Colossians 1: 20 – Subjection versus reconciliation

…and 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.

Colossians 1 verse 20 describes the comprehensive impact of what God is going to accomplish “through the blood of the cross.” The idea here is not (as elsewhere) that God is going to subject everything to Christ. Not subjection, but reconciliation is the subject here. And what reconciliation means is simply stated: making peace. By the way, both ‘reconcile’ and ‘making peace’ in this verse are in the so-called ‘aorist’ (=’without horizon’). It’s not a matter of when, but that God will make this happen.

Subjecting an enemy is very different from making an enemy a friend. Force majeure may be sufficient to subject someone. But to turn an enemy into a friend, his heart must be won. And that is exactly what God is going to accomplish through the blood of the cross. God does not leave it alone with words, He proves that even the brutal murder of His Son does not detract from His unconditional love that embraces all. In fact, without this act of hostility, He would not have had the opportunity to provide convincing proof of that love!

Delen: