Jesus Reconciled Us To God Through His Blood—Colossians 1:19-20

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20)

Christ came to bring peace between God and mankind. This idea in itself is marvelous! Christ’s job was to restore harmony between us. What sin disrupted, Jesus restored.

To do this, Christ entered into the world with the fullness of God dwelling permanently in Him as part of His nature, not as something that was given to Him to help Him accomplish this task. He was fully God and yet willingly became fully man so He could usher in a contract of peace for us. He became a delegate for both parties, the result was the reconciliation of all things, and this pleased the Father. 

Harmony is Restored on the Basis of Jesus’ Blood

The word reconcile means to ‘bring back a former state of harmony’ (Strongs Concordance of New Testament Words). The basis of our reconciliation is that peace was made through Christ’s blood shed on the cross for us. In the sacrificial system, forgiveness could not happen without a blood sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). Which means Jesus’ perfect blood was given as a sacrifice so we could be forgiven. Not only did it cover sins, it obliterated them and anything that accuses us because of them.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). Whatever separation existed between God and mankind before Christ, has been removed and nailed to the very cross that brought us peace. This image is a reminder that harmony has been restored.

Grace is Greater than the Trespass

One of my favorite passages is found in Romans 5, because it contrasts the difference between the effects of sin and the effects of grace. So many times we see the devastation that still exists in our world because of sin. However, we must keep in mind that grace has overwhelmed and outshines these effects in every way imaginable, even when it is not always evident.

This passage is a great contrast between Adam, who brought us death and Jesus, who brings us life. It states so many times how grace abounded and triumphed over the very sin that brought us death. This is a great reminder of the extent of our reconciliation through Jesus.

• Many died because of Sin; much more did God’s grace overflow to the many (vs. 15).

• Judgement followed sin and brought condemnation; the gift brought Justification (vs. 16).

• Death reigned in sin; righteousness reigns in life (vs. 17).

• One trespass brought condemnation; one sacrifice brought justification (vs. 18).

• One disobedient act made many sinners; one act of obedience made many righteous (vs. 19).

• Where sin abounded, GRACE ABOUNDED MUCH MORE! (vs. 20).

• Sin reigns in death; grace reigns in righteousness (vs. 21).

Jesus’ blood brought you peace with God; you are forgiven on this basis. He has obliterated your sins and the written code that accuses you. His job was to restore harmony between you and God.

Your Job is to Be Reconciled

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:18-20).

Everything that needed to be done has been finished. Christ took care of that. However, we still have a part to play, we must personally be reconciled to God. We must choose to accept this gift, to willingly sign the contract of peace offered to us in Jesus.

Today, I pray that you find peace with God. I pray that you understand that His amazing work of restoring harmony with God extends to you. May you be reconciled to Him and spend the rest of your life grasping the depths of His grace!