HE DIED FOR THE UNGODLY
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21).
The scripture above describes the ungodly as alienated from God, and enemies in their minds by wicked works. In other words, they were
enemies of God in their minds because of their wicked works. Evidently, it wasn’t God who declared them enemies; rather, He’s the One reconciling them. The Bible says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
This is similar to what transpired between God and Adam in the Garden. Adam sinned against God and ran into hiding (Genesis 3:8). But God came looking for him; He said, “Adam, where are you?” How gracious He is! While we were sinners, in God’s mind, we weren’t enemies; He was working out how to bring us to Himself; He was working on a plan.
Colossians 1:22 tells us that the purpose and summation of Christ’s redemptive work was “…to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” He knew what He was going to do before
He did it. Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” This is so touching.
He didn’t wait for us to become godly before He died for us. He initiated the reconciliation: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). Hallelujah!
Let this love be expressed through you to the ungodly in reaching out to them with the Gospel. Let them know God isn’t mad at them; they
can come to Him just as they are and be accepted. He said in Isaiah 1:18, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” He’s the One that washes, sanctifies, and justifies the ungodly in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Holy Father, thank you for committing to me the ministry of reconciliation; I’m grateful for the privilege of being your co-laborer and partner in ministering to the ungodly and bringing them
salvation in Christ Jesus. As the Gospel is preached around the world today, I pray that faith is stirred in the hearts of many to receive the message and be converted, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:6-8; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:5-8
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 & Isaiah 61-63
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 6:1-14 & 1 Kings 22
