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."
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Colossae, emphasizes Christ’s complete work for the reconciliation to Holy God of those for whom He died. This verse highlights that, through Christ's sacrifice unto death on the cross, He has reconciled to God all things—whether on earth or in heaven—bringing peace and harmony where there was once separation due to the fall in Adam's disobedience. It reveals the all-encompassing nature of the LORD Jesus’ work, not just for the individual salvation of each of God's elect, but for the entire created order, whereby one day only perfect righteousness will dwell, with the curse of the fall completely removed because of Christ's death on the cross. “Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
When we read, "having made peace," it refers to a legal peace, a legal standing, and it goes right back up to verse 12, "which hath made us meet to be partakers." There had to be peace established between chosen sinners and the God who chose them from eternity. God's sword of justice had to be buried in this Representative's Head. " Awake, O Sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man [that is] my Fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones" (Zechariah 13:7).
How was reconciliation accomplished? "Through the blood of His cross." And when was this work done? When were all those saved for whom Christ was sent into this world? It was when He earned and established righteousness equal to that required by God the Father and then laid down His life in death on the cross. That’s why, in a loud victorious voice, He cried, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).
Christ did not die a whimpering victim. No, He died a successful Savior. He died the Heir. He died as the Substitute of His people, whom the Father gave Him to save before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6). He did not die because those crucifying Him were able to overpower Him. Had He wanted to be delivered from their hands, He could have defeated them all by the Word of His Power (Matthew 26:53). But He did not come to judge the world; He came that the world (sinners from every tribe and nation) should be saved by the Offering of Himself in death to the Father as the Sacrificial Lamb. Therefore, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He went as a passive lamb, and as a lamb who before His shearers is dumb, He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
Scripture says that He was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God the Father into the wicked hands of men (Acts 2:23). Those who crucified the LORD Jesus acted according to their wicked, depraved will, but could do nothing more or less than what God had already determined. His foreknowledge was not simply His prior knowledge of what they would do to Him. Foreknowledge is God knowing beforehand what He has determined to do. He knows before it comes to pass because He has already determined ahead of time what should be. The LORD Jesus was even directing everything from the cross that was being done to Him, to the glory of His Father. He bore it, but He was also directing it!
Scripture says, "by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself." That is, all those the Father gave Him, all those who were appointed to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints, by Him at the cross were reconciled. Peace was made for them: "by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Whether it be those who have passed on before or those who remain, it is still going to be by Christ alone, the One Savior, the One Sacrifice, the One Righteous Offering.
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1
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