do my best to acquaint the Japanese people with a message of salvation that they might become as other believing Christians. After Deshazer was freed at the end of World War II, he would go on to become a missionary to the Japanese people for the next 30 years, preaching the gospel to the people who had tortured him. Many, many Japanese were saved under his ministry, and perhaps the most noteworthy convert was a man named Mitsuo Fuchida, who led the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Deshazer and Fushida became friends and toured Japan preaching the gospel together. Their story of reconciliation through the gospel would inspire a new generation of friendship between the U.S. and Japan. Now, it's hard to imagine a more drastic story of reconciliation than that of Deschaeser and Fuchida.

4:06But tonight, the passage that we will look at is a story of your reconciliation to God. And it is far more impossible than their reconciliation. You who were alienated from God's kingdom have become an heir. You who plotted against him have come to love him. You who were warring against him have become his friend. It's this reconciliation that we will examine tonight. My prayer is that as we look at Christ's work in bringing us to God, you who are believers would marvel in God's work and be motivated to continue following him. And that those who are still enemies of God would be reconciled to him. With this in mind, look down at Colossians chapter 1. I'll read from verse 19 to 23.

4:53For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him, through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach, if indeed you continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Let's pray.

5:44Lord, I pray that you would use your word, this book about Christ, and this message of Christ's reconciliation to show us Christ. Give me clarity of thought and of speech. May your word be heard, your people encouraged. Your elect brought into your fold. Lord, may we marvel in your reconciling work. We pray in Christ's name. Amen. So, before we get into our outline for tonight, a brief intro to the book of Colossians to set the scene and understand what Paul is doing here with this story of reconciliation. Colossians is simply a book about Christ. In the grand scheme of progressive revelation, Colossians is a book you turn to to learn about the supremacy of Christ and the sufficiency of Christ. The author is the Apostle Paul, as we see in verse 1. He writes from his imprisonment, most likely his first imprisonment in Rome. And the recipients are a small church in Colossae, about 100 miles east of Ephesus. Now, this is one of the cities that Paul never got to on his missionary journeys. But while he was in Ephesus on one of his journeys there, men from Colossee came to Ephesus and heard the gospel from Paul. Epaphras had heard the gospel, become a believer, and gone back to his hometown of Colosse, where they met in the home of a man named Philemon. So the reason that Paul is writing this letter is because Epaphras had brought a report to Paul about the Colossian church. So Epaphras had traveled the hundreds of miles on dangerous roads to get Paul's advice on what was happening in the church at that time. And Epaphorus brought two reports. If you look at chapter 1, verse 4, Paul says, We heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. And the love which you have for all the saints. So, Epaphras brought a report of the faith of the Colossians. Verse 7 and verse 8 of chapter 1, Paul says, speaking of the gospel, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, he informed us also of your love in the Spirit. So Paul had a report about their faith, but perhaps more notably, Paul had a report about heresy that was arising and attacking the Colossian church. We know this because Paul spends a large part of the letter addressing these heresies. If you look at chapter 2, just skim between verse 8 and verse 23, and you'll notice a lot of false teachings mentioned. Verse 8 begins the section: see to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception. He goes on to mention the elementary principles of the world, festivals, self-abasement, worship of angels, visions, not holding fast to Christ, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, self-made religion. So Paul had received two reports, right? The Colossians have faith in Christ, but also they're being tempted by these heresies. And how does Paul respond to these reports? He responds by writing them a letter about Christ. His goal in the letter is that the Colossians will learn more about Christ so that they will mature in their faith. Look at chapter 1, verse 28. He says, We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. And then chapter 2, from verse 1 to 8, Paul really tells us his purpose for the letter. We'll read chapter 2 from verse 1. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted, now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. So you see Paul's purpose here. Paul wants the Colossian believers to learn more. More about Christ so that they can walk in him and not fall captive to the false teachings. In contrast to the Gnostic heresies of the age who taught that Christ was merely an angel or had not taken a human body or was not enough for salvation, Paul focuses on the fact that Christ is sufficient for their salvation and sanctification and that he's supreme over all. So, with that context in mind, how does our text about reconciliation fit into Colossians? Well, what does Paul love to do before he gives a command? He loves to set up the doctrine that supports that command, right? So, turn back to chapter 1. In verse 1 to 2, Paul gives an introduction, his greeting, grace to you, and peace from God our Father. In verse 3 to 8, he gives thanks for the Colossians for what he's heard from Epaphras. In verse 9 to 14, he prays for them, says, This is my prayer for you. And then in verse 15 to 20, he gives this amazing hymn about Christ, which we will read in a few minutes, as it sets up these themes of the supremacy of Christ over all creation. And in this context, we come to verse 21 to 23. And I've entitled this message, Reconciled to God. And we'll see in these three verses, Paul preaches four aspects of reconciliation, four aspects of reconciliation, so that you will know Christ's reconciling work. And be motivated to persevere in your walk with him until the end. So we'll look at verse 21, the need for reconciliation. And then in verse 22A, the accomplishment of reconciliation. Verse 22B, the purpose of reconciliation. And verse 23, the implication of reconciliation. So the need, the accomplishment, the purpose, and the implication of reconciliation. First in verse 21, the need for reconciliation. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds. So look at the first words of verse 21. And although you. So for the last seven verses, Paul has been preaching about Christ. Right? Verse 15 to 20 contain this amazing hymn about Christ with some of the most exalted language in the whole Bible about Jesus. Let's look at that right now from verse 15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything.

13:25So Paul just said that the whole story of creation, the whole history of the world, Of the universe is about Christ. It's in him, it's by him, it's through him, it's for him. It all revolves around Christ. And now, in verse 21, the first two words of this passage literally are, and you. So, where does the Colossian church fit into this grand story of Christ ruling over the whole world and reconciling it to himself? Where do you, Emmanuel Baptist Church, fit into this grand story of salvation? Well, to start off, you provided the estrangement that made reconciliation necessary. Look at verse 21. You were formerly alienated, hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds. So, Paul, the master theologian and preacher, loves to remind believers of their impossible salvation testimony. Because when salvation is impossible for us, God gets all the glory. In verse 21, as we look under point one, the need for reconciliation, we'll see three statements from Paul making our dire need for reconciliation clear. Paul is going to talk about our position, our disposition, and our actions. You can put those as A, B, and C under point one. First, he talks about our pre-Christ position. We were alienated. So, to be alienated is to be estranged, to be excluded, to be kept outside of. And in the context, this is kingdom language, right? Paul has just finished talking. About Christ's cosmic triumph over thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities in verse 16. In verse 13, Paul pictures salvation as a transfer from one kingdom to another. He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. So the idea here is that Christ is the king, and before salvation, you were not one of his citizens. This word for alienation is used only two other places in the New Testament, both in Ephesians.

15:31Ephesians 2, verse 12, Paul says, Remember that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world. In Ephesians 4, verse 18, Paul describes the unbelieving Gentiles as darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of their ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. So think about how significant this alienation is. As grateful as we are for our nation and our citizenship here, spoiler alert, your citizenship does expire. Your American citizenship is no longer valid after you die. You're not supposed to vote after you die.

16:16Now, on the other hand, your heavenly immigration status will determine whether you spend eternity with God or with those who are weeping and gnashing their teeth outside the gates. So to be alienated. From God is to be cut off from the life giver, the creator, the only source of joy, of forgiveness, of peace, of rest. Christian, consider your position before salvation. You were alienated without Christ, having no hope and without God in this world, as Ephesians 2 says. Do you recognize what a great work Christ has done to bring you from the kingdom of Satan into his kingdom? to make you not only a friend, but an heir. Look at Colossians 1, verse 12 to 13, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For he rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Young person, professing Christian, do you realize that there are only two kingdoms? There's a domain of darkness and there's a kingdom of his beloved Son. And you are not born into the kingdom of Christ. All who have not been reconciled are aliens. If you have not been reconciled to Christ, you are still an alien. So come to Christ before it's too late. So we saw first, letter A under point one, that before Christ, we were estranged from his kingdom and position. But not only that, our pre-Christ disposition was hostile in mind. So not only were we outside of God's kingdom, we were enemies of Christ. The word used here for hostility has the idea of intense personal rivalry or hatred. It's used in Acts 13 when Saul speaks to Elimus the magician, saying, You are full of deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness. Will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? So when Paul says hostile, he's not talking about just you weren't friendly with God or didn't care for religion. This is war. Notice the next words clarify where this war was. This was in your mind, your thoughts, your attitude, your whole disposition. In the Old Testament, it's your heart, right? The command center of your thinking, your minute-by-minute thinking, your emotions, your will. Paul is saying that before Christ reconciled you to himself, your entire mindset was war against God. And this principle is clear in Scripture. When it comes to the reign of Christ over all creation, there are no neutral parties. You are either a friend of God or an enemy of God. Romans 8, verse 7, says that the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God. James 4 says friendship with the world is enmity towards God. There is no middle ground. You are an alien or an heir, an enemy or a friend. If you have not been reconciled to Christ, Paul says your whole mindset is enmity towards God. Now, let's consider for a moment, who is this God that you have set yourself up as an enemy of? Well, in the context, verse 15 to 20, right? Christ is the firstborn of creation. By him, all things were created. He's before all things, and in him, all things hold together. So, let's get this straight. Not only is Christ the most powerful being in the whole universe, he's the one holding it all together. So, the very breath you use to curse him is a gift from him. Never mind biting the hand that feeds you. This is like going deep-sea diving and scheming to destroy your own oxygen tank. This is not only foolish, this is dangerous. Scripture is clear on what happens to the enemies of Christ, right? I believe you've been going through the book of Revelation together. Revelation 6, verse 15, in the midst of the tribulation, John writes, Then the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the commanders, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of him who sits on the throne, from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand? Friends, if God is not for you, there is nowhere to hide. But if God is for you, who can be against you? Consider your mindset before salvation. You were hostile in mind. Mind, constantly devising thoughts of rebellion against God. But now, turn to Romans 5 with me. Romans chapter 5 to see how God treated us who were his enemies.

21:15Romans chapter 5 from verse 6. For while we were still helpless at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man, someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates his own love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Not only this, but we also exalt in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. What a reconciliation we've received while we were still enemies, that this Christ, the ruler of the whole universe, would come to reconcile his enemies and to make us his friends. As we consider this first point, the need for reconciliation, we've already seen that our position was outside of Christ. We were alienated. Our disposition was enemies. Against God. Now we move to our pre-Christ actions. We were engaged in evil deeds. So not only were we estranged from God and hostile toward Him, we worked out that hostility in evil deeds day by day. If you look at chapter 3, verse 5 to 9 in Colossians, Paul describes the kind of evil deeds that the Colossians were engaged in. He says they were engaged in immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, which amounts to idolatry. In verse 8, he says, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech. So, as Paul sets up the need for reconciliation, he reminds us that our estrangement from God is not just something that happened to us, it's a result of our own sin against God. Isaiah 59, verse 2 says, Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. It is because of our sin that we've been separated from him. And this sin must be dealt with before we can be brought back into communion with God. Now, before we get to verse 22 and the way that Christ dealt with that sin, let's consider how dire the situation was before our reconciliation. We were estranged from God. We were constantly scheming against Him and carrying out our evil schemes in our actions. Now, Paul reminds us of this because we tend to forget. When we share our testimonies, we love to say, oh, I was struggling with, or I was just searching for Christ, or I hadn't really made my faith my own. We like to downplay our depravity, right? Because it makes us look like we contributed just a little bit to our salvation. But Paul does the opposite. He emphasizes our hopelessness so that Christ gets all the glory. So next time you share your testimony, try Paul's method. Hey, how did you come to know the Lord? Well, I was an enemy of God. I was in constant rebellion against Him. I lived in a way that was worthy of His judgment, but Christ. And that's what Paul does here. Let's turn to verse 22, the accomplishment of reconciliation. Verse 22a, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death. And we'll see two sub-points under here: that reconciliation is accomplished by God, and that it's accomplished through Christ's death. Before we get to that, let's spend a few minutes talking about what reconciliation is. Right? The New Testament uses many words to describe our salvation. There's justification, redemption, adoption, forgiveness, and reconciliation. What does this particular term reconciliation add to the idea of salvation? Well, a simple definition is it's the exchange of our hostility towards God for a friendly relationship. So reconciliation has to do with our position. Before God, particularly whether we were viewed as his enemies or viewed as his friends. Just like adoption, forgiveness, justification, and redemption, you can trace this story of reconciliation through the whole Bible. Go back to Genesis 3, right? What happened to Adam and Eve after they sinned? The Lord God cast them out of the garden, they were separated from him. Throughout the Old Testament, there was a separation between God and man, right? The veil of the temple, all the walls of the temple that separated God from man. And then in the New Testament, reconciliation is accomplished by Christ, bringing man fully back into the presence of God. This is pictured perfectly in 2 Corinthians 5. Turn over to there, one of the best parallel passages about reconciliation.

26:192 Corinthians 5 from verse 18, Paul says, Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us a ministry of reconciliation. Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. Notice here, and elsewhere in Scripture, reconciliation is primarily an objective declaration. God declares that we are his friends because of Christ's work. 2 Corinthians 5 that we just saw, not counting our trespasses against us. Now, there will be a change of heart alongside of this, right? We won't act like God's enemies after we've been reconciled. But our friendship with God is primarily based on Christ's work. It's based on the fact that Christ is a friend of God. And it's only based on that that we are friends with God, not based on the fact that we started acting like his friends. Now, why is this important? Because our standing before God as friends rather than enemies is based on Christ's work on the cross, not our own acts of friendship towards God. That's what Paul says here. Look back at Colossians chapter 1.

27:38Reconciliation is accomplished by God. Look at the words of verse 22. Yet he has now. Right? Yet, in spite of, but. This reconciliation is not because of anything we have done, but in spite of it. And then he, this reconciliation is an act of God alone. He has reconciled us. Notice, he has now. This reconciliation is completed. This is accomplished for every believer. These four words, yet he has now, change the direction of the whole passage, right? They change the whole story of our Christian life. You were aliens, yet he has now. You were hostile in mind, yet he has now. You were engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now. You were fully deserving of the wrath of God for all eternity, yet he has now. Praise the Lord for these four little words. Here in Colossians and all throughout the New Testament, we looked at Ephesians earlier, Ephesians 2, verse 12. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world? But now. In Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Praise the Lord for the yets and the buts in the Bible. So we see that reconciliation is accomplished by God. We see next that it's accomplished through Christ's death. Verse 22, in his fleshly body through death. So why does Paul emphasize the fleshly body of Christ here? Well, one of the heresies that was going around the Colossian church was that Christ had not taken a fleshly body, that he was not fully physical because everything, the Greeks viewed everything physical as evil.

29:36But Paul refutes this throughout Colossians. In chapter 2, verse 9, he says, In him, the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. So throughout the New Testament, we learn that our reconciliation was accomplished in Christ's physical body in the action of his death on the cross. Colossians 1, verse 20, right before our passage, having made Peace through the blood of his cross. Or Ephesians 2, verse 15, abolishing in his flesh the enmity. So reconciliation was accomplished at a specific time, a specific place, in a specific person on the cross. Remember, the distance between us and God is sin. That sin had to be punished before we could be brought near to God. But the offended king, instead of sending his armies to pulverize his enemies, sends his own son to take their guilt so that they can eat at his table. Only through the blood of Christ could we be reconciled to God. So as we wrap up the second point, we who were aliens have been made heirs. We who were enemies have become friends. And we who were evil have been made righteous, all because of Christ, who is the heir, who is the friend of God, and who is the righteous one. Because he took our sins on his shoulders on the cross. So we've seen the need for reconciliation, the accomplishment of reconciliation. Now briefly, the purpose of reconciliation. Verse 22.

31:13The last half of verse 22, in order to present you before him, holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. So at this point in the reconciliation story, if you're tracking with Paul, you're asking, why? Right? We were his enemies. Nothing to attract us to God. And the cost was the life of his own son. So why would God reconcile us to himself? Well, what is Colossians about? It's about Christ, about his glory. Right? Paul argues here that we have been reconciled with a very specific end in mind, that Christ would receive the glory when we are presented before him on the final judgment day. Look at verse 18 of chapter 1.

31:59He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything. This story is all about Christ. Everything was created through him. It was all created for him. It's all held together by him. And he gets all the glory when one day we are presented to him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Notice the emphasis here on the future. We've seen our past, that we were enemies of God, we were alienated. We've seen our present state, that we are reconciled to him. Now we see our future, that it's in order to be presented before him on that final day. The great story of reconciliation is about God drawing people near to himself. And that happens here, right? We are friends of God right now. But it is finally fulfilled on that day at the end of history when we are brought before God as blameless, as holy. Holy, as above reproach. Grant, tomorrow you get married, probably at some point during the day, just in case you forgot, probably at some point during the day, someone will read from Ephesians chapter 5, verse 25, right? Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her.

33:23But don't forget to read what comes next in verse 26 and 27. The reason Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. Your love for your wife is modeled on Christ's love for the church. It also looks forward to the fact that one day Christ will present the church to himself, and you will present your wife as part of Christ's church, and you are part of that sanctifying work. Christian, your reconciliation is complete. But that's not the end of the story. Your reconciliation was designed to prepare you for a future presentation. Look back at the passage. On that day, because of the work of Christ, God will see you as holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. Right? Holy, set apart, morally pure. Blameless. The word there. Is without blemish, without spot. This looks back at the spotless lamb of the Old Testament and even more at the spotless lamb of the New Testament, without blemish and beyond reproach, unable to be accused. On the final judgment day, there will be no accusation brought against you because of Christ's work. Why does Paul remind the Colossians of this future final presentation? What difference does it make now that we are one day going to be presented as perfect? Well, in the book of Colossians, our final completion in Christ is a motivation for present walking in Christ. Look at chapter 3, verse 4 to 5.

35:09Colossians 3 from verse 4. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. So this final presentation is a motivation for holy living. There's no looking back and saying, great, I'm reconciled. I'm good to go. I can live how I please. Christian, Christ reconciled you for a purpose, that he might present you. How is your preparation for that presentation going?

35:48So we've seen the need for reconciliation, the accomplishment of reconciliation, and the purpose of reconciliation. Finally, the implication of reconciliation. Verse 23. If indeed you continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. So, as Paul concludes this incredible section on the person and the work of Christ, he applies this truth very practically to the lives of the Colossian church by urging them to continue in their faith until the end. Remember, Paul is writing to a group of new believers in a pagan city who are surrounded by false teaching and who are being told that Christ is not enough. You have to go past Christ, beyond Christ, to someone else to find real sanctification, real salvation. And to all of this, Paul says, I've told you who Christ is. I've told you that the whole world was created for him, by him, through him, that he saved you, that he reconciled you, that you will be presented to him. So don't turn away from him. We know from scripture that our salvation is permanent, right? Even in Colossians, Paul uses language of a transfer from one kingdom to another, a cancellation of debt. So Paul is not saying here that your salvation can be reversed or undone somehow, but he is emphasizing that God holds you responsible to continue walking with Christ until the end. Right? As 2 Peter 1 says, make your calling and election sure. Continue to walk with God until the end. So, as Paul wraps up this paragraph, he gives a final charge to the Colossian church, which will become the theme of his letter, dealing with false teaching and with temptation. He says, Christ has reconciled you. Now walk in him. Christian, consider your great need for reconciliation. You were alienated. You were hostile in mind. You were engaged in evil deeds. Consider the great accomplishment of your reconciliation. It was accomplished by God through the work of Jesus Christ. Consider the purpose of your reconciliation, that one day you will be presented as holy, blameless, and above reproach. And consider the implication of reconciliation. If Christ has done all of this for you, do not turn away from him towards anything else. I'll close with the words of the hymn from William Macomb, Chief of sinners though I be. Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed his blood for me, died that I might live on high, lives that I might never die. As the branches to the vine, I am his and he is mine. Oh, the height of Jesus' love, higher than the heavens above, deeper than the depths of sea, lasting as eternity. Love that found me. Wondrous thought, found me when I sought him not. Strengthen me, O gracious Lord, by your Spirit and your word. When my wayward heart would stray, keep me in the narrow way. Grace in time of need supply while I live and when I die. Let's pray.

39:24Oh God, we thank you for the reconciling work of Christ. I pray that He would receive the glory that is due to Him for saving us out of our hopeless condition, for preparing us to one day be presented as holy, blameless, and above reproach. Lord, I pray that if there are any here who are not reconciled to God, that they would not be enemies of God, but they would see the free offer of salvation in Christ. And Lord, for those that are reconciled to you, I pray that you would keep them steadfast and immovable, that they would not be moved away from the hope of the gospel that they have received. May the Lamb receive the glory that is due to him because of his work. I pray that you would do that in our lives. In Christ's name, amen.