Word@Work Col23 - Colossians 2:13-15
Published: Thu, 06/23/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
POWERFUL GRACE
Colossians 2:13-15 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (NIV)
The Bible does not support the idea that we are all basically good. Paul now confirms that when we started our physical life, we were all spiritually dead (separated from God). Our hearts were not devoted to God and our nature was sinful. But the death of Jesus Christ opened a door of hope, in six significant ways.
Firstly, Christ's death made it possible for dead (separated) people, to be alive (in close relationship with God). Secondly, all of our sins were forgiven. Thirdly, the law which had demanded perfection and which accused and condemned us was cancelled. Fourthly, every charge against us was accepted by Jesus Christ as being His personal liability and responsibility; when He was nailed to the cross, they were all taken away from us. Fifthly, the devil and his demons who had kept us in spiritual bondage were disarmed - they had no more power to keep us away from God's love. Sixthly, although the death of Jesus was intended to be a public humiliation, the real disgrace was on Satan. His evil power to enslave people in sin was broken for all those who trust in Jesus.
Our hope of peace with God does not depend on our perfect life or our religious observance, but only on the death of Christ. However, our old nature is so used to thinking that our goodness will make us acceptable to God. We therefore fall into the trap of feeling better when we are good and feeling worse when we are bad - making our emotions the barometer of our status with God. That is what the devil wants us to do. So we need to learn that we can never do enough good to remove our sin; and that we can never congratulate ourselves on our holiness - only Christ can achieve that for us ... and He already has! Today, refuse to be intimidated by Satan into believing that there is no hope: and refuse to accept the inner boastings of self-righteousness. Instead, accept the grace of Christ (see www.crosscheck.org.uk), and revel in being free from your guilty past to love and serve Him. And thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His powerful grace which was designed for you and all your friends who will put their trust in Him.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for Your grace in Christ - setting me free from the burden of sin, and bringing me into Your family. Forgive me when I slip back into old ways of thinking: trying to be good enough for You or feeling cut off from You when I fail. Help me to understand that the death of my Saviour means life for me; and that the humiliation of Satan means that I can lift up my head in Your presence without any accusation against me. Help me to come back to the cross daily, for my assurance and forgiveness. Help me to worship You in my heart for this powerful grace, and enable me to explain it to my friends and colleagues so that they may find real hope in Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The Bible does not support the idea that we are all basically good. Paul now confirms that when we started our physical life, we were all spiritually dead (separated from God). Our hearts were not devoted to God and our nature was sinful. But the death of Jesus Christ opened a door of hope, in six significant ways.
Firstly, Christ's death made it possible for dead (separated) people, to be alive (in close relationship with God). Secondly, all of our sins were forgiven. Thirdly, the law which had demanded perfection and which accused and condemned us was cancelled. Fourthly, every charge against us was accepted by Jesus Christ as being His personal liability and responsibility; when He was nailed to the cross, they were all taken away from us. Fifthly, the devil and his demons who had kept us in spiritual bondage were disarmed - they had no more power to keep us away from God's love. Sixthly, although the death of Jesus was intended to be a public humiliation, the real disgrace was on Satan. His evil power to enslave people in sin was broken for all those who trust in Jesus.
Our hope of peace with God does not depend on our perfect life or our religious observance, but only on the death of Christ. However, our old nature is so used to thinking that our goodness will make us acceptable to God. We therefore fall into the trap of feeling better when we are good and feeling worse when we are bad - making our emotions the barometer of our status with God. That is what the devil wants us to do. So we need to learn that we can never do enough good to remove our sin; and that we can never congratulate ourselves on our holiness - only Christ can achieve that for us ... and He already has! Today, refuse to be intimidated by Satan into believing that there is no hope: and refuse to accept the inner boastings of self-righteousness. Instead, accept the grace of Christ (see www.crosscheck.org.uk), and revel in being free from your guilty past to love and serve Him. And thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His powerful grace which was designed for you and all your friends who will put their trust in Him.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for Your grace in Christ - setting me free from the burden of sin, and bringing me into Your family. Forgive me when I slip back into old ways of thinking: trying to be good enough for You or feeling cut off from You when I fail. Help me to understand that the death of my Saviour means life for me; and that the humiliation of Satan means that I can lift up my head in Your presence without any accusation against me. Help me to come back to the cross daily, for my assurance and forgiveness. Help me to worship You in my heart for this powerful grace, and enable me to explain it to my friends and colleagues so that they may find real hope in Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
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