THE RECONCILIATION OF THE CROSS
An Expository of Col 1:20-22

Text: Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

In order to fully understand the impact of this part of Paul’s letter, we need to understand two things. One is that of the peace offering of the Old Testament and the other is that the Gnostics as well as other heretical groups were teaching other ways in which man could ingratiate himself with God.

V 20 'Having made peace'(eirenopoiesas - making peace - a present and continuous action)
A. The need for peace recognizes the state of strife which otherwise exists.
1. Cause of the strife? SIN
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
2. Appeasement through the efforts of man is impossible. This is because of the total depravity of man. Our best effort is sinful!
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

'Through the BLOOD of his cross' - In the demand for a blood sacrifice, God has been consistent, beginning with the covering for Adam and Eve.
1. His eternal plan called for it
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2. In types, He pictured it
Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
3. God did it and so proclaims it
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
4. All other means are ruled out.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
HYMN: IN MY HANDS NO PRICE I BRING; SIMPLY TO THE CROSS I CLING

C. 'To reconcile ALL things'. Nothing left out of the eternal plan, that there will be NO schism in His divine kingdom.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
1. The earth itself
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
It awaits the day
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.


IT WILL HAPPEN!
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
EVEN DEATH IS VANQUISHED
I Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
OUR ACCUSER IS FINALLY CAST OUT!
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

V 21 Of all these things, the only present and accomplished reconciliation is OURS!
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

I Jno 3:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Jno 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

V 22
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
WHAT A GLORIOUS EXCHANGE FOR US!

FAIR TRADE?

From man:
A cross, a crown of thorns,
Vinegar and gall;
A curse, a jeer, a mocking robe
And lies in Pilate’s hall.

No comfort from a loved one;
Denial from a friend;
Pain beyond the ken of man;
Heartbreak in the end.

For Man:
In trade, a crown of life;
A never-thirsting drink;
A gentle hand of comfort;
With heaven, now a link!

An advocate before the throne;
A robe of righteousness;
Peace and comfort till the end;
His to own and bless!

fcc