SEARCHLIGHT
Where would you be today if you had not become a believer?
SCRIPTURE
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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 - 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. Colossians 1:21-23 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
John Newton was a slave trader in the 18th century. His lifestyle was marked by profanity, gambling, and alcohol. Newton’s mind was filled with prejudice and his behavior marked by abuse. He not only sold slaves but highly invested in the slave trade. At one time he himself was captured and became a slave until he was rescued.
Later in his life, the grace of God totally changed John Newton’s heart, mind, and behavior. He was so transformed from the inside out by Jesus Christ that he became an evangelical pastor and abolitionist. Newton is well known for composing the hymn “AMAZING GRACE.” That hymn was an autobiography. He describes himself as …
- a wretch…but saved by God’s grace -verse 1
- lost without purpose or identity…but found by God’s grace -verse 1
- blind to real living…but rescued by God’s grace -verse 1
- irreverent to God…but totally changed by God’s grace -verse 2
- doing life on his own…but receiving God’s grace to do life -verse 3
- undeserving of heaven…but anticipating heaven because of God’s grace -verse 4
What does the grace of God do for you? Why do you need God’s grace? Where would you be right now…. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD? The Apostle Paul specifically answers these questions in Colossians 1:19-23a.
1. WHAT I WAS…MY PAST STATUS BEFORE GOD
Consider what you were before making Jesus Christ your personal Savior. You were ALIENATED FROM GOD. That is someone who has isolated himself or withdrawn from God’s presence, power, and purpose. That person is a stranger who does not know or experience the love of God. Why? See verse Colossians 1:21. He/she is an enemy/foe...of God as shown by evil thoughts and behavior. That person does not care or give 2 hoots about God or His amazing grace. The Bible says, “… don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world, becomes an enemy of God.” [James 4:4 NIV]
Before you became a believer, you were separated from God...far away… and totally opposite to God’s character. A person may be relatively upright but because he rejects the authority of God he is called an enemy of God.
Here is the bottom line. Sin is not just doing some wrong things BUT is a way of living. It is having a human-centered nature rather than a divine-centered nature. Originally God made man in His image. Adam and Eve sinned. Everything changed in man’s nature. As a result, your character became self-centered rather than God-centered. Your life was not pleasing to God but pleasing to yourself. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU ARE ALIENATED FROM GOD.
2. WHAT I HAVE BECOME…MY PRESENT STATUS BEFORE GOD
Consider what you have become. You are RECONCILED TO GOD. Reconciliation is when two people who are in opposition to each other are brought together to live in harmony because they become united. They are made compatible. How? See Colossians 1:22a. God took the initiative. God closed the gap. God made it possible for you to be compatible with Him. God took the first and second and third steps to reconcile with you. You did nothing. John 3:16 proves that. Jesus’ sacrifice made it possible for creation to function in unity and harmony once again
Remember you were God’s enemy, rebellious and self-centered. God did not wait for you to want to be reconciled. He knew you desperately needed to be, so He did not wait. God took all the steps to restore you to TOTALITY. When you made Jesus Christ your personal Savior and Lord, He re-made you in the image of God. God loved you before you even realized you needed His grace. Friendship with God was restored through Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus made it possible for you to be friends with God your Creator. Just read Romans 5:8-11.
Here is the bottom line. You can receive this privilege to be reconciled, or you can reject it because you have a will. You choose! If you accept Christ’s offer, you discover all the blessings of God’s grace. If you reject Christ’s offer, you remain an enemy of God. [Romans 2:4-10] BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU ARE RECONCILED TO GOD.
3. WHAT I AM BECOMING…MY FUTURE STATUS BEFORE GOD
Consider what you are becoming. You are becoming holy as you live for Jesus. God will some day PRESENT YOU HOLY to Himself. You are not totally ready to stand in God’s presence just yet. No one is or can be while here on earth. But some day you will be standing in Jesus Christ’s presence…face to face.
In the future, God is going to present you to Himself…like Himself. In what way? See Colossians 1:22b. You will be holy, blameless and without a single fault. Remember only God is holy. You will be like Him. No one will be able to make any accusations about who you are when you stand in His sight.
Someday God will make you a “present” to Himself without blemish. God will give Himself a “gift” …namely you. Soon God will make you TOTALLY FIT to stand in His presence. He is working on you right now. The Bible says, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” [Phil 1:6 NIV]
Your past is forgiven. Your present is secure. Your future is bright. You will be totally pleasing when you stand before God some day in heaven. WOW! What a day that will be!
SOMETHING TO DO
Consider what you need to do now to become totally pleasing in God’s sight. See Colossians 1:23. You must CONTINUE IN YOUR FAITH. What does that mean?
God’s grace is free but there is something you must do! For you to experience the wonderful riches of God’s grace, realize there is human responsibility as well as divine intervention. God has a part, and you have a part. God never overlooks the fact that He has given you a will to choose. Will you choose the best? The Bible says you must choose to CONTINUE in the faith. God gives you the gift of grace. Will you keep it…enjoy it… and wisely benefit from it? Paul identifies 2 things to do:
- Stand firm in the faith/truth. Persevere. Continue. Become grounded in the faith. See Colossians 2:6-8. Join Paul in saying, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me: my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 NIV
- Don’t drift!! The Bible says, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. [Hebrews 2:1. NIV] You have anchored your life to Jesus Christ. Do not move away. Do not take up anchor and begin to float aimlessly. Do not return to former ways of thinking and behaving which are hopeless and soul destroying. Live by faith and do not shrink back. [Hebrews 10:38 NIV]
John Newton said, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hoped to be in another world; but still, I am not what I used to be, and by the grace of God, I am what I am.” You are what you are because of God’s amazing grace.
But for the grace of God...where would you be? Would you be alive? Would you angry or unforgiving? Would you have destroyed your mind on substances? Maybe you would have considered hurting yourself? Would you have ruined other people’s lives? Would you have withdrawn from all responsibility?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, but for Your grace, I am what I am. Your amazing grace has had miraculous results in my life. Thank you, loving God, for pouring out your special favor on me. You are so gracious and generous. You are making me more like You. I will not let Your amazing grace go to waste or be ignored! AMEN [see CORINTHIANS 15:10 NIV]