Colossians 1:22-23 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:… I. THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF GOD IN THE WORK OF CHRIST. 1. In "present" there is possibly a sacrificial allusion (Romans 12:1), or the more eloquent metaphor of the bringing of the bride to the husband by the friend of the bridegroom (2 Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 5:27), or perhaps it means simply "to sit in the presence of." The reference is to the day of judgment (2 Corinthians 4:14). In the light of that revealing day His purpose is that we shall stand "holy," i.e., devoted to God, and therefore pure, "without blemish," as the offerings had to be, and "unreproveable," against whom no charge can be brought. They must be spotless indeed who are "without fault before the throne." 2. All the lines of thought in the preceding section lead up to this peak. The meaning of God in creation and redemption cannot be fathomed without taking into view the future perfecting of men. The Christian ideal of the possibilities for men is the noblest vision that can animate our hopes. Nothing short of this satisfies God's heart, for it has to be connected with "It pleased the Father." Nor will anything less exhaust the power of the reconciling Christ. His Cross and passion reach no adequate result short of the perfecting of the saints. We ought, then, to keep before us this as the crowning object of Christianity; not to make us happy except as a consequence of holiness. Nothing less should satisfy us. II. THE CONDITIONS ON WHICH THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THAT PURPOSE DEPENDS. 1. Generally speaking, a steadfast adherence to the gospel. "If ye continue in the exercise of your faith." This continuance is explained — (1) Positively, "grounded," i.e., built into a foundation, and "steadfast," as banded into the firm rock, and so partaking of its fixedness. (2) Negatively, "not moved away," a process that may be continually going on, and in which, by some force constantly acting from without, they may be imperceptibly pushed off from the foundation, i.e., the hope evoked or held out by the gospel. 2. Some plain lessons may be drawn from these words. (1) There is an "if." However great the powers of Christ, and deep the desire, and fixed the purpose of God, no fulfilment of these is possible except on the condition of our habitual exercise of faith. The gospel does not act on men by magic. "He could not do because of their unbelief."(2) It must be present faith that leads to present results. We cannot make an arrangement by which we exercise faith wholesale once for all, and secure a delivery of its blessings in small quantities for a time after. (3) If our lives are to be firm we must have a foundation outside of ourselves. If my practical life be not built on Christ the blows of circumstance will make it reel and stagger. (4) This Christ-derived steadfastness will make us able to resist influences that would move us away from the hope of the gospel. If we do not look to our moorings we shall drift away down stream and never know we are moving. Many a man is completely unaware how completely his Christian faith has gone till some crisis comes when he needs it. III. A THREE-FOLD MOTIVE FOR ADHERENCE TO THE GOSPEL. 1. "The gospel which ye heard." Paul would have them recall what they heard at their conversion, and tamper with no teaching inconsistent with it. He also appeals to their experience. "Have these truths become less precious?" To us the same appeal comes. The word has been sounding in our ears since childhood. The "one thing" we know is not to be lightly abandoned. 2. This gospel was "preached" in "all creation under heaven," whereas the heretical teachings only belonged to a class. All errors are transient and limited; but the gospel can go into any corner under heaven. 3. "Whereof I Paul am made a minister."(1) This is not merely an appeal to their affection, though that is perfectly legitimate. (2) He puts stress upon the fact that he became a minister, as being an evidence of Christianity; which indeed it is. (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: |
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