Wicked Works. Colossians 1:21. It doesn't take long to see that something is wrong in each person’s mind. Parents try to teach children what is right, but each child has a natural tendency so strong that they are basically inclined to do wrong despite what they are taught. It’s not just the actions we take; something inside quickly shows itself outwardly in wicked deeds we cannot conceal. By reading the Bible, learning what God says, and applying common sense, we can easily see that the problem isn't just external but also starts inside the mind.
Men, by nature, want to keep a distance from God's holiness because they feel a fundamental alienation that becomes clearer as we read His Word. Then, the Holy Spirit of God exposes wicked works of sin, impressing on us the reality that the source is within us. Furthermore, when we are honest enough to stop and face the problems, we find ourselves powerless to address and solve them. The conviction of the Holy Spirit awakens us to sin, intemperance, and judgment to come, leaving us facing our guilt before God and completely undone.
In His infinite wisdom, God knows we won't take a remedy until we understand that repentance involves a change of mind. It is more than just admitting guilt, as necessary as that may be; it means experiencing genuine sorrow for sin when I see my true self. It also involves rejecting and turning away from those sins of the past and intentionally turning to Christ alone for peace that will last forever. Then, one can lift their eyes of faith to Christ for His salvation and find the cleansing power of His blood to remove sin's condemnation.
The significance of Christ’s work on the cross is that He did it to reconcile us to God and save us. This doesn’t mean everyone will be saved, but it does mean everyone can be saved. Many passages of scripture teach us that those who do not believe God’s word and are therefore calling Him a liar will be separated from God eternally in hell, and after judgment is passed at the great white throne, they will be forever in the lake of fire.
The words “And you” highlight the main work Christ did in reconciling us to God because we were enemies both inwardly and outwardly. Salvation is available to everyone, and experiencing salvation results in being reconciled to God. When Christ died, He made it possible for us to have peace with God and become the person God intended, now and forever.
Each of us needs reconciliation because our rebellious minds lead us to wicked actions, causing us to pursue our own desires. All actions that oppose God's will are considered wicked work. Sin seeks to control us, and it does so when we insist on our way, seek to be the center of attention, or influence others to do and say wrong things.
God took the initiative to reconcile us when “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” The word “Alienation” shows that we become something that is not an essential part of our being; it is not normal to be alienated from God, but something has intruded into what once was. Humans allowed sin, and so all of us have let sin into our minds and actions. There is no excuse for us to sin. We sin because we are sinners and choose to sin because sin remains a choice we personally make. We are guilty of sin before God because of our own sin, not because of Adam’s sin.
When God saves us by His grace through faith, we are still the same person we always were, but a new nature has been implanted in us so that we abhor sin rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin. Sin is disobedience to God’s will, and it also makes it impossible for us to live in fellowship with God. As believers, we sometimes sin, breaking our fellowship with God until we confess our sins. A true believer does not want to sin, so real confession moves us to forsake any sin, even the sin of unbelief that “easily besets” a child of God. Doubting God our Gracious Father when we do not understand why trials and disasters come can remove our contentment, joy, and effectiveness as His witnesses when we need Him most.