ALL INCLUDED

This was accomplished at the cross and it is at that time that He reconciled all. I know this is not the popular belief when it comes to saying that He reconciled all but in order to not agree that it is all, then a verse like this has to be skipped over and I suppose pretend that it is not saying He reconciled all.

I am sure that the vast majority of us have felt at one time or another alienated from God. We were of course sure He had left us because it sure felt at the time that He did. Verse 21 says that at times the Colossians felt that alienation but Paul was writing to them in this particular verse to let them know that they were never in fact alienated from Him because He had just finished telling them they had all been reconciled back to God. He then tells them where this alienation comes from. It is simply in our minds. Regardless of how strong you felt this alienation, it was only in your mind. The mind needs to be renewed to the Gospel and then we can see that even our wicked works do not alienate us. We may think and feel we are, but it is only in our minds.

Can our works, whether good or bad alienate us or bring us closer to God? No of course not but if our minds are not renewed, then we will think exactly that. When we do good we will think we are drawing closer to Him and when we do bad we will think we have been pushed aside by Him until such a time as we do good again and ask forgiveness, only to wait a few days and do the same things over again.

We have to have our minds renewed so we can see the Gospel for what it is. He made peace between the human race and God through the blood He shed on the cross. We have to get our minds renewed to see this so that when we do feel alienated, instead of condemnation we will see we are still ok in our right standing with God, apart from anything we do or don’t do. Blessed is the man whom God declares righteous even though he has not done it right. Blessed is the man that when he sins, God does not count it against him. To know these things is the only way to have the peace of God reign in our hearts and minds.

If we continue to walk in condemnation because of what deeds and actions we do, then our minds need to be renewed to what the Gospel actually says. Jesus did not die because of our actions and deeds. He died for the sin of unbelief that was dropped on the entire human race by the sin of Adam. If our righteousness is determined by what we do to gain it or keep it, then lets all be honest with ourselves……..none of us will ever even come close to making it. If you are reading this thinking you can establish your own righteousness then perhaps you should read Romans 10 and see what Paul told them about this very thing. They needed to be saved from their ignorance because they were trying to establish their own righteousness. If you are trying to establish your own right standing with God (righteousness) by your church attendance, tithing, doing good deeds etc., then you as well need to be saved from your ignorance of God’s righteousness.