Reconciliation of "all things" through Christ

What exactly does God reconcile when He sent His Son to die on the cross. Traditional theological thinking tells us that God is reconciled with mankind through the cross. In this article, I would like to question whether mankind the only subject of reconciliation?

"15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers 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. 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." (Col 1:15-20 NIV)

It is clear from this passage that Jesus is the agent and the motivation for creation for "all things have been created through him and for him". "all things" in this context would seem to mean everything in heaven and on earth, which includes "visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities". It is unclear whether this list is exhaustive. What is clear is that “all things” would mean creation.

What is interesting is v 19-20, which says that  "all things" are reconciled to Himself through Christ, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.

I think it is clear then that creation is reconciled to God through Christ by making peace through His blood. What then is our human responsibility in what Jesus Christ is doing? Is there any role for us at all?

The cultural mandate given to us in Genesis 1:28 is God's divine injunction on mankind to rule, subdue and fill the earth.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen 1:28 KJV)

This mandate does not seem to be specifically addressed to Christians only. It would apply equally to the unredeemed and Christians alike. How then should we, as the redeemed people of God exercise this mandate?

The cultural mandate given by God enables us to find meaning in our work and vocation, may it be in law, medicine, business, arts, media etc, for God's commandmant in Gen 1:28 to Adam and Eve was a commandmant for them to work in God's creation. As part of God's Kingdom here on earth, how do we "reign on earth" by serving God? Do we do so by establishing theocracies on earth or do we wrestle against authorities for political power? 

Rev 1:6 says that we are saved to be a kingdom and priests to serve God. Rev 5:10 says that we, the kingdom and priests are to reign on earth. How do we "reign on earth"? How do these verses relate to the cultural mandate?

Establishing dominion over earth by establish theocracies do not seem to be a commandmant given to Christians on the basis of these verses. I prefer to think that our command to "reign on earth" ties back to the cultural mandate given by God for us to have "dominion" over creation. We are to "reign on earth" by being God's kingdom and priests. A kingdom presents God to creation. A priest presents creation to God. We are called to "reign on earth" as a kingdom and priests in whichever vocation we are called into. 

Just as we are reconciled with Christ by the blood, let us reign on earth as a kingdom and priests by being part of Christ's reconciliation of His creation here on earth. This is a call for Christians to not hide in our churches and be withdrawn from the world. It is a call for to actively engage culture in whichever vocation that God placed us in. The goal therefore is so that "earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the see" (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV)


As citizens of a democracy with a stake in a nation, are we similarly called to engage with culture in influencing policies that will affect a nation's well-being?



If we are indeed a kingdom and priests to reign on earth in service to God, it is difficult to disagree with the notion that cultural engagement in the area of policy-making is something that all Christian citizens must do in the present age.