There Is No Peace Without Love: Reconciliation (Colossians 1:15-20).

Class Outline:

Sunday October 4, 2026

 

Main idea: Because God through Christ reconciled all things to Himself on the cross, the peace of the universe under Him as head is guaranteed and we can live in a real hope of a kingdom made up of the peace of love in relationship that delivers us from the cares of this world. 

 

COL 1:15-17

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together

 

We’ve got to fully know the one who owns this kingdom.

 

COL 1:18

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

 

These two positions of primacy, over all creation and over the new creation, put Christ in the sole position of being first place in everything.

 

The last lines of the poem bring it to the apex.

 

COL 1:19-20

For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

 

1. All the fulness of God was pleased to dwell. 

 

At first: Zion

 

PSA 132:13

For the Lord has chosen Zion;

He has desired it for His habitation.

 

This is strikingly different; the idea of God in a man?

 

MAT 26:65

“He has blasphemed!

 

“Fullness of God.”

 

The attributes of God (love), the Word (Law and prophets), Wisdom (Pro 8). 

 

These are not God but parts of the essence of God. 

 

COL 2:9

 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.

 

2. Reconcile all things to Himself. (through Him and to Him)

 

“Reconcile” apokatallasso: exchange hostility for a friendly relationship.

 

Reconciliation are used of you in the next verse and elsewhere.

 

ROM 5:10

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled [katallasso], we shall be saved by His life.

 

Only God ever initiates reconciliation in the Scripture.

 

Rome’s peace lasted as long as the legions did.

 

COL 1:20 says Christ made peace through the blood of his cross — the same instrument Rome used to enforce its peace becomes the instrument of true reconciliation.

 

Reconciliation is a restored relationship, not a ceasefire.

 

This is God’s idea of a kingdom: not enforcement, subjugation - righteousness in which the King and the subjects are in a relationship of love (reconciliation).

 

“All things:” Universe has been reconciled in that heaven and earth have been brought back into their divinely created and determined order. The universe is again under its head and cosmic peace has returned.

 

The NT reveals that God brought forward the inauguration of the ‘age to come,’ the age of resurrection, into the midst of the present age in order that the power, the love, the relationship of peace in the new age might be unleashed upon the world while there is still time for people to be saved and become members of the kingdom.

 

Christ told us to evangelize in this way:

 

JOH 13:35

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

The Son of God’s invasion of this world reveals to us that there can be no real peace without love between the two or many people; between the ruler and the subjects, both ways.

 

JOH 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

 

3. Historical: the cross reconciles the universe.

 

Why does the historical cross (stated in past tense) reconcile the world?

 

At the cross, through the vicarious or substitutionary atonement accomplished by it, the prisoners were set free. Once free, it is demanded next, that the world must change to accommodate them - the true kingdom must be established, peace must be restored.

 

The certificate of debt for all believers is cleared and the principalities and powers are disarmed (COL 2:14-15).

 

COL 2:13-15

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

 

LUK 22:14-20

When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;  16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;  18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."  19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.