Note 17 at Col. 1:21: Notice that the alienation and the enmity between man and God is in our minds. It is not God who rejected us. We rejected God by exalting our own wisdom above the wisdom of God. Therefore, since our minds were what led us away from God, the renewing of our minds must be part of the process of restoring us back to God (see note 15 at Rom. 8:6, p. 794; and notes 7-9 at Rom. 12:2, p. 825).

At salvation, it is our spirit which is "born again" (see note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005). Our mind is not instantly changed. In fact, we have to make our thinking change by believing the truths of God's Word. Since the alienation was in our minds, then we will continue to experience alienation, even after we are "born again," until our thinking changes.

Note 18 at Col. 1:21: This reconciliation was accomplished through the death of our Lord Jesus (v. 22). The awful price that was paid indicates the greatness of the debt. This harmony wasn't cheap and should not be taken lightly.