AND YOU HATH HE RECONCILED

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He (Jesus Christ) reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.

A conciliatory relationship is one of unity where parties are of the same mind, are friendly, and at peace with one another. A reconciliatory relationship exists where disunity, that once existed due to opposing minds, unfriendliness, and disharmony, are settled through reunification. The day God created man and woman, and for a time thereafter, they were conciliated with God. When sin entered the world through disobedience, an un-conciliatory relationship existed between God and mankind. Then, as the lesson text teaches, through Christ, obedient Christians, once alienated from God, are now reconciled to Him.

Consider this description of reconciliation. It is "the process by which God and man are brought together again. The Bible teaches that God and man are alienated from one another because of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. Although God loves the sinner (Rom. 5:8), it is impossible for Him not to judge sin (Heb. 10:26-27). Therefore, in biblical reconciliation, both parties are affected. Through the sacrifice of Christ, man's sin is atoned and God's wrath is appeased. Thus, a relationship of hostility and alienation is changed into one of peace and fellowship." (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

Through Jesus Christ, as the mediator, peace was restored, pardon was made for sins, and reconciliation between God and mankind was purchased through the blood of His cross (See preceding verses 14 & 20). In the lesson text, Paul told the Christians at Colosse, that they were sometimes alienated and enemies of God. The word"sometimes" would be more correctly translated "formerly," or "were once," alienated and enemies of God. They were once impassioned sinners; it was ingrained in their minds to do wicked works. It is from this inspired scripture, written by the apostle Paul to the Colossian Christians, that we are assured that the lowest of sinners - the most degenerate people on earth, can be reconciled to God.

Being reconciled, the Christians at Colosse, were no longer separated and alienated from God. They now enjoyed God's friendship, love, and protection. They now had a new life. Paul told the reconciled brethren at Corinth that they were new creatures: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Notice the process of reconciliation as explained by Paul to the Corinthian church. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God (Vs. 18-20).

Sin separates mankind from God. Salvation is not available to sinners. Sin must be atoned, and mankind must be reunited, or reconciled, to God, before salvation can ever be possible. Verse 22 of the lesson text tells us Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the sacrifice that allowed reconciliation to take place. As an immortal heavenly being, Jesus was eternal - He could not die. The reason it was necessary for Jesus to be born in the flesh, become a human being, and live on earth, was so He could experience, not only the trials, tribulations, and temptations of mankind, but that H could, as all human beings, also experience death - a sacrificial death to atone for the sins of mankind. To those that seek the hope of salvation, it is necessary to accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. To do so, it is necessary to obey the will of God, and avail themselves to the sin-cleansing power of the blood of Jesus through baptism, in order reconcile sin-filled mankind, to our righteous God, and Heavenly Father.

To those that are reconciled, Jesus will present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable to God. Those reconciled - those in the body of Christ, He will recommend to God as His obedient spiritual brothers and sisters, holy, free from sin, worthy to be called His children, and fellow heirs with Christ of eternal life in heaven. What a glorious occasion when Paul could say to those within the body of Christ at Colosse, and you hath He reconciled! To all sinners of the world, we beseech you, be ye reconciled to God.