Colossians 1:19-20

In chapter 1 verse 19, Paul states that God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus. This was in direct contradiction to the Gnostic teaching that Jesus was a lesser emanation or god who had limited power and divine ability.

God was pleased because it would be through the incarnation of Christ that God would bring reconciliation between mankind and Himself.

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 NIV

That first cry from the baby Jesus that pierced the silence in Bethlehem would lead to the final cry of Jesus “It is finished” from the cross at Golgotha. It is through this sacrifice that we have been reconciled to God. The concept of reconciliation carries with it the picture of the sinner standing before God as an enemy but then this sinner becomes God’s friend. It is in this sense that God has made peace with us. While we were God’s enemy, Christ died that we could become God’s friend. Paul elaborated on this in Romans 5…

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 NIV

I think it is important to notice that God is doing all the work to bring reconciliation as we are “powerless” to reconcile ourselves to God. Furthermore, this work was done on the cross. If there was no cross, there would be no reconciliation. The cross is the bridge of reconciliation between God and man. Have you crossed this bridge?

Questions to consider?
Consider your own spiritual life today. In what ways have you worked to reconcile yourself to God? How has that worked so far in your life? Do you view yourself as an enemy of God or a friend of God?
What would it take for you to surrender your life to the reconciling love of God today?
Ask God to help you accept the sacrifice of Jesus and be reconciled to God today.