Colossians 1:20-22

20. and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. 21. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22. yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreprovable before him:

Translation and Paraphrase

20. And (it was also well-pleasing) to reconcile all (the alienated things in our universe) to (God) himself through him (that is, through Christ; and Christ does this work of reconciliation as a result of his) having made peace (between God and man) through the blood of (his sacrifice upon) his cross; (Yea, this reconciliation is made) through him (between God and all beings,) whether (they be) the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens.
21. And you (yourselves), though you were formerly alienated (and estranged) and enemies (toward God) in (your) mind by the evil works (which you did),
22. (Yet) he has now reconciled (you) by (offering) his fleshly body through death (upon the cross), to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him.

Notes

1.

God's good pleasure decided that the alienated things in our universe should be reconciled to God through Christ. No other means is provided for this reconciliation.

2.

Sin has ruined and alienated our universe. Romans 8:21. The natural world is full of suffering and disorder. Men on earth and the things in the heavens are alike out of harmony with God because of sin. We do not know what (or who) those things are that are in the heavens which need to be reconciled to God, but Colossians 1:20 indicates that there are such alienated celestial things. Compare Philippians 2:10.

3.

The teaching of Colossians 1:20 that God desires to reconcile all things unto himself could be used as an argument that God will ultimately take everybody and everything to heaven. This notion is called universalism. Some theologians have even argued that Satan himself will ultimately be reconciled. But this teaching so utterly contradicts many other Scriptures concerning eternal punishment that it simply cannot be true. Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:15.

Apparently, while it is God's good pleasure that all things be reconciled, many people simply will not cooperate with God that it be so. God has never forced anyone to accept His blessings, although we cannot escape the consequences of refusing to accept the blessings.

4.

Our evil works alienated us from God in times past and made us enemies in our minds toward God. But this enmity was one-sided, and existed only in our minds. God loved the world. The world because of its sins hated Him. Any time someone wrongs someone else (a child its parent, a pupil his teacher, a workman his employer, a criminal society, a husband his wife, etc.) hostility and estrangement grow up within the one who has done the wrong. This seems so backward; it seems that the one who has been wronged should be offended. But human nature works the other way. The one doing the wrong is alienated, even if the one wronged has forgiven him.

God himself was confronted with this situation. In order to convince man's alienated heart that God truly loved him, God made the supreme sacrifice. He gave up his own son. If the sacrifice of God's own son cannot bring our hearts to love God, nothing can. See 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:13-17. God has made peace between man and himself through the blood of Christ's cross. Ephesians 3:16; Ephesians 3:14.

5.

When once we have been reconciled to God by the message of Christ's death, then it is God's further goal to present us holy, and without blemish, and blameless before Him. There should be a constant process of growth, and self-purification, and service following our conversion until our death (or the Lord's return).

On the day of judgment Christ will deliver those on his right hand unto the father. (Matthew 25:34; 1 Corinthians 15:24). Let us labor to be ready for that day, so that we may be presented holy, without blemish, and unreprovable. (The word unreprovable is Gr. anegkletos, a word which is often translated as blameless, and means that cannot be called to account. 1 Timothy 3:10.)

Study and Review

25

Does Colossians 1:20 teach that ultimately everybody and everything will be reconciled to God and saved? Give a reason for your answer.

26.

Through what has Christ made peace.

27.

Where do those who are to be reconciled live? (2 answers)

28.

What was our mental attitude in the times before we received Christ? (Colossians 1:21)

29.

What had caused us to be in this frame of mind? (Colossians 1:21)

30.

Where was this alienation and enmity that formerly existed? Was it in God's heart?

31.

To what event does the phrase in the body of his flesh through death refer? (Colossians 1:22)

32.

What does Christ intend (or hope) to do with us, now that we are reconciled?

33.

What is our condition to be when we are presented unto God?