Colossians 1:21-23 - Deliverd and set apart for Him

In Colossians 1:15-20, Christ’s Lordship is undisputedly established in Creation, the Church and the Cross. Having established that, Paul now turned to discuss about the Christians at Colossae from three perspectives. In verse 21, he talked about their former state, in verse 22, their present state, and in verse 23, the condition that was needed to help them to remain in the present state.
  

Note that whenever Paul used the pronouns “we or us” he would be referring to Jewish believers. And when he used the pronoun “you” he would be referring to Gentile believers.

 

In their former state, the Colossians were alienated and estranged from God. We will see that Paul only used this phrase on Gentiles, never on the Jews.  Alienation from God affects a person’s total being - his position, his mind and his conduct in life. His understanding would be contrary to the truth and his behaviors would be evil.

Not wanting them to remain in this former state of enmity with Him, God initiated the reconciliation. It was effected through the physical death of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. The death of the fleshly body referred to here, was to deal with the false teachings that denied the importance of the physical. The whole purpose of Christ’s death according to Paul, was to present believers before God as consecrated people. In Christ, believers are free from all blame and beyond reproach.  
    

Verse 23 shows us that to be set apart to God, to be blameless and beyond condemnation, the believers must continue in the faith and not moved from the hope offered by the Gospel. This Gospel of hope had been proclaimed to all the creation in the world and not just to a selected few. It was to this Gospel that Paul was made a minister.  

 

Verse 23 is of particular importance to us. It tells us that having faith in Christ is only the first step. We need also to be firmly established in our relationship with Christ our Lord. We need to engage our mind, our heart, and our will in this faith so that we will not renege from it. There is this necessity to feed our mind with Christ and His Word, and to set our heart to love Him resolutely. And cultivate a determination to conform our will to the God-given pattern and practice. Be sure to make it a daily affair!