We learned in our last verse
in the letter written by Paul the apostle to the Colossians, that the
Heavenly Father was pleased that in Jesus should “all fullness
dwell”. This “fullness” included “abundance
and completeness of the presence, power, agency, and riches of
God and Christ”, and in chapter one and verse twenty we realize the
benefits to the Colossians and to us of peace through Jesus'
sacrifice on the cross. We read:
And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto
himself;
The
verse begins, “And, having made peace through the blood
of his cross,” Paul begins
this verse with “And,”
which shows a continuum to his previous statement - “having
made peace” which is “to
establish harmony” “through the blood of his cross”
which refers to his “bloodshed, shed by violence, slay, and
murder upon the crucifixion”. Because Jesus shed His precious blood
upon the cross, peace was made between God and man.
The
verse goes on to say, “by him to reconcile all things
unto himself;” In addition to
the benefit of “peace”
for man between himself and God, Paul wrote “by him to
reconcile” which means “to
bring back again” “all things” which
are “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things,
everything, and some of all types” “unto himself”.
Nothing that could be reconciled was unable to be brought back again
because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Finally
the verse says, “by him, I say, whether
they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” To
specifically identify the “all things”
written of by Paul, he adds, “whether they be things in earth”
which refers to “the earth as a whole and all the things within it”
or all “things in heaven”
which includes “the universal, the world, and the region
above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and
consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings “.
Jesus reconciled everything that could be brought back to Himself
when He died upon the cross.
As we ponder these words,
let us allow ourselves to think about all the vast number of things
that are in the earth and the heavens. Because man rebelled against
God, man was in effect “at war” with God and everything that
could be lost was forfeited by him. By way of Jesus' blood spilled
upon the cross, peace was made possible with God, and all things that
were lost because of rebellion were brought back to Him again. In
effect, Jesus not only “brought back” or “reconciled”
everything to Himself, but He also “bought” back everything as
well. Jesus' blood upon the cross purchased the possibility of peace
with God, and without His sacrifice no one or no thing could be
reconciled to Him. This is why the scriptures say in Second
Corinthians chapter five and verse twenty “be reconciled to
Him”. Jesus' invitation to be “reconciled” is open
to any and everyone, and the only necessary action required is belief
and trust in Him and His peace provision through the cross.
Next
time Paul will write how the church members of Colosse were
reconciled,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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