Colossians 1:20-23 The reconciling work of Christ

And through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross. You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds, 22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him, if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. Because of the sin seed established by Adam, all of humanity less the incarnate Jesus Christ were born into sin and enemies of a holy God. But God, being rich in mercy and grace sent his Son to bear the sins of the world unto himself so that by his death on the cross, his shedding of blood, and his resurrection from the dead we may now in-Christ, be reconciled to the Father. Apart from Christ, there is no reconciliation. This is why he says "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except by me." By being in Christ's company, the Father does not see an enemy but a fried, one who was washed by the blood of Christ and forgiven. God's forgiveness has not changed our sinful nature, but by the work of the Holy Spirit and of Christ, the sinner will be sanctified into the image of Christ and atonement will occur.