Colossians 1:19-23; NKJV
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Reconciliation is the process by which man and Jehovah are brought together again. Jehovah and man are estranged because of man's sinfulness and Jehovah's holiness. Because of His great love for man, the Father offers the opportunity for reconciliation through the sacrifice of Christ where man's sin is atoned and God's wrath is appeased. When a person obeys the gospel of Christ the relationship of hostility and alienation is changed into one of peace and fellowship.
The initiative in reconciliation was taken by Jehovah. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8; NKJV). Let us make peace with God through the blood of His cross and continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast!
