Week 5: Life is living in God's undeserved forgiveness

Colossians 2:13-15

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”.

What strikes me about this passage is, that life without Christ is hopeless. Without His Grace and forgiveness we deserve death. Where is the hope for the future without Him? This passage stands in direct contrast to our self-centered world where we are told that we can be whatever we want to be and achieve anything we want through hard work and effort. The Old Testament sacrificial system was in-line with this, sacrifice was a way of honouring God and paying your debt in order to be forgiven - this is the 'written code.' But this passage emphasises that this system has been cancelled by Jesus. This passage tells us that in regards to what really matters, the eternal state of our souls, we can earn nothing. He has cancelled the written code of earning His favour. He has forgiven us through His effort and sacrifice, not our own. It is only by His will that we are saved. He is God, He owes us nothing and we are fooling ourselves to think we can earn His favour. God is glorified by offering us forgiveness we do not deserve and cannot possibly earn.

So the picture is bleak without God - we cannot live a 'good life' and hope the good outweighs the bad to gain salvation. But, because of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the picture for those who love Him is fantastic! GOD LOVES YOU – and as a result of this, he forgives all sin of those who repent of that sin. Your sin. My sin. Your father’s sin. Your friend’s sin. Your enemy’s sin. The passage emphasizes that Jesus’ death and resurrection made unwavering adherence to the written code of regulations moot. It is only because of God's mercy and love we can gain eternal salvation.

Real life is living with hope for the future. For out of Christ’s humiliation at the cross for our sin, we are free to live joyfully in the promise of an eternal relationship with Him. Not because we achieved more, stored larger amounts of treasure, or lived restrained by laws designed to force us to walk an emotionless tightrope. But simply because God wanted to have a relationship with us and sent His Son to open the door of that possibility to us. He didn't need to - He is God, He does as He pleases and what He pleases is perfect - but He did.

Praise Him for being God and for the love He has for us.

Further Reading:
Sermon/Video: Mark Driscoll, “God Pursues”
Book: Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology” (Chapter 34 on Regeneration)
Book: Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology” (Chapter 32 on Election)