Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Judith, good question you asked! I think Paul was speaking of God’s sovereignty, not God’s salvation of everyone. That would be universal salvation or “universalism.” Here he speaks of reconciling all things in heaven and all things on earth. Note he doesn’t say “all things under the earth” (the lost).

He does mention in another context, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (PHP 2:10) But this even the lost will do in hell if they have waited too long to accept Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation.

October 10 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To me, the point of the cited verse is not that God has saved or will save everyone, but that God has made reconciliation/salvation POSSIBLE for everyone. However, it is still necessary to accept the Holy Spirit's gift of faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), which only the redeemed will do.

June 19 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

It was Jesus Christ who created all things, not only in earth, but also in heaven (as stated in the verses prior to the verse in question). It was at the cross when God was in Christ reconciling the world back unto Himself (from our previous fallen state by Adam), and now no longer imputing the world's sins (2 Cor 5:19).

When we believe that, or place our faith in "His blood" for that purpose (Rom 3:25), we are accepting God's free gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-9). When God's heavenly body of believers has been filled, our purpose in heaven, as Christ's ministers of reconciliation, will be to reconcile the heavens back to God (1 Cor 6:3). Israel will someday be God's nation of priests on earth (Matt 19:28), while the church, the body of Christ, will be be God's ministers in heaven, but all was made possible by Christ at the cross, and available to all who will believe. All in Christ, in heaven and in earth, will come together as one when time has been fulfilled.

Col 1:12-20
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Eph 1:10
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:"

June 19 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report