PEACE WITH GOD

Colossians 1:20-22 (KJV) “And, having made peace through the blood of HIS cross, by HIM to reconcile all things unto HIMSELF: by HIM, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled In the body of HIS flesh through death, to present you HOLY  and UNBLAMEABLE and UNREPROVEABLE in HIS sight:”  

I want us to look at some words and phrases, as I usually do, so that GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT can lead us to the meaning or explaination of what the Apostle Paul is saying to those at Colossae and to anyone that reads or hears this. First, let us look at the word peace.

Peace: Means to be a peace maker, that is to harmonize things or people, with that or those that are at enmity with something or someone but, here, specifically with GOD. It also means to make peace, probably not the type of peace that comes first to your mind, but to make peace with GOD.  Now let’s look at the word Enemies.  

Enemies: means actively hostile or warring against, as an adversary , or as satan does against GOD or anyone or anything of GOD’s, now you might say: Well, I never fought against GOD, but think now, We are in the flesh, and fleshly thoughts are against the will of GOD because they are controled by satan and satan is always, I say again, satan is always, against GOD and he is always the ADVERSARY of GOD, so whether it was consciously or subconsciously you were GOD’s enemy before you “REPENTED” and turned to GOD and asked forgiveness and were “BORN AGAIN” or “BORN ANEW”.

You might ask the question why do I need to make peace with GOD I am not an ENEMY of GOD, but wait, let’s read further, verse 21 of our text: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled”.That was what GOD was talking about in the Garden of EDEN when HE was speaking to the SERPENT. Listen to  Genesis 3:15 (KJV) when GOD said: “And I will put enmity between thee and the worman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Now let me bring some more scripture into our study that will shed a little more light on this subject. Look at:

Ephesians 2:15,16 (KJV) “Having abolished in HIS flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in HIMSELF of twain one new man, so making PEACE; And that HE might reconcile both unto GOD in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” also look at:

Romans 8:7 (KJV) “Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD: for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be.” and also read:

James 4:4 (KJV) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with GOD? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of GOD.”

Sometimes, in fact, most of the time, when we hear or see the word ADULTERERS or ADULTERESSES, we immediately form this thought in our minds that GOD is talking about people caught up in sexual immoralities, but most of the times that GOD uses these words, in the OLD and NEW Testaments, HE is talking about HIS people that have gone “a whoring” as we see in Judges 8:33 (KJV) “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.” and as we see in Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV) when GOD was talking about what would happen after Moses would die and what GOD’s people would do: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.”

We, as GOD’s PEOPLE, want to remember always in our minds that JESUS’ death upon the cross of CALVARY, as awful as it was for HIM, was for our REDEMPTION, for our SALVATION. He suffered and died for YOU and I and also for everyone that would believe and choose HIM as their SAVIOR.

We should read, over and over again the story of what we call “THE PRODIGAL SON” in Luke 15:11-32 (KJV) but we should read the whole story and pay close, special, attention to “BOTH SONS”, 

Think on these things as you read this:  “REPENTANCE” “FORGIVENESS” “REDEMPTION” “COMPASSION”

 “…A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himsel to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. 

GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE