Shirley H Supporter Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

I would have you back up one verse. Let's look at Colossians 1:19: "For it pleased the Father that in Him (John 1:16: "And of His fullness we have all received grace for grace") all fullness should dwell."

In verses 20, 21, "reconcile all things" shows the significance of Christ's work on the cross. It does not say that all people will be saved. Many passages clearly indicate that unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God.

Matthew 25 gives us the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins, also the parable of the talents.

Then we read in the same chapter about the Son of Man judging the nations. Look at verse 37, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or in prison?"

Jesus' response, "When you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me!"

Verse 25:45, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me!"

Verse 46, "These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

I am not saying that you work for salvation. I am saying that without faith in what the cross accomplished, there is no redemption.

Romans 4:3, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Habakkuk: "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith."

In Genesis 17, the Lord appeared to 99-year-old Abraham and said, "Walk before Me and be blameless!"

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

No, see Revelation 20:11-15:

11 Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened — the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.

"And then in Revelation 14:11, John uses the strongest phrase possible in Greek to express eternity. He says, 'And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.' The Greek phrase behind that 'forever and ever' is as strong as it can be." John Piper

So what does it mean then? Every knee will bow to Christ eventually because He is sovereign. "Every knee... of those in heaven and on earth and UNDER THE EARTH." Philippians 2. But Colossians 1 said that Christ would reconcile all things "all things on earth or things in heaven" but does NOT say "things under the earth". I.e., in my opinion, Christ then, according to this verse, will not reconcile unbelievers to himself in a salvation kind of way.

Jesus will say to many unbelievers, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). 

Friend, the same Bible that assures believers of complete peace with God through Christ’s cross also warns with unbearable clarity: there is a real lake of fire, a second death, and an eternity of conscious torment for those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. God does not send anyone there grudgingly. He will not violate their choice to reject His Son.

You may have heard that “all roads lead to heaven” or that a loving God would never punish anyone forever. But the same Jesus who said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary” (Matt 11:28) also said, “Depart from Me, you cursed” (Matt 25:41). Love and holiness meet at the cross. They meet precisely so that no one has to hear those dreadful words.

So here is my challenge to you, not as a threat but as the most urgent plea one human can make to another:

Stop assuming you have time.
Stop believing the lie that your goodness outweighs your sin (like I used to do).
Stop imagining that Christ’s death automatically covers you while you ignore Him (again, like I used to do).

Today, right now, bow the knee that will bow anyway. But bow in repentance and faith, not in terror at the judgment. The same Jesus who will judge the world is now holding out His scarred hands to you. “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).

Will you pray something like this?

“Lord Jesus, I admit I have lived for myself. I deserve the lake of fire. But I believe You died for my sins and rose again. Right now, I turn from my sin and trust You alone to save me. Write my name in the Book of Life. Be my peace with God. Amen.”

If you meant that, even tremblingly, then Colossians 1:20 is for you. Christ has reconciled you. The throne in Revelation 20 is no longer your judge but your Father’s seat of grace. Do not wait. Your eternal “where” hangs on your answer to Him today.

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