Before Christ, you weren't standing on the sidelines — you were born into the wrong camp, hostile and alienated from God. But that's not where the story ends. In Colossians 1, Paul reveals what God did: reconciled you, declared you holy, unblemished, and blameless — and called you to remain, established and firm, in that hope.
The Context
In Part 4 of the Christ in You series, Pastor Tim Howe picks up directly where Part 3 left off — moving from the supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15–20 into the personal weight of what that supremacy means for every believer. The primary text, Colossians 1:21–23, traces three movements: who we once were (rebels), what God did (reconciled us), and how we are called to continue (remain). These three verses carry the weight of Paul's personal appeal to the Colossians — and to every reader since.
The Core Message
Paul reminds the Colossians where they came from. Every person is born into the rebel camp — alienated from God, hostile in mind, living under the dominion of darkness. That is the starting point for all of us, and Paul lets it sit there without softening it. Then comes verse 22: "but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death." God acted. He closed the distance through the cross, and the declared result is staggering — holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence. That standing belongs to every believer today, by faith, through the great exchange: Christ took our sin and gave us His righteousness.
The third movement of the passage is the call to remain — established and firm, rooted in the hope of the gospel. Paul's language here is the language of a tree planted deep, a building on solid ground. This message takes seriously the warnings of Scripture about drifting — from the body of believers, from the Word, from hope itself — and walks through what it looks like to stay anchored when life, dry seasons, and spiritual opposition are all pressing in the other direction.
The Application
- Remember Where You Started: Paul deliberately reminds the Colossians they were once alienated and hostile — not to shame them, but to deepen their gratitude. Knowing what you were rescued from changes how you carry what you've been given.
- Receive Your Standing: Holy, unblemished, and blameless is your position in Christ right now, received by faith through His finished work. Let that truth reshape how you see yourself before God today.
- Stay Rooted in Community: Remaining firm in faith is not something you do alone. Hebrews warns against pulling away from the body, especially as the day of Christ's return draws closer. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are part of how God keeps you established and firm.
- Guard What Your Hope Is Anchored In: When hopelessness creeps in, examine what you have been feeding your mind. Hope grounded in the Word and the faithfulness of God holds firm through every season. Return your eyes to what He has actually said.
- Press In During the Dry Seasons: If the passion has faded or the Word feels dry, press in closer to Christ rather than pulling back. The Spirit is still at work — keep putting the Word in, keep showing up, keep going.
- Live as Someone Who Has Been Reconciled: You are no longer a rebel — you are an ambassador. That identity touches how you carry yourself on an ordinary Tuesday, how you respond when things go sideways, and how you treat the people around you.
Conclusion
If you've been wondering whether you've drifted too far or just need to find solid ground again — come listen. There's good news waiting for you here.
Here are some of the concepts we'll be touching on in today's message:
Reconciliation, Rebels and the kingdom of God, Holy unblemished and blameless, The great exchange, Christ in You series, Colossians 1:21–23, Remaining firm in faith, Hope as an anchor, The Colossians Christ hymn, Born into sin, Dominion of darkness, Justified by faith, Peace with God, Ministry of reconciliation, Ambassador for Christ, Salvation and righteousness, Falling away and perseverance, Staying rooted in Christ, Hebrews warning passages, Parable of the sower
Scripture References:
Psalm 139:7–12; Matthew 13:18–23; John 3:16–17; John 8:34; John 10:27–29; Romans 5:1, 8–11; Romans 8:24; Romans 10:9–13; Romans 15:12–13; 1 Corinthians 15:3–6; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:12–16; Ephesians 4:18; Ephesians 5:25–27; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:15–23; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:6–7; 1 Timothy 1:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:11–13; Hebrews 6:4–6, 16–20; Hebrews 10:23–25; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 John 2:19; Jude 1:24–25; Revelation 12:7–9
