In this series of posts, the goal before us is to explore what distinguishes the Christian from the culture. And it is to this end that we first look at the Christian’s consolation. Specifically, we will look at what is the basis for the Christian’s consolation. Simply put, the Christian has peace with God. And because of that peace, the Christian finds a reason for joy in hardship, a mystery worth proclaiming, and a heart empowered by God to labor toward eternal ends.

Wholly Helpless

We were once far off and at war with God. The theological term that encapsulates the whole of this reality is “total depravity” or, as RC Sproul liked to call it, “radical corruption.” It speaks to the nature of man after the Fall (Romans 5:12). From the beginning of man’s rebellion to today, we have been in a state of sin and corruption (Psalm 51:5). This means not only that we stand before God as transgressor, but it refers to the actual state of mankind's inner person (Genesis 6:5). Furthermore, we have a heart that is desperately wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). It does not seek the things that would please God, nor does it have a capacity to want to please Him (Romans 8:7-8). This does not mean that man cannot act according to good sense and occasionally seem to participate in an action that may be deemed “moral.” However, the reality of man’s condition is that he is born with a character that hates God which affects every choice he makes and every deed he performs (Isaiah 64:6).

It is because of this total depravity that man is wholly helpless to “save” himself or get right with God. There is an irreparable chasm between him and God. For this reason, the world was flooded in the days of Noah and this is why the earth will be one day be judged along with the devil and his demons. There is only condemnation available to man in his corruption. He will not be able to do good as it is defined by God. Only God is good (Luke 18:19). He gets to define it (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Man may think an action he takes is “good” or commendable, but it is not so as far as God is concerned. His standard is perfection (Matthew 5:48), and goodness requires a worshipful appreciation for the Lord’s character as man looks to follow in His will.

Reconciled

This is why it was necessary that God acted. We are beneficiaries of a God who loved His enemies (Romans 5:8) and made peace with them; a mystery of love so profound this world cannot fathom it. He, in the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of the incarnate Christ, reconciled us. It was grace given to active enemies, not passive hostages. And in this grace, His Spirit is given to us. He washes us not only outwardly in behavior but turns our hearts of stones into vessels that exercise faith (Ezekiel 36:26). We now bear fruit that is pleasing to Him as we are continually granted greater depths of knowledge (Colossians 1:9-10). We are strengthened by His power to endure and to be characterized by joy with a grateful spirit toward the One who “qualified” us for His inheritance  (Colossians 1:11-12). This was a supernatural delivery where we were born again (John 3:3). We are new creations and were transferred to the same kingdom of His Son out of the domain of darkness we once called home (Colossians 1:13). This is where we find our comfort. Having once been “alienated” from God, “hostile in mind” toward Him and being doers of evil, we have now been reconciled (Colossians 1:21).

The word “reconciled,” which shows up a couple times in Colossians 1, refers to a complete or total harmonizing of two parties. It is a decisive change to the same position, meaning the ones being reconciled now have the same mind.  Unlike a world characterized by selfish pleasure-seeking, inevitably leading to frustration and despair, the Christian sees this life through the eyes of his Savior. We can take comfort in the promised peace with God that is the great end of the gospel with Christ our Lord being preeminent in it all. In this place, we can rejoice, even if suffering comes while we remain here. We now have renewed minds that seek the will of our new Master as His people (Romans 12:1-2).

Implications & Application

In our salvation, delivered to us by the finished work of Christ, we have a new perspective on all things. We are a people with eyes set to eternity and therefore can take consolation in unity with God, even if the whole world would go to war with us. With this understanding, let us consider how this comfort and assurance works itself out for the Christian in three significant ways (Colossians 1:24-29).

1. We Rejoice: The Christian has an understanding of this life that is different from the world. Our minds are renewed and we see things as they relate to the God we serve. We do not endure the worst of this world with forlorn despair, nor do we receive affliction in this life with an expectation that God will someday give us an easier time here. We do not carry ourselves with the joy of the Lord because He gives us more, but because we are right with Him. We rejoice as we suffer because we fulfill the purpose God has granted us for His sake.
2. We Proclaim: We have been given the revelation of mystery so glorious that the angels long to look into it. It is a mystery that has crossed the dividing line of enmity. Now, we proclaim this glorious revelation to this world with the wisdom of God, warning and teaching, with a true and full knowledge of Christ as our aim. We are given grace so rich that we can’t help but profess it.
3. We Labor: We have peace with God and a kingdom not of this world. Therefore, we still rejoice and we still endure gladly as we labor as unto Him even if the Lord, in His sovereign prerogative, determines to give us a kingdom to live in here and now where we are persecuted and His name is reviled. His power invigorates us and His love drives us. When the world sees our labors as futile or worthless, we press on.

We have peace with God. This peace is the Christian’s consolation and is unlike anything the world can know. Because of this peace, we find ourselves rejoicing in our suffering, proclaiming the mystery of Christ in us, and laboring with vigor as unto the Lord. This consolation makes us stand out and reflect our Lord as He works in us. Once enemies, we are now sons and live in blessed harmony with the Father as we seek first His kingdom here.