Reconciliation

The plight of humanity is described in Colossians as belonging to “the power of darkness” (1:13), “estranged and hostile in mind” (1:21), and “dead in trespasses” (2:13). Christ’s death (1:22; 2:13–15) and resurrection (2:12–13), however, mean that God has “rescued us … and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son” (1:13) and offered us “forgiveness” (1:14). The result of such reconciliation is “peace” (1:20) with God, which also should manifest itself in peace within the body of Christ (3:15).

Reconciliation is to occur among the people of God because they have put on the “new self” (3:10). This reconciliation means that certain earthly things should be set aside—e.g., impurity, greed (3:5), anger, abusive language (3:8), lying (3:9), etc. God’s elect should be clothed with compassion kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (3:12), and they should forgive others “just as the Lord has forgiven you” (3:13). The result of such a transformation embodies the new status that believers have in Christ, in whom “there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free” (3:11).