Introduction

‘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. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:21-23

Before we came to know Christ, we were foreigners to the covenants of promise. We were without Christ and indeed, without hope. This is true of life without Christ and this was stated in Paul’s letter to those in Ephesus whilst discussing how we were made alive in Christ.

Now that we are in Christ, we cannot continue to walk in hopelessness. Paul stated that there is one hope of our calling. This implies that we have been called to walk with God, having the hope of eternity with Him.

As indicated in our text, Paul reiterated the same admonition to the Colossians. ‘…And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight- if indeed you continue in the faith, ………. grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.’ Colossians 1:21-23.

The lyrics of the song written by Edward Mote (1834) song entitled ‘The solid rock’ could not be truer: ‘My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness’. This being so, we should not cease to walk in the hope to which Christ has called us.

‘Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’ Ephesians 2:11-13

Prayer

Thank You Father for giving us hope in Your Only Son, Jesus. May our walk with you be defined by this hope day by day and may we live true to You in all things.