Col. 1:19-23

In religion reconciliation repairs the relationship between the Supreme Being and humanity.  It is fundamental; every religion, by definition, must provide an answer.  Here is reconciliation as seen in some religions.

·        Animism: stay on the good side of the spirits, using mediators (e.g. witch doctors) who influence offended spirits, usually involving blood sacrifices.

·        Judaism: achieve reconciliation through repentance and kindness.

·        Islam: believe the articles of faith, practice the 5 pillars, obey Islamic law, but you still may have to endure purgatory to be reconciled with Allah.

·        Hinduism: find total release from evil existence using meditation.

·        Universalism: everyone is reconciled by God; no one is God’s enemy.

·        Roman Catholicism: peace is in the merit of Christ plus the merit of the saints plus personal merit, though purgatory will still be necessary.

·        Orthodox: reconciliation is received by grace, but grace requires cooperation of the believer through the Eucharist and confession.

·        Gnosticism: spirit beings between heaven and earth partially bring peace but man does the rest, especially through increased knowledge.

          In our passage Paul succinctly provides the Biblical view of reconciliation.

¨     The need for reconciliation, v20-21.  Man needs God to do the work because man is alienated from and the enemy of God.  Sin and guilt are real issues. Reconciliation involves everything.  Sin entered by man (Rom. 5:12) and effected all creation.  The resolution will affect mankind and all creation.

¨     The provision of reconciliation, v20b, 22a.  God has done the work.  It involves what Christ did on the cross in shedding His blood.  He brought peace by removing that which brought enmity.  He paid the penalty for sin by His death, the death of a real Man, as is emphasized by the phrase, the body of his flesh.  The provision was real and satisfied the need of all things (v20). 

¨     The goal of reconciliation, v22b.  The work that God did through Christ at the cross is sufficient to present people holy and blameless (cf. Eph. 1:4) before God.  This is a critical issue: the work of Christ is complete.  

¨     The appropriation of reconciliation, v23.  The work of Christ is for mankind and will affect all of creation.  But, as always, appropriation of that work, or the experience of reconciliation, is an individual matter.  What is critical in this verse is that the reconciliation is found in the gospel and nowhere else.  Individuals are not required to add something to it, only to receive it by faith.  The need to continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast adds nothing; rather it constantly recognizes the complete and finished work of Christ on the cross.  Remember that to add one’s own merit to faith leaves one still estranged from God as to never have believed at all.

          The need is to trust in the finished work of Christ and resist the temptation to add anything to it.  Are you reconciled to God by the blood of the cross?