In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he spells out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It goes like this…
You were once “alienated [from God] and hostile [toward Him] in your minds expressed in your evil actions” (Colossians 1:21). This means that not only did you lack a relationship with the God who created you and loves you, you were actively resisting Him.
Your trespasses against God bound you to evil forces (2:15) and put you in the path of God’s impending wrath (3:6).
Some may have told you that if you follow the “right” traditions (2:8), adopt a special form of humility and treat your body severely (2:23), you will be able to pay off your “certificate of debt” to God (2:14). Unfortunately, none of these actions or beliefs helped in the least.
But you then found out that Jesus, the “image of the invisible God” made it possible to have peace with God “through his blood, shed on the cross” (1:15, 20). You were told that forgiveness would be granted to those who put their faith in Him!
After hearing this message, you believed and were saved! You agreed with God that you were dead in trespasses (2:13), that Jesus was your only hope of salvation, and he “erased the certificate, with its obligations, that was against [you]” (2:14).
God, at that moment, “rescued [you] from the domain of darkness and transferred [you] into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (1:13). He redeemed you and granted you “the forgiveness of sins” (1:14).
You, then, came to “truly appreciate the God’s grace” (1:6)! You realized that you deserved justice: death, wrath, and separation from God, but instead, your penalty was borne by Jesus and your “certificate of debt” (2:14) was nailed “to the cross” (2:14), and you were given life- and the hope of eternal life that is “reserved for you in heaven” (1:5)!
With your past taken care of and your future secure, you became able to love “all the saints” (1:4). You understood the magnitude of God’s love for you, the sweetness of his mercy, and the extravagance of his patience and realized that, with His help, you could put to death your “earthly nature” (3:5) and live more like Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, you are now able to love others, show mercy (and extend grace) to those who sin against you, and bear patiently in every trial.
Is this true of you?
Are others able to say, along with the Apostle Paul, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace” (Colossians 1:3-6)?
If so, when did you come to “truly appreciate God’s grace” (1:6)?
If not, put your faith in Jesus today! He will rescue from the domain of darkness, forgive your sins, and enable you to live a life of holiness!
With Wills 