A Reason to Praise

Yesterday we looked at Colossians 1:21 and saw what we were.  Today I want to draw your attention to verse 22 and let’s see how we were changed.  “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.”  I love what O’Brien said about this verse, “The gravity of their previous condition serves to magnify the wonder of God’s mercy!”  Time spent thinking of what we were should multiply our praise when we consider what Jesus has done for us.
He has now reconciled.  Our sin requires a mighty act of God on our behalf.  The offended One moves on our behalf so that the offender can be reconciled.  He does this in His body of flesh by His death.  Praise Him with Great Praise!!
Look at what He does…He presents us.  At the Judgment of God we will stand before the Holy Judge, but we can have hope because of what Jesus did…He presents us holy before Him.  He also presents us blameless without spot or wrinkle.  Praise Him with Great Praise…He will present us holy and blameless because of what He did for us on the cross and because that work is now ours through faith.
Jesus does something else…He makes us unaccusable.  Through faith Jesus moves in us in such a way that He removes the last weapon of the enemy…He takes away his cause for accusation, Romans 8:33 says, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.”
Satan moves in the realm of guilt and accusation.  God moves in conviction and forgiveness.  There is great hope in our salvation because of what Jesus has done to save us.
Tomorrow we will look at the evidence of the change.