Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Through the blood shed on the cross Christ made peace and reconciles all things in earth and in heaven to God through himself. That reconciliation takes those alienated and hostile in mind by evil works and presents them holy and blameless, drawing the separated back into faith and fellowship as children and heirs whom God receives with a Father's compassion. At the cross God's tender mercy and forgiveness meet His unwavering justice, and by planting His cross between heaven and earth Christ exposed and overcame Satan and the powers of darkness, casting out the prince of this world and bringing man and the earth back into harmony and obedience to God. This peace is open to all however great the sin, but comes only through the cross to the one who returns with full purpose of heart, receives Christ, surrenders all to God in obedience, and confesses and forsakes sin. Those thus reconciled must show its fruit by laying hold of God's work with earnest energy, cooperating with God and with heaven, growing toward perfection of character, and leading others to Christ.
Peace Through Christ's Blood
Peace was made through the blood of the cross, and by Christ Himself all things are reconciled to God, whether things on earth or things in heaven. That reconciliation was accomplished through death in the body of His flesh in human flesh. His death restores peace between God and the created order.
The reconciliation changes those who were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works and evil deeds, so that through Christ's death and the forgiveness of sins they are made fit to be presented holy and blameless and unreproveable and without reproach in God's sight. Through the sacrifice of the cross fallen human beings are brought near to God, and God draws those separated from heaven back to faith and fellowship with Himself. Those who accept Christ as Saviour become members of God's family with the standing of His children and heirs. His death on the cross is the pledge of salvation because He suffered to save the human race from eternal death, and God accepts believers in the Beloved with a Father's compassion.
The virtue of the cross brings peace with God and reconciliation with Him through Christ. The cross joins God's tender mercy and forgiveness with His unwavering justice. Separation from God brings His severity, while repentance and being reconciled through His Son reveal Him as a merciful Father found by those who repent.
The great object of Christ coming to the world was to expose the falsity of Satan's claim to sovereignty and to reassert God's original and supreme ownership. As Restorer and Lifegiver He placed Himself in the enemy's pathway to dispute Satan's right to the souls and bodies of men and women, planting His cross midway between heaven and earth to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness. By giving His life for the life of sinners the prince of the world was cast out. His death destroys the one who held the power of death. The plan of salvation defeats Satan's bid to establish an independent kingdom defying the authority of God and His Son after man by transgression became Satan's captive and man's kingdom was betrayed into the hands of the arch-rebel. By Him man can again be brought into harmony with God and render obedience to His law, and both man and the earth will finally be redeemed from the power of the wicked one.
Through His self-sacrificing love God's government is shown to be just and loving and Satan's charges are refuted. Christ's redeeming work makes peace and reconciles earth and heaven to God, making union with the Creator unbreakable. Rebellion is exposed as unable to arise again, and the universe is secured from sin and apostasy forever.
His crucifixion seals the everlasting covenant. His death seals the covenant securing the nations and the farthest parts of the earth as His inheritance and possession. Through Him sinners receive forgiveness and transformation of character and are prepared for eternal life. Through Him sinners who confess and forsake their sins receive forgiveness and transformed character.
Christ is both high priest and sacrificial victim: after giving His life for the world He presents the virtue of His offering in the direction of the Holy Place, clothed in His spotless righteousness. The Temple ritual in which the priest sprinkled sacrificial blood seven times as a sign of perfection pictures this work, and His marred appearance fulfills the prophecy that He would sprinkle many nations. Through Christ the Creator who sustains all things people are reconciled to God, and the Sabbath points to this reconciling power as well as to His work of creation and sanctification, recalling the peace lost in Eden and the peace restored through the Saviour.
Living Out Reconciliation
Peace and reconciliation through the blood of the cross are open to all, no matter how great the sin has been. They come only through the cross to the one who returns to God with full purpose of heart, receives Christ, and surrenders will, thoughts, purposes, and all that one has and is to God to be used as He directs in obedience. Through Him sinners who confess and forsake their sins receive forgiveness and transformed character. Christ as the truth must be enthroned in mind and heart, and peace comes only with His abiding Spirit as Prince of Peace, to be sought and received before any move is made while duty is faithfully done.
Each person must ask whether he has been reconciled. The reconciled life must reveal its fruit by taking hold of God's work with an earnestness and energy that shows unbelievers the power of the truth believed. God's broad, full, and complete plan calls for whole-hearted cooperation with Him. Believers are to cooperate with the church in heaven, obey the truth, grow toward perfection of character, and lead others to Christ.
Those redeemed by His own blood are united under Christ as head, with their varied gifts and work brought together under Him. Their unity testifies that they are guided by a heavenly Leader and not by human authority. This reconciliation gives Christ authority to call people and their entrusted abilities, influence, and wealth into service for saving souls. The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent and noble, allowing no littleness, no mean transactions, and none of the cheap, covetous actions that disgrace the doer. Those in responsible positions must make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.
The great plan of redemption calls for earnest thanksgiving, for its promises connected with constant watching unto prayer will never fail. Having learned the excellent way in Christ, believers are to be sanctified body, soul, and spirit, and to be purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. It is the privilege of everyone to exercise the faith which works by love and purifies the soul, to be grounded and settled in the faith, and not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel. The church is still militant and not yet triumphant.