And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 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. (Col 1:21–23).
After reminding the readers about whom Jesus is in the preceding verses and declaring that he is the incarnation of God’s fullness, Paul explains in the following verses the state of the Colossians before they became believers in Christ. He provides a clear description of their position and attitude towards God before they received the grace of God.
Paul presents three propositions to the church at Colossae in Colossians 1:21-23, which have relevance for believers in Christ today. Within this passage, Paul identifies the previous condition of the Colossians and their present standing with God and then provides a condition and exhortation.
Paul states that the Colossians, before coming to Christ, were alienated from God and, in fact, enemies of God in their minds. Why is that?
The effect Adam’s sin had on humanity.
From the perspective of the New Testament, people are alienated from God. They are enemies of God in their minds because of sin (Romans 5:12). The first humans, Adam and Eve, sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. As a result, sin entered the world and separated humanity from God (Romans 5:19). Sin is disobedience to God's will and a rebellion against His authority. It leads to a corrupted nature and a distorted view of God (Romans 1:21-23).
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. (Ro 1:21–23).
Alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.
Because of sin, people's minds are darkened, and their hearts are hardened towards God (Ephesians 4:18). They are spiritually dead and unable to please God on their own (Ephesians 2:1-3). This condition of separation from God affects all people, regardless of their race, nationality, or background (Romans 3:23). It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to pay the penalty for sin, that people can be reconciled to God and have their relationship with Him restored (Romans 5:10-11).
In short, sin is the root cause of alienation from God and enmity toward Him. Only through Christ's redemptive work can people be reconciled to God and have a right relationship with Him (Ephesians 2:13-16). For those who believe and who trust in what Christ said, He presents before His Father holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
We have sinned and, therefore, are enemies of God by nature.
Despite several thousand years of recorded human history, we find ourselves on the brink of global war today, which is evidence that humanity, apart from the grace of God, is on a tragic downward trajectory. Our inventions and creations, along with our violation of God's precepts and mistreatment of one another, are clear indications of humanity's hostility towards the Father of creation and its proclivity towards sin and darkness. This ongoing propensity to violate God in every possible way imaginable is a testimony to our fallen nature and the need for redemption through Christ.
That’s who we were, not who we are.
In this text, Paul reminds the Colossians of their past and who they were before their faith in Christ. However, he also emphasizes their present reality since putting their faith in Jesus. Paul explains that because of Jesus's death on the cross and their faith in Him, their current standing is holy, blameless, and above reproach in God's sight.
This is the fantastic truth of the gospel. And this is the claim that sets the message of Jesus apart from every other prophet or holy man ever who walked the face of the earth. Christianity alone says you cannot do it. Christianity alone says man is an enemy of God. Christianity alone says mankind has rejected what is right and willingly embraced what is wrong, becoming an enemy of the good and, therefore, an enemy of God.
But Christianity is the only religion still that says that despite the state of hostility that humanity finds itself in while we are in the state of hostility. At the same time, we were enemies of Christ. Still, He moved first and established the bridge for reconciliation and peace. He fully paid for all of the requirements, and he took the initiative and extended the offer to us. He loved us first and bit us only to trust in his goodness for us.
In this passage, Paul reminds the Colossians of their past and former state before putting their faith in Christ. However, he also highlights their present reality after embracing Jesus as their Savior. Paul explains that through Jesus's death on the cross and their faith in Him, they now have a holy, blameless, and above-reproach standing in the sight of God. This truth is the unique message of the gospel that sets Jesus apart from every other prophet or holy man who has walked the face of the earth.
For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Ro 5:10).
Christianity stands alone in its recognition that man cannot save himself and is, in fact, an enemy of God due to sin. Humanity has rejected what is right and embraced what is wrong, becoming enemies of good and God. Yet, Christianity is also unique in offering the hope of reconciliation and peace despite this hostility. Christ took the initiative, paid for all the requirements, and extended the offer of salvation to us out of His love for us. He loved us first, and now we only need to trust His goodness. Will you?
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