Close To His Pierced Side

July/August 2020 — Grace & Truth Magazine


Close To His Pierced Side

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now has [He] reconciled in the body of His flesh through death;
to present you holy and unblamable and irreproachable. —Colossians 1:21-22 JND

How wonderful is the gospel of grace to the person who in faith comes to the Lord Jesus and freely receives salvation for his or her soul. The apostle Paul was occupied with making the believers in Colosse aware of the greatness of the Savior. Earlier he had said, “the Son ... is the image of the invisible God” (vv.13,15), and in the verses above he told the believers the effect that the Savior had on their position before God.

They were once alienated from God, not knowing Him in His love and grace. In fact, they were enemies in mind by their wicked works. This is the way that God looked at us. Yet, in His great love for us He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bear our penalty that we by believing in Him should be saved from judgment to come. Have you come to the cross of Christ in your sins? Have you by grace accepted the fact that the Lord Jesus died in your place? If so, then you can continue with the verse above and thank Him that you are reconciled to God.

God has come down to us through the death of His Son, and now we may enjoy His presence with us. The relationship is restored. Our Savior put away all that hindered it, and He brought us to Himself. He presents us to Himself and sets us apart; and nothing is found that the enemy of the soul can use against us. We are “unblamable,” the apostle said, and as a climax to this wonderful position the apostle added “irreproachable.” This means that no charge can possibly be made against us believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Word declares this and creates a peace which passes understanding. It motivates our hearts to be found close to His pierced side.

By Klaas Rot

Oh! what a Saviour is Jesus the Lord

Oh! what a Saviour is Jesus the Lord,
Well may His name by His saints by adored! He has redeemed them from hell by His blood,Saved them for ever, and brought them to God.
Now in the glory He waits to impart
Peace to the conscience and joy to the heart — Waits to be gracious, to pardon and healAll who their sin and their wretchedness feel.
Thousands have fled to His spear-pierced side,
Welcome they all have been, none are denied; Weary and laden, they all have been blest,Joyfully now in the Saviour they rest.—Writer unknown; both Thomas Kelly
(1769–1855) and Albert Midlane
(1825–1909) have been given the credit.