Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Text/SMS
Random
Subscribe
Answer
Ephesians 1:10 reveals the Father’s plan “to gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (KJV). The phrase gather together means “to sum up” or “to gather up.” God’s redemptive plan is summed and gathered up in Christ, who is “head over all things” (Ephesians 2:22, ESV).
The concept of “gathering together” is found elsewhere in Scripture, too. In John 10:16, Jesus explains to His disciples that He has “other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd” (ESV). The “other sheep” are Gentiles, who “were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” (Romans 11:18, ESV). In Christ, Jews and Gentiles have been gathered together, becoming “saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19, ESV).
In Colossians 1:16–20, Paul exalts Christ as both the Lord of creation and the Lord of redemption:
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)
The word reconcile in Colossians 1:20 corresponds to the concept of gathering together in Ephesians 1:10. In both passages, the idea is that God will “gather together” all things in unity. This will happen in the new creation, when God will reconcile all things in Christ. Heaven and earth will be at peace with God forever.In a passage about the resurrection of the dead, Paul says, “God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:27–28, ESV). Here, the concept of “gathering together” is found in God’s intention to subject everything, including unbelievers, to the Son.
Regarding Christ’s lordship, Paul says, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11, ESV). In the new heaven and new earth, God’s plan to “gather together” all things will be complete, and everyone will give praise to Him as Creator and Lord.
