| Geneva Study Bible {10} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath {o} he reconciled (10) Sanctification is another work of God in us by Christ, in that that he restored us (who hated God extremely and were wholly and willingly given to sin) to his gracious favour in such a way that he in addition purifies us with his Holy Spirit, and consecrates us to righteousness. (o) The Son. People's New Testament 1:21 You, that were sometime alienated. In a state of estrangement before conversion. Enemies in your mind by wicked works. Hostile on account of wicked works. A wicked life will fill a man with hostile thoughts to God. Yet now hath he reconciled. Christ has changed them by the gospel to that they are enemies no longer. God needs no change. The change must be wrought in man. Wesley's Notes 1:21 And you that were alienated, and enemies - Actual alienation of affection makes habitual enmity. In your mind - Both your understanding and your affections. By wicked works - Which continually feed and increase inward alienation from, and enmity to, God. He hath now reconciled - From the moment ye believed. King James Translators' Notes in...: or, by your mind in Scofield Reference Notes [1] reconciled Reconciliation. The Greek word signifies "to change thoroughly from," and occurs, Rom 5:10 11:15 1Cor 7:11 2Cor 5:18,19,20. Reconciliation looks toward the effect of the death of christ upon man, as propitiation See Scofield Note: "Rom 3:25", is the Godward aspect, and is that effect of the death of Christ upon the believing sinner which, through divine power, works in him a "thorough change" toward God from enmity and aversion to love and trust. It is never said that God is reconciled. God is propitiated, the sinner reconciled (cf) 2Cor 5:18-21. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 21. The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (compare Eph 2:1, 12). sometime-"once." alienated-from God and salvation: objectively banished from God, through the barrier which God's justice interposed against your sin: subjectively estranged through the alienation of your own wills from God. The former is the prominent thought (compare Ro 5:10), as the second follows, "enemies in your mind." "Actual alienation makes habitual 'enemies'" [Bengel]. in your mind-Greek, "in your understanding" or "thought" (Eph 2:3; 4:18). by wicked works-rather as Greek, "in your wicked works" (wicked works were the element in which your enmity subsisted). yet now-Notwithstanding the former alienation, now that Christ has come, God hath completely reconciled, or restored to His friendship again (so the Greek, compare Note, see on [2406]Col 1:20). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him. | 
