3/12/18 TREASURE BLOG 13 - JESUS GIVES COMPLETE AND EVERLASTING PEACE (COLOSSIANS 1:20-22)

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COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 13

COLOSSIANS 1:20-22 JESUS GIVES COMPLETE AND EVERLASTING PEACE 

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. 

We live in a world that is robbed of peace in so many ways: Human relationships, personal purpose, inner turmoil, and uncertainty about spiritual things, plague many people; as Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and die with their song still inside them,” Only Jesus can give complete and everlasting peace. 

·     What do these verses say about how God has gives us peace? 

·     This peace was promised. Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and 53:5. 

·     Over how much of creation does Paul say God’s peace will extend? 

·     What does Romans 5:1 say about our relationship with God?

·     It’s so important that, no matter how life is going, we learn to declare, “but now” – declare what Jesus has done for us. What do these verses say about ‘once you were’ (our past identity) and ‘but now’ (what God has done for us)? See also Eph. 2:1, 4-3; 2:1-13.

·     Paul says that Jesus’ death for our sin was ‘to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.’ This speaks of our current identity. It also looks forward to our death, or Jesus’ return. Do you see that, through Jesus, you have, and will never have, condemnation! Jesus gives complete and everlasting peace. 

RESPONSE

Jesus says of the peace He gives, 

John 14:27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

When gauging your relationship to God do you allow your emotions to shape your faith or allow your faith to shape your feelings? 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

WEEK 13 - JESUS GIVES COMPLETE AND EVERLASTING PEACE

MONDAY – ALL THINGS RECONCILED THROUGH HIM

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Reconciliation through Jesus

To ‘reconcile’ (Apokatallassó) means to bring back to a former state of harmony. An orchestra becomes a war of noise if the instruments are not tuned and they are playing from different scores. This is like our world – so full of beauty and promise, but lacking harmony. Through Adam and Eve’s rebellion, mankind has been separated from God, and all creation has been disordered. 

Last week we saw that God, in Christ, became a man; here we see the purpose – to ‘reconcile’ (restore) all of creation to a state of ‘peace’. Normally it is the wrong-doer who has to make reparation to restore the broken relationship, here Paul makes it clear that it is God, through Christ, who has taken the initiative and made the payment required for restoration and peace.  

All need to be reconciled to God. But how is it possible for sinners to be brought back to a holy God, of whom Habakkuk wrote,‘Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.‘?

It is not possible for man, by any effort or scheme, can restore himself to God. This verse makes it clear that it is, and can only be, God who reconciles us to Himself – and this is achieved through Christ who is God and man (but without sin).

All things in heaven and earth will be reconciled 

The gospel is not only a message that people will be saved and restored, it also includes the wider promise of the restoration of all things to their original perfection.

Romans 8:19-21For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

RESPONSE

Are you resting in the reconciliation and peace that come through Jesus? If asked, “How do you know that you can pray to God as your Father? How can you be sure of going to heaven? How do you know that God will not desert you? How do you know you have peace with God? Would your answer be that you are you resting in the reconciling work of Jesus, or are you standing on the unstable foundation of your own feelings or performance? Read, meditate and pray from this text from Romans. 

Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

TUESDAY – ONCE YOU WERE ALIENATED FROM GOD

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

·      ‘Once you were’– Here we are shown God’s opinion of us and everyone else, before we receiving Jesus – it’s not an attractive vision! For Christians, however, this is in the past, dead, buried and never to be our identity again. You have peace with God!

·      ‘Alienated from God’– The relationship between God and man was broken. Our sin had separated us from Him, we are ‘objects of His wrath’ (Eph. 2:3). This is the condition of all people who are ‘in Adam’. 

·      ‘Enemies in our minds’–Our alienation also took the form of thinking that was in opposition to God. Some might say, “An enemy? That sounds a bit over the top to describe my thinking…!”. However, at our best, I’m sure that we all have thoughts similar to these:

“I’m not sure I need Jesus to be saved – I’m quite good…I’m not sure that God’s wisdom is the best way to live…In the real decisions, I’m the ruler of my life…God, I’m told is worthy of all of my heart, but, in reality, I don’t give Him a great deal of consideration and affection…”

Man at his worst or best falls very short of God’s standards in His or her thinking. 

·     ‘Evil behaviour’ – This is best translated, 

‘Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds as seen byyour evil behaviour’ 

Our behaviour reveals what’s in our heart and mind. We may not behave as badly as some, but we certainly do not behave as well as God deserves! We have broken Gods’ laws in thought and deed. Paul says in Ephesians, 

Ephesians 4:17-19So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

RESPONSE

The revelation of our sin can have at least three responses:

1.   Pride– “How dare you tell me that I am/was alienated, and an enemy in my mind, and that my behaviour is/was evil!” 

To such people Jesus would say, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) 

2.  Defeat– I know that I’m lost. I’m beyond love and salvation. To such people Paul would say, “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

3.  Faith– Yes, I’m a sinner but Christ is a great Saviour. We join John Newton in singing, 

“Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see” 

WEDNESDAY – EVIL BEHAVIOUR REVEALS WHO YOU ARE

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

This is best translated, ‘Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds as seen byyour evil behaviour’ 

It is common to think that we are separated from God if we do bad things; but are loved and welcomed into heaven if we do good things. We think of God like Santa clause, “He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice…”  Sounds reasonable, but is abominably wrong. On such a footing, know one (except the most blind and conceited) would ever be sure that they had done enough good or had avoided enough bad. 

Rather, it’s not our behaviour that makesus a Christian, but it does reveal if we area Christian: our behaviour reveals if God has come into our lives and made us alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. For example, Paul begins this letter by talking about the change that had taken place in the members of this church,

‘We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people.’ (Col. 1:3) 

They have been changed, they now:

·      ‘Have faith in Christ Jesus’– They know that they need forgiveness, and know that forgiveness is found in Jesus who died for them. 

·      ‘love for all God’s people’ – They now love the family of the church. 

We could reverse our reading for today to say,

‘Now you have been united to God and are wanting to please Him in your thinking, as shown in your righteous behaviour’  

RESPONSE

Your thinking and behaviour reveal who you are. If you are a Christian your mind has been changed toward Jesus – in your thinking He is your Lord and Saviour; you are now desirous to please God, and you are grieved when you fail Him. Your behaviour has also changed, you desire to honour God with your body. Is this true of You? 

This change does not mean that we live sinless lives. It also does not mean that our growth in holiness (sanctification) is automatic or that it can’t suffer setbacks. One can allow one’s thinking and behaviour to get out of step with our conscience, and the inner compulsions of the Holy Spirit. Maybe you would like to think and pray using the following text, 

Colossians 3:5-10Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Are there things that don’t align with your deepest desires and identity that you need to ‘put to death’ and ‘rid yourself of’? 

THURSDAY – BUT NOW 

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Do you see how Paul contrasts what you were with what you are now? Once alienated…But now reconciled! Paul says something similar in Ephesians, 

Ephesians 2:1; 4-5As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. 

Ephesians 2:12-13Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Paul tells us how this ‘but now’ - our reconciliation and peace have occurred – ‘by Christ’s physical body through death.’ As we saw in previous studies, Christ’s identity is fully God and fully man; as such, His death is able to pay our debt and purchase our restoration and peace with God. 

Sin leads to death

God has made it clear that sin leads to death. Without Christ all die and face eternal separation from God, which is the deepest meaning of death. In His great mercy, God, in Christ, dies in our place, 

Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus drank the cup for us

On the night when Jesus was betrayed, He and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus’ interaction with God reveals the depths of what He is about the suffer,  

Matthew 26:38-39“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus is horrified at the prospect of taking the sin of the world upon Himself, which He describes as drinking a cup. Jesus drinks the cup of God’s wrath for sin in our stead. The grace – the ‘but now’ – that we enjoy was not free, it cost Jesus everything! 

RESPONSE

We have peace and reconciliation, now and forever, because Jesus drank our cup! Jesus said of this peace,

John 14:27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Without God the peace we experience is dependent upon things that one can lose. In Christ we have an eternal relationship with God that can never be broken. It’s ours because Jesus’ relationship with the Father was broken for us, as we read,

Isaiah 53:5But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

The words of John Newton’s hymn are a good response,

Thus, while His death my sin displays

In all its blackest hue,

Such is the mystery of grace,

It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy,

My spirit now is filled,

That I should such a life destroy,

Yet live by Him I killed.

Take some time to thank God for His mercy upon you. 

FRIDAY –  MADE HOLY, WITHOUT BLEMISH, FREE FROM ACCUSATION

Colossians 1:20-22And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Paul shows us his vision for the Colossian’ church. It’s a vision given by Jesus: Paul is praying, teaching and leading in order to, 

‘Present them holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.’  

Let’s examine this vision and consider how we may need to reset our sights. 

·      ‘To present you’– This is a vision of now and the future return of Christ. Paul wants them to be ‘presentable’ (accepted and not rejected) in God’s holy presence. Like the Psalmist we ask, 

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” (Ps.24:3-4)

This mountain to God’s presence is too steep for any of us to climb! We need God to reach out His hand and pull us up this summit. In Christ He has done just this!

·     ‘Holy in His sight’– Paul knows that only through Jesus can anyone be ‘presentable’ as ‘Holy’ in God’s sight, and escape condemnation now and on that day. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, the omniscient eyes of God can detect no sin in us; in Christ you are robed in righteousness.

·     ‘Without blemish’– The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were to be holy and without blemish – nothing but perfect offerings were acceptable! Clean ourselves up as much as we like, all of us are lame and blind ‘offerings’. However, Peter tells us, 

1 Peter 1:18-19For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

He is offered in our place. His wounds make all of our blemishes as though healed in God’s sight. As Isaiah tells us,

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) and ‘The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.’ (Isaiah 53:5) 

·      ‘Free from accusation’– Because Jesus offered Himself for us; because He was accused and condemned in our stead, we are free from guilt and, therefore, from condemnation. 

Romans 8:33-34Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one… 

RESPONSE

Paul’s vision – given by Jesus – for this church was to,

‘Present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.’

In order to fulfil this vision, he reminds them about Jesus. For example let’s briefly remind ourselves (from these 3 verses only), how Paul focuses on Jesus:

·     And through himto reconcile to himself all things, 

·     Making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 

·     He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death 

What is your vision for yourself and others? Could you say that your ambition for yourself, your family, friends, those you lead is to ‘Present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation’? If so, the best thing you can do is focus and keep helping them to focus on Christ. Only in Him can we have true and everlasting peace now and on the day when He comes again.