Reconciled: Reflections on Colossians 1:19-22

As a dad of young boys, I heartily affirm the Bible’s exclamation: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”[1] My boys love each other (at least we tell them they do), but the moments they are peacefully getting along are usually limited to when they are asleep. The pattern is predictable: play turns into competition, competition into arguing, arguing into verbal or physical attacks. After consoling hurt feelings and applying ice packs, our parental discipline for the offense usually concludes with this question: “How will you restore the relationship?” This is our attempt to lead our sons in reconciliation – to come back together in harmony. 

Reconciliation is to move from hostility to peace. To be reconciled to God is humankind’s greatest need. And Colossians 1 tells us that the means of reconciliation between creation and Creator is the cross of Jesus:

“For in [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:19-21). 

When I ask my son, “How will you restore the relationship?” I am expecting him to do something to make up for his offense. The guilty must pay. But God has done the opposite. Instead of demanding we reform our behavior to earn his forgiveness, God offered his innocent Son to end the hostility. 

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace who will reign forever. His rule will vanquish all who oppose Him. There will be no more rebellion or hostility. Everyone and everything that remains in His Kingdom will be in complete harmony with Him. How good and pleasant that will be!

[1] Psalm 133:1

-Bryan Miller, Pastor of Care

Watch the full sermon from week 1 of our Colossians series here:

Additional Resources to dive deeper into Colossians:

Jesus is All You Need: A Study in Colossians
This family devotional from The Seeds Project is a great tool to help your children learn how to study this book of Colossians.
Colossians & Philemon for You: Rooting You in Christian Confidence
This expository guide helps you unpack Colossians and Philemon verse by verse.