What does Colossians 1:22 mean?

Though the Colossian believers were once evil in thoughts and actions, Jesus' death in a human body provided the sacrifice necessary to restore them. Paul has just mentioned reconciliation through Jesus in verse 20. There, Paul emphasized the blood and the cross. Here, he focuses on the death of Christ, with both verses speaking of the same sacrificial act.

Three reasons are given for Jesus to suffer a violent death. First, Jesus died to present us as holy, which means "set apart." We cannot be holy without His sacrifice on our behalf. Second, Jesus died so we could be blameless. While we will still sin in this life, His sacrifice provides forgiveness of our sins (1 John 1:8–9). Third, Jesus died so we could be above reproach. Paul spoke of being above reproach as a qualification for elders in the local church (1 Timothy 3:1–2). Here, however, the emphasis is on being "above reproach" in an eternal sense, based on what Christ has done, not our human efforts. The sacrifice of Jesus makes us right with God, something only He could provide.