King James Bible
"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."
Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is the means by which peace is established between God and creation. The phrase emphasizes the costliness of reconciliation—requiring bloodshed—and echoes Old Testament sacrificial imagery where blood atones for sin and restores broken relationships. Through Christ, God actively draws all creation back into right relationship with himself. This reconciliation is comprehensive and God-initiated, reversing the cosmic fracture caused by sin and restoring the original harmony between Creator and creation. The scope of Christ's reconciling work extends beyond humanity to encompass the entire created order—both earthly and heavenly realms. This universal reach suggests that sin's effects disrupted even the spiritual realm, and Christ's work addresses the totality of that disruption.