Colossians 1:22

Body of his flesh. Some believe that Paul is here combating a heresy that early crept into the Christian church; namely, that Christ did not have a human body.

According to this heresy the human body is essentially sinful, and therefore could have been no part of the Son of God. An important step in the reconciliation of man with God was the incarnation. Divinity was clothed with humanity. Jesus took hold of fallen humanity that it might once more be joined with the throne of God. He partook of flesh and blood, that therein He might deliver man from the thralldom of sin. Christ in His body of flesh achieved the victory of reconciliation (see 1 Peter 2:24). See Vols. V, pp. 917-919; VI, p. 58.

Through death. Or, “by means of death.” The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). All have sinned (Rom. 3:23). Therefore none may escape death. Christ, in assuming the lot of humanity, purposed to pay the penalty for humanity’s sin. His death was for every man. This fact had been prefigured by every true sacrifice since the day that Adam offered up the first victim at the behest of God. Sacrificial, vicarious death pointed forward to atonement through the blood of Christ. All these ceremonies of sacrifice and mediation looked forward to final reconciliation with God. Death was the basis of it all.

To present you. When reconciliation has been achieved, those who were alienated from God and hostile to Him will be presented before the universe as trophies of the cross (see 2 Cor. 4:14; Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:28).

Holy and unblameable. Gr. hagioi kai amomoi (see on Eph. 1:4).

Unreproveable. Gr. anegkletoi, “blameless,” “irreproachable.” Compare the use of the word in 1 Cor. 1:8. Anegkletoi takes the picture of perfection one step further. It emphasizes that there must be no possibility of bringing a charge against him whom God purposes to present perfect before the universe. The accuser of the brethren will be silenced as the Lord rebukes him and points out that the saints are clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Zech. 3:1-5; Rev. 12:10, 11).

In his sight. All men will pass before the scrutinizing eye of God. The Judge of all the earth will see everything. In this life men may deride, Satan may still find fault, but the matter of greatest import is, What does God see and think? (see 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 1:4). The divine estimate is all that counts.