Why does mainstream Christianity believe that it's "unorthodox" to teach that Jesus will unite ALL things to himself?

[RepentingChristian]

But the "uniting" you speak of

Paul's words, not mine.

 

[RepentingChristian]

Let's break it down. Here is a good representation of the original language. You can click on any of the links for proper definitions:

he might gather together in one G346 all things G3956 in G1722 Christ, G5547 both G5037 which G3588 are in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 which G3588 are on G1909 earth; G1093 even in G1722 him: G846

That's not a genuine response. It's the response of someone who wants to win an argument and seeks to obfuscate the discussion and then claim victory.

 

[ScottA]

Paul's words, not mine.

That's not a genuine response. It's the response of someone who wants to win an argument and seeks to obfuscate the discussion and then claim victory.

Are you God then, that you decide what is genuine?

No, but I am sent by Him, and you reject me and presume to judge. That will be all.

 

[Stumpmaster]

It's very plainly written and easy to understand. I believe that mainstream Christians reject this scripture due to spiritual blindness. There's no other explanation.

Ephesians 1:10
as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Here is a standard, secular, definition of "unite": Unite (verb): To join together; to bring or come into a single unit, group, or whole, often for a common purpose.

Hi @RepentingChristian

Here's my take on this subject, using God-given resources to rightly portion Scripture

​

Jesus unites all things by bringing the entire creation under His uncontested rule — but He does not unite Himself relationally with those who refuse Him.
Cosmic unity is not the same as covenant intimacy.
Everything will be under His feet; not everything will be in His fellowship.

️ 1. “Unite all things” = Cosmic Order Restored​

Ephesians 1:10 says Christ will “unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
Paul is describing the end of rebellion, not universal salvation.

This “uniting” means:

• every power is subdued
• every knee bows (Phil 2:10)
• every creature acknowledges His Lordship
• every rogue element is brought into alignment with His rule

It’s the restoration of cosmic harmony, not the merging of all persons into saving union.
Think of it as:

Universal Dominion, not Universal Reconciliation​

Even His enemies become part of the order He establishes — but as a conquered realm, not a reconciled family.

2. “Depart from Me” = Relational Separation, not Sovereign Escape​

When Jesus says:

“Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity” (Matt 7:23)

He is not losing them, nor are they escaping His authority.
He is excluding them from His presence of blessing, not from His kingdom-rule.

They are:

• under His judgment
• under His authority
• under His dominion
• but outside His fellowship

This is the same logic as Psalm 2:

• The nations rage
• The Son rules them with a rod of iron
• Those who refuse Him perish
• Yet all are still under His reign

So “depart from Me” is not a contradiction to “unite all things.”
It is the means by which He unites all things — by removing what refuses to be healed.

3. The Key Distinction: Two Kinds of “In Him”​

Scripture uses “in Him” in two different senses:

A. Ontological / Cosmic “in Him”​

Everything exists in Christ as Creator and Sustainer (Col 1:16–17).
This includes:

• angels
• demons
• the redeemed
• the lost
• the entire created order

This is the “uniting all things” category.

B. Covenantal / Saving “in Him”​

Only the redeemed are “in Christ” in the sense of:

• union
• adoption
• fellowship
• inheritance
• resurrection life

This is the category from which the workers of iniquity are excluded. So:

All things are in Him by creation.
Not all are in Him by redemption.

4. Judgment Is Part of the Uniting​

This is the part many Christians miss.

Christ does not unite all things by:

• ignoring evil
• absorbing evil
• reconciling evil
• pretending evil is healed

He unites all things by removing evil from His renewed creation. Judgment is not the failure of His unifying work —
it is the final act of it. Just like a surgeon unites the body by cutting out the tumor.

5. The Final Picture:​

Everything under His rule​

Everything in its proper place​

Nothing out of alignment​

The redeemed in His presence​

The rebellious under His judgment​

This is how He unites all things without embracing all things.

The One-Sentence Synthesis​

Christ unites the universe by establishing perfect order, and He commands the wicked to depart because perfect order requires the removal of all that refuses His life.

If you want, we can take this deeper into:

• the difference between subjection and reconciliation
• how “all things” in Ephesians 1 relates to Colossians 1
• the role of the Lake of Fire in cosmic harmony
• how this fits with the “restoration of all things” in Acts 3