And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith,
The late Robin Williams said of Jack Nicholson, “There’s Jack, and there’s the rest.” In his mind, Nicholson was on another level. The Apostle Paul had just explained to the Colossian church that Jesus is “before all things”, among other attributes that show he is God the Son. Then he turns to the rest in verse 21. “And you” were outsiders, resentful toward God, doing what you wanted. Of all the attributes of Jesus as fully God and fully man, his power to redeem sinners and remove the enmity between God and man is the most important to Paul’s audience. Persecution is coming and Paul is in prison so don’t quit. It is reminiscent of Ephesians 2.
He is talking to us before God revealed himself in our own lives. We were once a fish out of water when surrounded by Christians because we did not speak their language. We were aliens and did alien things. “And you” were one of them. “But God”, Paul’s phrase in Ephesians 2:4, just as he did with the Hebrew slaves, promised to redeem them and this he did with the blood of his Son on the cross. May we not cool down in our faith as things heat up in our lives. May we continue, not only in the faith, but in worship and proclamation.
Dear Lord, thank you that, though we were ourselves, you are yourself. Help us to continue in the faith in our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. In his name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church