October 2, 2023

Passage Read: Colossians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 1:22-23

Thought

We have been reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus' physical body and stand before God holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Not by anything we have done, but by trusting in this good news, that it is true, that we are set free from wrath and made prefect in His sight by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But there's a big "if:" If we continue in this faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel, which is this perfection by faith in Christ. If we should move away from this hope to perhaps trusting in our own efforts to save ourselves, trusting in rituals or special actions to save us, then we are in danger of losing our cleansing and any hope of eternity with Christ.

Application

There is almost as much admonishment in the New Testament not to trust in our own works for salvation as there is admonishment to live in accordance with our new, holy nature. There is instruction in how to live this new life we've been given in Christ, but also warning not to trust in our own efforts for salvation. Both are true and the one is only possible because of the faith in the gospel that saves us, that brings about our transformation. To continue to walk in our earthly nature is just as dangerous as trusting in our changed way of life for salvation. No matter how I try and succeed at living in obedience to Christ, my hope of salvation must always be in the death and resurrection of Christ, without which I could never make progress in righteous living.