Reconciled in his body of flesh by his death.

Colossians 1:15-23, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him 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, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

There are those who compare Jesus to worldly teachers; those who say he was a good man and those who say he is a fine example for us. If we listen to His own words and those of others who walked with Him, we see that He is far more than all of that, “the image of the invisible God.” He is the one through whom all things were created and even now “holds all things together.” And in the cross, He has become “the way, the truth and the life,” adopting us that He might present us as a holy people. When we are in Christ all things are made new and we are presented to the Father blameless and above reproach!

Let us continue in the faith stable and steadfast by the power that You give us through Your Holy Spirit today, O Lord!

ESV Lectionary