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COL 04 – Reconciler of All Things - Col 1:19-23 Last wk we looked at the Supreme Preeminence of Jesus Christ(Jesus Christ is ABOVE ALL things) & we ended the msg by saying that it wasBECAUSE of His Supreme Preeminence -that His sacrifice was able to Reconcile us to God Today we want to “Dig Deeper” into Jesus Christ asthe ONLY Reconciler to God ! & not just OUR only ReconcilerBut the ONLY Reconciler of ALL THINGS We’ll start w/ a little REVIEW from last week Col 1:1919 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, We didn’t get to dig into V.19 much last week& there’s one thing I really wanted to show you If you’re reading KJV or NKJV you’ll notice the words “the Father that” – are in ITALICS (added by translator) Because in the GK the words “ALL THE FULLNESS” imply all that there is about God LOOK CLOSELY at the NLT – Col 1:19 [put up w/ NKJV]19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, Here’s the key point – the word “FULLNESS” means;“that with which a thing is inherently filled”NOT “that which has been filled” It means Christ inherently had the fullness of God living in HimNOT that the Father filled the fullness into Christ That is actually a huge difference when we begin to talk about the DEITY of Christ  OK – Now that we’ve clarified that – let’s move on Col 1:19 (again) & 2019 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. This is such an incredible VS . . . Look closely – Remember in V.19 the words “THE FATHER” were added by the translators Then – in V.20 we read;BY HIM – to Reconcile ALL things – TO HIMSELF – BY HIM The two BY HIM’S clearly are talking about Jesus Christ –But who’s the TO HIMSELF talking about ?? It’s talking about – the Fullness of GOD ! So – All the Fullness of GodHas Reconciled ALL THINGS to Himself – BY HIM ! What’s the Point ?? Jesus Christ is not A WAY – Not A TEACHER – Not AN OPTION Jesus Christ is GOD – Reconciling ALL THINGS to Himself Because there is NO OTHER WAYNO OTHER PERSON – PLAN - APPROACHthat can reconcile us to GOD Jesus Christ is THE Reconciler of ALL things& the ONLY Reconciler of ALL things Now – let’s look at the fullness of Christ’s Reconciliation The false teachers were promoting a “higher spirituality”But how can you get higher than Reconciliation by God Himself ?? The reason we make such a big deal of this is . . . there are those today who feel the gospel msg is an OK WAY. . . but there are other good ways to know God too HOW CAN THAT BE ?If God Himself, in Jesus Christ, is The ReconcilerHow can there be “other good ways” & why would we want to chase after some OTHER way to God ?? Especially knowing what 2Cor 11:14-15 says 14 . . . For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. Satan - & his ministers - transform themselves into;Angels of light - & - Ministers of Righteousness So WHY risk being deceived or misled ??When God has come Himself to be our reconciliation . . . & He has given us;the highest ‘Reconciliation’ in Jesus Christthe highest ‘Power’ in the Holy Spirit - &the highest ‘spiritual enlightenment’ in His Word  Alright – Let’s read Col 1:20 (again) & V.21 Col 1:20-2120 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled There’s a Great Truth – Hidden in the word – Reconcile In this Form of the wordthere is a preposition that means “back” to a previous state STRONG’S Definition = “to bring back a former state of harmony” & that’s exactly what Christ has doneas the Reconciler of all things ALL things, whether on earth or in heavenALL things are Reconciled back to harmony with God we see this in 2 great passages Eph 1:1010 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Jesus Christ is the Reconciler of ALL THINGS Rom 8:19-2119 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Jesus Christ is the Reconciler of ALL THINGS !!!  Let’s go back to Col 1:2121 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled The word “alienated” = is in the Perfect Tense – which means;you were Permanently Alienated – Permanently Separated You were not in a temporary spat with Godyou were Permanently Separated w/o hope in yourself to correct it The word “enemies” means – you were hostile in the active sense in your mind & by your actionsyou were ‘by nature’ a hostile enemy of God Yet now He has reconciled you !He has brought you back - to a former state of harmony HOW - HOW exactly has He Reconciled us ?? Col 1:21 (again) & v.22A21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, . . .  HOW has Jesus reconciled us ??in the body of His flesh through death Jesus had to come as a man – in the fleshin order to die in our place . . . There was no other way ! There was no other way the full judgmentthat HAD to be brought upon our sin could have been met This statement about Christ’s death “in the body of His flesh”is a crucial statement refuting the Errant Teaching in COL The teaching that became Gnosticism stressed‘spiritual advancement’ above, or w/o, the person of Jesus Christ They made ‘higher spiritual knowledge their goal & some claimed Jesus didn’t exist in the Fleshbut was actually only a “Spiritual Being” But this is exactly what the New Age movement has done They’ve removed the Personal Sacrifice of Jesus Christ& made “higher spiritual knowledge” their goal But our problem is NOT that we need “higher spiritual knowledge” Our problem is that – because of sin –we are Alienated & Enemies of God We don’t need “Higher Spiritual Knowledge”We need to be Reconciled to a HOLY GOD & that reconciliation can only come - thru the Reconciler of All ThingsWho PHYSICALLY DIED IN OUR PLACE . . . Just as if we would have died there He died for our sins – so we could live before God – IN HIM  WHY – WHY did He die in our place ?? It was so - He could PRESENT US before GodHoly, Blameless, & Above Reproach Col 1:21B - 2221. . . yet now He has reconciled [you]
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - to present you = to place you before God Jesus Christ died for you – in order to place you before GodHOLY – BLAMELESS - ABOVE REPROACH HOLY = separated or set apart unto GodBLAMELESS = without fault or blemishABOVE REPROACH = NOT EVEN ACCUSED Jesus Christ doesn’t just “get us in” (like the jokes about St. Peter) Jesus Christ – The Reconciler of ALL Things Places you before God ; Set apart - - Holy Without fault or blemish& NOT EVEN ACCUSED Isn’t that what we really NEED ??to be made right – to be Reconciled – to a Holy God Don’t be duped into chasing after the world’s spirituality jargon Put your faith in Christ - & hold on to HIM ! Continue in the faith – grounded & steadfast& never be moved away from the hope of the Gospel  Let’s review from V.21 & get to V.23 Col 1:21-2321 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight -23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Beginning of V.23 = if indeed you continue in the faith . . . Jesus Christ HAS reconciled you - if indeed you continue in the faith  There’s a GK word translated IF – meaning “an unfulfilled
hypothetical condition that may or may not come to pass” That GK word is spelled (in English) EANTHAT is NOT the ‘IF’ used here There is another GK word translated IF - meaning
“since then, or assuming that” That GK word is spelled (in English) EITHAT IS the ‘IF’ used here
Paul is NOT implying that we canhave salvation one day - then lose it the next day(at least not where God exists) Where God exists - you are either saved or not saved Because God knows the end from the beginning –so there is no changing where God existsSo - why would Paul use this GK word EIdefined as “since then, or assuming that” ?? Because he wants to make it clear WHOthe previous verses regarding reconciliation apply toWe know they don’t apply to everyone (tho we wish they would) \ So how will we know who they DO apply to ??We’ll know by the ones who “continue in the faith”  Those who are grounded & steadfast& are not moved away from the hope of the gospelWe see this so clearly in the GospelsLet’s turn to John CH 6 Jn Ch 6 is a “power packed” Ch in the gospel of John It starts w/ the feeding of the 5,000 (tremendous lessons)Then Jesus walks on waterThen all those who just got a free lunch follow him to Capernaum & When the people catch up with Jesusthey want some more physical food BUT Jesus gave them Spiritual Food insteadwhich they didn’t appreciate as much as the Free Lunch & so - they begin complaining& we pick up the end of the story in Jn 6:61 Jn 6:61-6661 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [not the 12] complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? [meaning no more free lunch]
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you [who He previously called disciples]
who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
[& then - The most notorious Vs. in the NT] Jn 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Now – that’s a long explanation - but an important one  Where God exists (outside of time) you are either saved or not-saved But where you & I exist – there’s only one way to know if we’ve been
Permanently Reconciled to God thru Faith in Christ That is, IF we continue in the faith, grounded & steadfast& are not moved away from the hope of the gospel SO – what does that mean to the personwho’s walked away from Jesus ?? IT MEANS they need to come back – repent - be forgiven& this time give your ENTIRE life to Christ & be one of those who continue in the faith, grounded & steadfast,& are not moved away from the hope of the gospelCome back in repentance – Truly Make Jesus your LORD& never be moved away again  Let’s go back Col 1:19-23A – From The NLT19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. . .  We must take hold of this most miraculous, eternal truth Take a hold of it – continue to believe it - & stand firmly in itDO NOT drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News !!  Maybe you’re here today& you’ve never made a commitment to Christ Or maybe you’ve made it – then let it slide – then made it again Whether you’ve never made a commitment to ChristOr whether you need to make it once & for all I’d like to give you a chance to do that right nowIf you’ve never asked Jesus to be your Reconciler – your SaviorYou can do that – Right Now AND – if you’re commitment to Christ has Vacillatedyou need to make a commitment ONCE & FOR ALL God already knows what you’re going to do about Jesus Christbut now it’s time for you to decide Whether it’s your First Time – Or your Coming Back for goodWill you please pray this prayer with me Please repeat after me . . . Now – If you just prayed that prayer for the 1st timeOf if you just re-committed your life to Christ You need to Get Connected - QUICK Go – get some PrayerCall – get into Discipleship & PRAY – READ – FELLOWSHIP – Every Day !!