Sunday September 20 2020: Jesus Died For Us Colossians 1:19-23
Jesus Died For Us
Colossians 1:19-23
Pastor Barry Kerner
Jesus is a popular figure these days. A quick search on the internet will give you a vast array of opinions and points of view about Jesus. There’s even a “Jesus Diet,” which gives you an eating plan based on what some people think Jesus ate. One website attempts to tie Jesus to the beginnings of vegetarianism. When it comes to Jesus, the opinions and views expressed are almost without end. Some people see Him as God, others say He was simply a good teacher, and still others deny that He ever existed.
But all opinions about Jesus are just that. It is only in the Scriptures that we find objective insight into the truth about Jesus – who He is, what He did, how He did it, and so forth.
The reliability of the Scripture, and its testimony about Jesus continue to be at the center of our faith. One of the reasons so many professing Christians are carried away into false doctrines is because they do not know what the Scripture says. As born again believers, we’re called to know the scriptures, their truth and the truth they reveal about God.
Paul wrote to the Colossian church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. He did so to combat false teaching and teach the truth.
Let’s read Colossians 1:19-23
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Let’s now look at 5 questions about Jesus that can only be answered in Scripture – answers that speak to us about the fact that Jesus died for us.
The first question is this – Who is Jesus?
Colossians 2:9 tells us that, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
Many scholars believe that part of the problem at Colosse was an early form of Gnosticism. The Gnostics taught that Jesus was a created being, one of many spiritual beings mediating between man and God. Each spiritual being or Aeon would be at a different level depending upon their knowledge. The more knowledge, the higher up in the hierarchy the spiritual being. They taught that the spirit was good but the flesh or body was bad, thus, they said, God, who was perfect goodness, would not and could not dwell in flesh. So they denied the incarnation.
Paul refutes this kind of teaching head on. He says that not only did Jesus reconcile us through the body of His flesh, but he states that in Jesus dwelt the fullness of God. Some of the false teachers, who denied the deity of Jesus said that Jesus was a normal mortal man and that God’s Spirit only settled upon Him for a while. But, remember Paul makes clear that the fullness of God dwelt in Him bodily.
The word fullness is the Greek word from which we get our word “plentitude.” It denotes the totality of divine powers and attributes that reside in Jesus.
The word dwell is interesting. It means to permanently reside. In other words these divine attributes that Jesus possessed were not temporary, as some were teaching, they were and are a part of who He was and is.
The Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ, Son of God, was born of a virgin, with a human body, and a sinless human nature. They teach that in Him perfect humanity and the divine nature coexist.
Remembering, who Jesus is, is one of the most important issues we need to understand and believe. If He is not who He says He is, then He could not do what He said He did, and if He did not do what He said He did then our faith is in vain.
Is it any wonder that the world is trying to redefine who Jesus is? You can see it on the Learning Channel or on Public Broadcasting, or in Time Magazine. There are numerous articles and shows trying to redefine Jesus. As Christians, not only must we know who Jesus is, we must know how to explain Him to others. We must hold firm to the truth that Jesus was completely God and completely human.
The second question is – What did He do?
First, He died for us to reconcile us.
Reconcile means to bring back into proper relationship. Reconcile is only used three times in the New Testament. It means the restoration of a previously existing relationship. Sin puts us at odds with God. Jesus, through His work on the cross, bridged the gap between us and God, making it possible for us, once again, to have a relationship with Him.
Second, He died to bring us Peace.
Peace is the absence of hostility; the presence of tranquility. Peace is not only a cessation of hostility, but the presence of tranquility. Peace looks back to the Old Testament concept of shalom which meant to be healthy, to be whole, the harmony enjoyed when a person’s relationship with God is where and what it should be.
Peace is not only to be sought in our relationships with God and men, it is also a blessed experience in concrete life situations.
- This peace will be with the believer – I Corinthians 1:3
- It will reign in his or her heart – Colossians 3:15
- It will keep his or her heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:7
- It comes directly from Jesus – John 14:27
- It is the same peace that Jesus enjoys. It is His peace – John 14
- There is nothing that can rob us of that peace – John 16:33, Romans 8:35-39
- It is an external evidence of the internal residence of the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:22
- Jesus Himself is our peace – Ephesians 2:14
The third question is – Why did He die for us?
He died for us because we were Alienated – That was our position, our state of being. Alienation denotes isolation, loneliness and a deep sense of not belonging. It means to be estranged or cut off, separated. This is the natural spiritual state of fallen man.
He died for us because we were Hostile in mind – This defines our attitude towards God. Those who do not know Jesus, who live outside of a relationship with Him and outside of His will, are living in rebellion against Him. They are hostile in their minds, in other words they hate God. Have you ever wondered why some people seem so violently opposed to Christianity? You don’t see them being that opposed to other philosophies or doctrines, but you begin to talk about God or about Jesus and they get down right hateful. Why? Because their very nature, as Ephesians 2:3 says, made them enemies of God.
And, He died for us because we were engaged in evil deeds – Alienated from God, outside of a knowledge of His will, not possessing the ability to discern spiritual things, with a nature and an attitude that is hostile to God and His truth, the natural result is that one’s actions will follow ones attitude.
The fourth question is – How did He do it?
He reconciled us through the blood of His cross.
A metonym is using the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related. ex: “Scepter” for “Sovereignty.” The blood is used as a metonym to describe the entire redemptive work of Jesus. This concept is foundational to our faith.
I came across the website of an organization called, “Atheists for Jesus.” Its founder claimed that while He did not believe in God, in the divinity of Jesus or in any of the miracles, he did think the teachings of Jesus were good and that by the knowledge gained through His teachings we could better ourselves.
This is an expression of modern day Gnosticism. I recently read a publication by Maged Mikhail entitled, “The Gnostics, a survey of Gnostic beliefs.” Mikhail says, “In the Christian framework Jesus Christ being the Son of God and the Son of Man, being without sin, and actually dying and rising from the dead, makes Him the Savior. He did enlighten humanity with His teachings, but the actual salvation was through His deeds not His words . . . To the Gnostics, however, Salvation had a totally different meaning. Salvation was from uncertainty, thus the deeds of the savior figure, whoever he is, are quite unimportant; what is of absolute importance, however, are his teachings.”
Paul wants to make it abundantly clear that it was the sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary’s cross that saved us from our sins, not simply His teaching.
Look at what he says in verse 22: 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Knowledge by itself cannot save us. It is what Jesus did on the cross, paying the price for our sins that offers us salvation. Knowledge of that sacrifice offers us the opportunity to accept His free gift of grace. But in order to be useful knowledge must be founded upon truth, so just thinking that Jesus died for our sins, or just wishing it were so would not help us. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died for our sins and rose again. That’s what enables us to be reconciled to God.
But Paul goes on to make another point, a point that is aimed at contradicting false teaching.
Paul speaks of the Body of His flesh through death – Jesus died physically, He was and is fully God and fully human. He could not have died a physical death were He not Human, He could not have been a sacrifice for our sins were He not divine.
It is absolutely essential to our faith that we understand Jesus came in the flesh. He was not simply some spiritual apparition. One of the key teachings of most Gnostic beliefs was a doctrine known as Docetism. The Docetists taught that Jesus was not fully man, because God and man could not dwell in one person. Thus, they said, Jesus was simply a ghost, the Spirit of God disguised to look like a human. Their name came from the Greek word “dokeo” which means, “I seem.” So they said Jesus just seemed to be human but was not. Paul wants to put that false doctrine to rest. Thus, you have such a great emphasis upon the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
The fifth question is – Why did He do it?
Why did Jesus die for us?
First, He died for us because the Father loves us and there was no other way to be right before God. An acceptable sacrifice had to be made for our sins and that sacrifice was Jesus. Romans 5:17 says, For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
One day we will all stand before God. Each of us will give an account for our works, for our words, for every part of our lives. Those who have been redeemed, who have been reconciled through Jesus will have nothing to explain, all of their sins, all of their shortcomings will be covered by the blood of Jesus.
Second, He died in order to present us Blameless – without accusation. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. He wants to point out all our sins, he wants to keep us in bondage to sin. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, so that when we stand before God no one will be able to point the finger at us, we will be without blame and beyond reproach.
You see, what Jesus did was all we need. He paid it all. When He said, ” It is finished,” it was finished. The deed was done, the sacrifice made, the price for our souls was paid. We don’t need some special revelation, some secret knowledge, something extra on top of what He did. He did it because, as Ephesians 1:9 says, it was the Father’s good pleasure. God wanted to reconcile us to Himself.
A read a story about Starbucks taking four used shipping containers and turning them into a coffee shop. They say they are reclaimed, renewed, and revived. Sounds like what God does in our hearts through the sacrifice of His Son.
Conclusion
Allow me to suggest four practical ways to apply these truths to your Christian experience.
- Know the Scriptures
His Word will help keep you from sin: “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11
His Word should be precious to us because we love Him: “I delight in Your commands, which I love.” – Psalm 119:47
His Word is powerful as a weapon: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.” – Ephesians 6:17
His Word sanctifies us. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” – John 17:17
- Recognize the difference between position and condition
You have standing with God because of what Jesus has done. You have been declared a saint. The blood of Jesus has washed your sins away. Jesus will present you to His Father someday, spotless, without blame or cause for accusation. Don’t confuse the temporal condition of your spiritual life with your position as a child of God. You have been adopted into the family, made a friend of God, reconciled by the blood of Jesus. No one can take that away.
We can lift our heads and declare, “I am and always will be a child of God.”
- Walk in the confidence that God loves you
This will keep you from falling prey to the devil’s lies that you have to be good enough to deserve God’s love. God loves you. He sent His Son to die for you before you even knew Him. His love never changes. He will always love you. You could never be good enough for Him to accept you. It is the righteousness of Jesus that makes us acceptable to Him, not our own.
“God loves me and nothing I do will ever change that.”
- Persevere – Hang in there
His Spirit is there to strengthen you, to enable you, to help you be the person He wants you to be.
When I was a kid I remember playing with a toy clown. It was not a doll. It was an inflatable punching clown. It was rounded on the bottom and had sand in it. Whenever you punched it, it would go back, but then the sand in the bottom would bring it back to a standing position. No matter how many times you punched it, it would always rebound.
That’s the idea Paul is conveying here. We are to keep coming back, keep rebounding to our standing position. The Holy Spirit is deep within us, enabling us to bounce back, regardless of how many times we are knocked down.
Let me close with this thought. Surrender your life to the Lord. Let Him fill you afresh and renew His Spirit within you.
Let us pray.