Colossians 1:21

“And you that were sometime alienated, etc.] The general blessing of grace and reconciliation, which belongs to the whole body of Christ, the church universal, all the elect of God, whether in heaven or in earth, is here particularly applied to the saints at Colosse, who were eminent instances of it; and that the free grace of God towards them in it might more illustriously appear, the apostle takes notice of what they were before the coming of Christ in the flesh, before the Gospel came among them, and while in a state of unregeneracy, as that they were “alienated”: that is from God, not from his general presence, power, and providence, which reach to all his creatures, but from the life of…”

“The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (compare Eph 2:1, Eph 2:12). 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 Rom 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; Eph 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…”

“And you, that were sometime alienated - In this work of reconciling heaven and earth, you at Colossae, who were once enemies of God, have been reached. The benefit of that great plan has been extended to you, and it has accomplished in you what it is designed to effect everywhere - to reconcile enemies to God. The word “sometime” here - ποτε pote - means “formerly.” In common with all other men they were, by nature, in a state of enmity against God; compare the notes at Ephesians 2:1-3. In your mind - It was not merely by wicked works, or by an evil life; it was alienation seated in the mind, and leading to wicked works. It was deliberate and purposed enmity. It was not the result of passion…”

“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. Colossians 1:22”

“1:21-23 Paul applies the truth of 1:15-20 to the Colossian Christians. As people who have been reconciled to God, they enjoy a new spiritual status and need to stand firm in the truth they have been taught. 1:21 The phrase once far away from God probably refers to their condition as Gentiles (see Eph 2:12).”

“sometime: Rom 1:30, Rom 5:9, Rom 5:10, Rom 8:7, Rom 8:8; Co1 6:9-11; Eph 2:1, Eph 2:2, Eph 2:12, Eph 2:19, Eph 4:18; Tit 3:3-7; Jam 4:4 in your mind by: or, by your mind in, Tit 1:15, Tit 1:16 Colossians 1:22”