The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:21-23a,
"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."
I note it was the physical body of Jesus Christ that has brought us reconciliation with God. This is not just theology. This is not something from the dusty bookshelves in the library of some seminary somewhere. This is not simply the stuff of liturgy, vestments and sacraments! The physical body of Jesus Christ! A living, breathing, person of impeccable and pristine character! This One died that I might be reconciled to God!
Why did it take the living, breathing body of Jesus Christ to make a way for me into God's family? Just as God is real, so is his horrific judgment! Just as incomprehensible his love is that he would send his Son for me in my hopeless condition, so is his horrific judgment. This judgment against all who sin, among whom I count myself, is real, is objective, is going to happen. It will take place.
For me to escape God's judgment required my sin be paid for. This is exactly why it took the physical body of Jesus Christ to reconcile me to God. It doesn't get more real than this!
"... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22b.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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