The Blood and Our Relationship with God
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:13-23
“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.” — Colossians 1:20
They were getting on up in years. Both were grandparents. But the two sisters had a falling out. It was over something silly — silly, at least, in comparison to the value of their relationship. But they weren’t speaking to one another. Perhaps each wished the other would call to apologize. But it never happened. Then suddenly and tragically, one of the sisters died. The second tragedy was that they died unreconciled. Sad as that story is, it is even more tragic that many people die without being reconciled with God.
Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. The word “reconcile” means to renew a friendship or to restore to a right relationship. Paul told the church at Colossae that if anybody was going to be saved—reconciled to God—it must be through Christ. He is the only one who can renew our relationship with God.
Our sin makes us the enemies of God. Leon Morris observes:
“It is plain the New Testament speaks of God and sinners as enemies. Now an enemy is not simply someone who falls a little short of being a good and faithful friend. He belongs in the opposite camp. He is opposed to what the one is doing. Sinners are putting their effort into the opposite direction of God. We should be clear on this. The sin we do inevitably arouses the hostility of God.” 1
Yet it was “… when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son …” (Romans 5:10). Even though He was the offended party, God took the initiative. He has removed the offense that separated us. As Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”
Before we were saved, we were not close to God. Our relationship with Him was broken. We were enemies of God. But in the blood of Christ God has provided a way for us to draw near to Him, to be close to God, to be reconciled. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
How close are you to God? Have you applied the blood of Jesus to reconcile you to God? Can you sing,
Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!
Glory to His name,
Glory to His name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name! — Elisha Hoffman
Read through Colossians 1 and meditate on how the blood of Christ has reconciled you to God.
1 Leon Morris, The Atonement: its Meaning & Significance, IVP, 1983, Chapter 6, Page 136-137
