Six Misconceptions About the Reconciliation of All

misconception # 1 The Reconciliation of All = an unbiblical expression, invented by man. Incorrect. The expression is directly taken from Colossians 1:20. (> apokatalaxai ta panta = reconciliation of all).

… through Him to reconcile all to Him (making* peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens. And you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, by wicked acts, yet now He reconciles… * The translation “having made peace” (completed) is NOT correct. The Greek here is an aorist, which is a timeless verb form. God HAS not made peace on the cross. He MAKES peace through the cross (regardless of ‘when’).

misconception # 2 The Reconciliation of All = on the cross the sins of all are reconciled Reconciliation is not associated with sin, but with enmity. Sins are “covered”. The fact that the Hebrew word “kapher” (or its Greek equivalent) is usually confused with “reconciliation” is the reason why the average Bible reader has no idea of what reconciliation means… misconception # 3

The Reconciliation of All = God forgives everyone

Forgiveness and reconciliation are two totally different issues. Forgiveness means that God does not anymore take into account sins and offences. Reconciliation means that God changes hostile creatures into loving creatures. Reconciliation does not mean a ‘general pardon’. misconception # 4 The Reconciliation of All = all people will be reconciled True, but incomplete. The reconciliation of all is related to all enmity, “whether on earth or in the heavens”. The peace that God brings about, applies not only to everyone on earth, but also to all the hostile rulers among the celestials, including “the prince of the power of the air”; Ephesians 6:12, 2:2. misconception # 5 The Reconciliation of All = God has reconciled Himself with everyone Incorrect. God has never been an enemy of any of His creatures. On the contrary: He loves “the work of His hands”! Since God never has been hostile towards His any of His creatures, He could not and needed not ever to be reconciled. I repeat, God reconcile NOT Himself to His enemies, but He reconciles his enemies to Himself! Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18,19. misconception # 6 The Reconciliation of All = everyone is reconciled Incorrect. As long as there is, in God’s entire universe, even one creature hostile to his Creator, then the Reconciliation of All is not yet a fact. What really is meant by the reconciliation of all? The reconciliation-of-all means that every enemy or anyone estranged from God, whether in heaven or on earth, will be won by the love demonstrated on the cross of Golgotha. No enemy nor estranged individual will be able to remain unresponsive to the overwhelming power of GOD’S LOVE! Not even one enemy left! Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Phil.2:10,11

That this is a wholehearted acknowledgment, is evident from the following facts: 1. Every tongue will confess. This is explicitly not lip service. The lips, in the Bible, refer to the outside, the tongue, in contrast, always refers to the inside; 2. The word for confession in Philippians 2:11 is ex-omologeo. The prefix ‘ex’ means that it comes from within. Wherever this word occurs in the NT (11x), it expresses wholehearted agreement. Besides, nobody can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except through the Holy Spirit 1Cor.12: 3; 3. Every tongue will confess “to the glory of God the Father”. Not by compulsion, but for the glory of God (as Father!), will sound forth the acclaim, in heaven, on earth and under the earth. translation: Peter Feddema

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