²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(A) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(B) by making peace^(C) through his blood,^(D) shed on the cross.

¹⁸ All this is from God,^(A) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(B) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(C) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(D) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(E) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(F) 21} God made him who had no sin^(G) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(H)

¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(A)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(B)

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(A) into the world that we might live through him.^{(B) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(C) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^(D)

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(A) in your minds^(B) because of^[a] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(C) you by Christ’s physical body^(D) through death to present you^(E) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(F)—

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(A) were far away have been brought near^(B) by the blood of Christ.^(C)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(D) who has made the two groups one^(E) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(F) the law with its commands and regulations.^(G) His purpose was to create in himself one^(H) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(I) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(J) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^(K)

¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them,^[a](A) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful^(B) and faithful high priest^(C) in service to God,^(D) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^(E)

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified^(A) through faith,^(B) we^[a] have peace^(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,^(D)