The Good News of Jesus Christ is about Him making peace with us. He wants our relationship with Him restored!

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Romans 5:1

As we discussed yesterday, Isaiah prophesied about the stubbornness of the Israelite people to hear, but not understand. Jesus quoted the same verse, but then told His disciples (after He rose from the dead) to reveal what had been hidden. What is it that was revealed in Jesus? Let’s look:

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:18-20

1. Christ considers every follower to be part of His body. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we ceremonially take His body into our own, thus symbolizing us in Him. We are the church; we are His Bride.
2. In Christ we all died; now, in Christ, we all live. When we are baptized, we ceremonially die with Him and are raised with Him to walk in a new life, one that is found in Him and led by Him.
3. All the fullness of God dwells in Him. I use present tense because Jesus is alive and is seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19, Acts 2:32-33, Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2). When we look at Jesus, we are seeing the Father (John 14:9).
4. Verse 20 could be interpreted that eventually, all things will willingly come into the fellowship of God. The same could be said for Ephesians 1:10. What we must consider is:
   • The central idea of the NT is that mankind has a choice to receive Jesus as Lord or face judgment.
   • This concept goes beyond our purview. We must remember Isaiah 55:8-9 that God’s thoughts and ways are far beyond our own.
   • Even so, those who reject Christ will stand before Him condemned (John 3:18, John 5:24-30).

So, what is the Good News that we are to reveal to the world? The Good News is that Jesus has made peace with all through His shed blood on the cross! All is forgiven! We can all come home–if we so choose. But, we cannot walk the way of the world and go the way of heaven; they are in two different directions. More than that, the way of heaven is like 12 o’clock on a clock; any other time is not 12 o’clock and is the way of the world. Only Jesus can show us the “straight and narrow path” (Matthew 7:13-14).

As we share the Good News, let us pray that the Spirit prompts people’s hearts to accept and receive Jesus as Lord.

Abba, I want everyone to know the peace I have in You, the joy I share in You, and the love I feel in You. Why would anyone trade away such a valuable and precious gift from You? Show them the Truth, Lord. I offer my life to You; may my life and my faithfulness (brought about by Your Spirit) bring glory to Your kingdom. Amen.