(Col. 1:21,22.)

(Continued from page 45.)

These verses treat of reconciliation as now applied to those who receive the Lord Jesus. We have already spoken of the fact that the Fulness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell in Him, and that Fulness had the wonderful plan of reconciliation in view (vers. 19-22). The reconciliation is to this Fulness-to the Godhead, "to itself."* *Scripture quotations are from the New Trans., J. N. D.* It involves the thought that this reconciliation is, yea, must be, according to and in every way suitable to the nature, character, glory of the Godhead. This being so, and the foundation being the Cross of Christ, who can understand the mystery of that great transaction wrought out at Calvary?

"O mystery of mysteries!
Of life and death the tree;
Center of two eternities,
Which look, with rapt, adoring eyes,
Onward and back to Thee-
O Cross of Christ, where all His pain
And death is our eternal gain."

Bound up with it is the great mystery of godliness- God manifested in flesh. Verse 21 states as to the Fulness of the Godhead, that "now has it reconciled." The Fulness was engaged to effectuate this great purpose.

Before considering the other statements of this verse, notice again how the Fulness is mentioned in verse 22- "To present you holy and unblameable and irreproachable before it" – an expression which may include present standing in acceptance, but certainly expresses the wonderful consummation in store for all now reconciled as believing on the Lord Jesus. As to the latter, Jude is explicit, "Set you with exultation blameless before His glory." But the point is, "before it." How blessed! It means to be presented in absolute suitability to that infinite Fulness-no one can abide in that presence who has not been made fit for the light.

Now this is made possible by the cross, as it is said, "In the body of His flesh through death." "In" as denoting what is characteristic. It is according to the value to God of that prepared body which was so absolutely perfect-"holy, blameless, irreproachable," as we may reverently say. Thus, before God, are all those who are reconciled. This brings in the beautiful type of the meal-offering. But it is "through death," as the means by which reconciliation is possible. This may well suggest to us the thought of the burnt-offering and the sin-offering, as we remember that in the typical ritual of Leviticus the memorial of the meal-offering, and the proper part of every sin-offering, was consumed with the continual burnt-offering on the great altar. This, then, tells us how the Fulness of the Godhead has reconciled those who believe-"Now has it reconciled in the body of His flesh through death." This is why our acceptance and presentation before the Fulness can be defined as "holy, blameless, irreproachable."

These terms may rightly be considered as applicable to Christ in whom we are accepted and complete.

"Holy"-Luke 1:35; Acts 2:27; 3:14; 4:27,30 (in both of these verses it should be "holy Servant Jesus").

'"Blameless"-that is, without blemish, spotless, and used of the Lord in Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19. It is the term so often used of the sacrifices in Leviticus.

"Irreproachable"-against such an one no charge can be laid. How true of the Lord Jesus! He ever did the things which pleased the Father, and was always heard. "He is altogether lovely."

Truly in Him was no sin, He knew no sin, He did no sin. These terms are applied to the redeemed in verse 22.

"Thus is our acceptance told."

In the light of these considerations we may turn back to the opening statement of verse 21-"You who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works." What a blessed change has taken place-"yet now has it reconciled." What has wrought this change in us is the manifestation of God seeking to reconcile man, His enemy wrongfully, by sending His Son into the world, not to judge but to save, and giving Him to the death of the cross! The infinite love in this seems emphasized by the form of expression in Rom. 5:10-"The death of His Son," and again, He "spared not His own Son" (Rom. 8:32). This change is, of course, connected with the acceptance of the gospel, the message of reconciliation now preached in the world. Coincident with its acceptance, our disposition toward God and our principles are changed.

The thought, however, in the word "reconcile" appears to be not only change, but exchange. There is not only a change of disposition and principles by reason of a divine work in our souls imparting to us a new nature and eternal life, but there is connected with it the truth that before God we exchange our former place for a new place, even that of being alive unto God in Christ Jesus, and are new creation in Him. Though not yet actually in all that means, we are called to walk according to the truth of it. "We have been reconciled," "We have received the reconciliation," is connected with the death of Christ.

To be reconciled to God means not only to know His disposition toward us through the manifestation of Himself in Christ, but also to know that in the cross God has fully dealt in judgment with all in us which would be unsuited to the Fulness of the Godhead. Nothing now exists to hinder the fullest, freest access into His presence. This is true the moment we believe, though the soul's apprehension of it will necessarily wait upon its growth in the knowledge of the gospel of our salvation.

In resume, and as connecting with the closing remarks of our last study in which four things were mentioned, we may say:

(a) The message of reconciliation is the gospel of God concerning His Son.
(b) The means of reconciliation are found in the cross of Christ, from God's side, and as to us (alienated and enemies naturally) the Holy Spirit's work through the Word presenting the ministry of reconciliation – the preaching of the cross, receiving which we are born of God.

(c) The meaning of reconciliation is the change of our disposition toward God. From enemies we are changed to lovers of God, finding pleasure in His good, acceptable and perfect will. It embraces the truth of our new place -accepted in Christ; so that according to God's holy reckoning concerning us there is nothing that can arise to bring estrangement, or disturb the believer's divinely formed relationship with God.

(d) The end in view is that glorious presentation in the presence of God suited to the fulness of the Godhead. John Bloore