Scripture : Col 1:19-25, Phil 1:29-30, etc.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Col 1:18).
At the time of creation, God initially planned to establish his kingdom on earth through humans. But when this plan failed because of man’s sin, he decided to carry out his original plan by sending his Son. To achieve this, he first had to reconcile this world to himself because the world had become hostile to him due to its unrighteousness.
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 (vv. 19-20).
This reconciliation does not simply mean that our sins are forgiven and that we can once again have peace with God, commune with him, and partake in his blessings. Pay attention to the expression, “whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Because of sin, Satan had taken away from us the spiritual authorities, thrones, and powers, and spiritual fruit such as love, joy, and peace, as well as God’s eternal life, which is the spiritual substance that flows from God. But all these things, with every spiritual blessing, have been reconciled to him and restored to us. These things are all in the heavenly realms, and God has timelessly chosen and blessed us with them through Christ even before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4). And this reconciliation was achieved through “his blood, shed on the cross” with the unjust afflictions he suffered. The blood was poured into the earth and is now crying out. This blood is the Spirit of God Yahweh, who lived in Jesus. And we are part of this reconciliation in Christ.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (vv. 21- 22)—
