32 - Reconciliation: Backward & Upward Through Christ

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:19-20).

The word translated “reconcile” in this passage appears only twice in the New Testament. The force of the word in the Greek is “to change something backward and upward into its original condition.”

What is being thus changed through the blood of Christ’s cross? Paul gives us the answer: “All things.” All things in the realm of the created universe, and all things in the realm of Heaven itself.

Verses 15-17 tell us that all things were created in, through, and for Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of all, by right of ownership. But man, given the freedom to choose, rebelled against God and said in effect, “I am lord.” Thus a state of war began between God and man. But Christ has concluded peace – not only the promise of salvation for those who believe, but the ultimate pacification of God’s enemies. Christ restored universal submission to His lordship through the blood of His cross.

At the Judgment, every knee shall bow before Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord. The saints, about to enter the glories of the New Heavens and New Earth, will do it gladly. But the lost, unrepentant and about to be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity, will bow the knee by compulsion.

“We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:20-21).

That's our focus as we continue our series, Christ Above All: Studies in Colossians.