Jesus and the reconciliation of man

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“…God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in (Christ), 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, NIV)

The pleasure of God

“…God was pleased…” are the telling words of the Apostle Paul as he writes to the Church at Colosse. God would choose Jesus as the instrument through which He would reach the world with the saving truth of the gospel. It would not be easy nor convenient. God would have to become a man in order to save men from their sins. So, God literally gave a piece of Himself, indeed all of Himself, in the fleshly form of Christ, to reconcile mankind.

God’s pronouncement of delight concerning His Son, is perhaps most evident at the baptism of Jesus. “‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17, NIV). This is the voice heard from heaven, Divinity approving of humanity. All of who God is – His justice and mercy – is revealed in Jesus. If one would ever want to know what God is truly like, he must look no further than Christ.

The reconciliation of man

Paul continues by writing that, through Jesus, God reconciled all things to Himself and that peace between God and man was now evident through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. No other peace offering would be sufficient for the salvation of mankind, for only the perfection of God, in Christ, could appease the justice of God.

God’s fullness in Christ makes possible the fullness of redemption for mankind. God came to earth in the incarnate flesh of Jesus, who lived a life worthy of the holiness of God, and died in the place of man. Heaven came to earth so that earth could attain heaven. This is the good news of the gospel of God.

Pray

Dear God, thank you for becoming one of us in Christ in order to save us from our sins. I believe in the forgiveness won for me through Jesus’ death on the cross. I am heaven-bound and forever grateful. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.