Reconciled by the Blood

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:16-20)

“For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things… making peace by the blood of His cross.”

Sin separated us so deeply from God that reconciliation wasn’t just unlikely—it was impossible on our end. We wouldn’t have tried. We couldn’t have succeeded. But God, rich in mercy and moved by love, didn’t wait for us to come to Him. He came to us.

The fullness of God dwelled in Jesus—God in the flesh, our Creator stepping into creation. The image, in which we were made, took on our form to redeem and reconcile us to Himself. His blood fully atoned for our sin and made peace with God on our behalf. All that’s left is for us to receive the gift.

But that reconciliation doesn’t stop at the vertical. It extends horizontally—to one another. If no sin was too big to keep us from God’s love, then no offense should be too great to keep us from forgiving each other. Christ not only reconciles us to Himself, He empowers us to become ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–21). As far as it depends on us, we are called to live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18), forgiving as we have been forgiven (Matt. 6:12).

In Christ, nothing is beyond reconciliation. Nothing.