One of the greatest gifts- reconciliation. Let me try and put this into a context. If God was only God and man being man how can the two communicate? Why would they since God is Creator and man is the creation. God is perfect and man isn’t even close to being perfect. God is omni and man is barely consciously intentional now. I could continue the comparison and man will never even come close to God which means… no relationship. Then again… man sinned and broke the relationship.
So man doesn’t come even close thus the only way this could change is if God did something to allow, to provide a way … to reconcile. It’s like the kid standing outside the candy store with his nose pressed against the glass, looking at those who were inside and were laughing and receiving that special gift of candy while he was on the outside in the rain. But this isn’t for the Christian – he IS inside.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].” [2 Corinthians 5:17-21]
…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].
Those words in verse 19 are powerful especially since they tell us not only who we are, reconciled, how we were placed in such a state, in Christ, and that ALL those in Christ are given the ministry and message of reconciliation. Never forgetting that this is restoration of favor with God. Remember when you first heard that through your act of accepting Jesus gift of eternal life based in your belief in Him that you were the recipient of so many priceless gifts. This is worth sharing with others so that they can live a new life.
There are many sites that focus on reconciliation, and there are many verses. Some of them are:
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today]. 11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God [rejoicing in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation [with God]. Romans 5:10-11
“For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us], …
And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.” Ephesians 2:14-16“For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son), and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach—” Colossians 1: 19-22
Those are only a very few of the teachings on reconciliation – the Who, why, what of reconciliation. There is another reconciliation that I feel is crucial as well:
“So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you, leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24
There are some versions that describe making ‘peace’ as being reconciled. As you can see, there is no definition of ‘brother’. It can be a brother in the Lord or a blood brother. In both cases, reconciliation is crucial. I might add that if we are to live reconciled to the Lord, how can we not be reconciled to one another?
