Colossians 1: 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people, 5which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
One of the most remarkable things to me about the new birth in Jesus is captured in the verses above from Colossians. I hope that you have experienced the reality of placing your complete trust in Jesus and then experienced the "confident hope" that God has reserved your place in Heaven. It seems important to Paul to begin with this reminder to the Colossians as he starts his letter to them. So often important truths are repeated or restated to make sure we get the message. In the very next verse Paul says 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.
Notice the past tense of the two key verbs, "heard and understood". Our lives are forever changed when this happens.
And here it is again, a little farther along in the same chapter: 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Notice the past tense of the two verbs "rescued and transferred". As we "heard and understood", He "rescued and transferred" us to the Kingdom of His "dear Son".
A great way to start a new life and a good reminder to start a new day!
No comments:
Post a Comment