Colossians 1:19-23
Colossians 1:19-23
New King James Version (NKJV)
Reconciled in Christ
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight 23 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.
My Thoughts:
- So let’s start with (v. 20) we read “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
- “Having made peace” before sin there was peace throughout the universe after sin there was chaos and alienation. The thought here was that through Christ, God could reconcile all things, this “peace” that once was.
- We see in the spiritualistic community, that they teach this peace comes from meditation, and allowing ourselves to be one with the universe. But the truth is that the only person that can give you the true peace we all seek, is Christ.
- In (v. 22) we read “in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight”
- Christ becoming flesh and achieving victory of reconciliation brought victory for all of us.
- His victory over death “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) that all would suffer because of sin “all have sinned (Rom. 3:23), His victory was for all men, and his blood was an atonement for all our sins.
- Let’s finish with (vv.23) “23 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”
- “if” I find this one word to be very important. Paul is saying that “if” you continue in the faith. This idea of once saved always saved does not work. So the answer to “Can a saved man choose to be lost? Is yes, and the reason is free will.
Thought of the Day
“God’s forgiveness is the door to a new beginning.”
It was New Year’s Day 1929. The University of California at Berkeley was playing Georgia Tech in college football’s Rose Bowl. Roy Riegels, a California defender, recovered a Georgia Tech fumble, then turned and scampered 65 yards in the wrong direction! One of Riegels’ own teammates tackled him just before he reached the wrong goal line. On the next play, Georgia Tech scored and went on to win.
From that day on, Riegels was saddled with the nickname “Wrong-way Riegels.” For years afterward, whenever he was introduced, people would exclaim, “I know who you are! You’re the guy who ran the wrong way in the Rose Bowl!”
Our failures may not be as conspicuous, but we’ve all gone the wrong way, and we have memories that haunt us. Recollections of sin and failure rise up to taunt us at 3:00 in the morning. If only we could forget! If only we could begin again!
We can. When we confess our sins and repent before God, He forgives our past and puts it away. In Christ, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” all our sins (Colossians 1:14-note; Col 2:13-note). It’s never too late to begin again. —David H. Roper
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What do think Paul meant in (v. 22)?
- What past sins are you carrying today?
- What other things do you see in the text?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
- Pray with them and ask for the following;
- For God to take your past sins and then leave then with Him.
- For God to strengthen our faith.
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- Let’s use (Isaiah 56:7) for today’s prayer verse.
About bobh6
40 Days of study 
This brings my thoughts back to one of our older studies…Eph.1:10, “that He may gather together in one all tings in Christ.” He came in simplicity of love and draws us, or reconciles, us (since it orginally was God’s …made through Him and for Him) and all things unto Himself and ultimitly His Father. Jesus is our bridge to the Father if we stay connected to Him. God never forces so we follow if we want or turn at any point. Satan takes possesion of people but God leads. He doesn’t just lead but works for us on every behalf to gain our trust and convience us of His love for us. We walk with Him unto life everlasting, unlike Satan who wants to bind us in chains to our ultimate death. God exhausts (for lack of better word) himself pleading and revealing to us….but we have the choice.
I love free will., with out it we would be just puppets and what kind of life would that be? here is a story that I like to us for free will.
There is a story of two rabbis one had lost His faith and said there was no God, the other said that God would save them. As they moved closer to the entrance to the gas chamber the one without faith keep mocking the one with faith. As they entered the chamber the one rabbi that keep saying that God would save us said “there is no God” the other Rabbi entered the gas chamber with a prayer on his lips. He became a believer. see free will works both ways.