Reconciliation: Reality and Responsibility – Colossians 1:21-23

Reconciliation: Reality and Responsibility

Colossians 1:21-23

John Murray (1898–1975), a preacher from Scotland, taught systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS) from 1930 until his retirement in 1965. His book Redemption Accomplished and Applied was originally published in 1955 and has been reprinted dozens of times over the years. In it, Murray biblically explains the two sides of redemption—how Christ accomplished redemption by His atoning death and resurrection, and how redemption is applied to the lives of believers.

Christ has accomplished redemption, or to use the term found in Colossians 1, Christ has accomplished reconciliation by His substitutionary atonement for sins. But in order for that accomplished redemption to be effective, it must be applied in the life of the sinner. Unless Christ accomplished reconciliation, it could never be applied. But unless it is applied, what good does it accomplish? Christ has accomplished reconciliation on the cross and He applied it to us by faith. Another way to say this is that reconciliation is both a reality and a responsibility.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Reconciliation / 0

June 7, 2026

The Supreme Savior – Colossians 1:19-20

The Supreme Savior

Colossians 1:19-20

In this opening chapter of Colossians, Paul gave thanks to God for the faith and love of the Colossian believers because of their hope in the gospel (Col1:3-8). Then, by his prayers for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to walk worthy of the Lord, the apostle encouraged them to joyfully give thanks for what the Father has done for them in Christ (Col. 1:9-14). This included being delivered from Satan’s rule of darkness, being transferred into the kingdom of the Son of His love, and having redemption, “the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).

But this saving work of God rests on two things: the Person of Christ and the Work of Christ. Our redemption and forgiveness of sins depend on the qualifications of the Savior whose work accomplished redemption and forgiveness. So the apostle devoted Colossians 15-20 to describing who this “Son of God’s love” is and what He has done. As we saw last time, in Colossians 1:15-18 Paul gave a powerful description of the person of Christ. In relation to the Father, Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15a). In relation to the creation, Jesus is the creator and sustainer of all things (Col. 1:15b-17). And in relation to the new creation, Christ Jesus is the head of the church and firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18). All of this proves the preeminence of Jesus Christ over all things.

Now in Colossians 1:19-20, he moves to a powerful description of the work of Christ.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Jesus Christ, Reconciliation / 0

Reconciliation