In Christian theology, the word “reconcile” means “to change throughly.” The Christian’s reconciliation was accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ in His shed blood and death on the Cross. The apostle Paul declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
Reconciliation, in its various forms, occurs several times in the Pau’s letters to the various Churches. He writes to the Christians at Rome, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:10,11).
“Going back to what we were and what we now are,” comments William MacDonald, “think of it this way. It was when we were enemies that we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. We were hostile toward the Lord and quite content to have it so. Left to ourselves, we felt no need of being reconciled to Him. Think of it—enemies of God.”
And MacDonald continues, “God did not share our attitude in the matter. He intervened in a display of pure grace. The substitutionary death of Christ removed the cause of our hostility toward God—namely, our sins. By faith in Christ we have been reconciled to God.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald p. 1697). MacDonald has given us a most insightful explanation of reconciliation.
Because of Adam’s disobedience, sin created a barrier between God and the world. However, because of the reconciling death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, the relationship between God and the world changed. God now shows and has mercy where judgment was once deserved. Let it be clearly understood that Almighty God, and only He, is responsible for the “work of reconciliation.” Sinful and rebellious man who was completely alienated from God’s presence, had absolutely nothing to do with it. God in His divine wisdom, love, mercy, and grace took the initiative to rescue undeserving man from his “lost” and hopeless condition.
Through His atoning death on the Cross, the Lord Jesus has saved us from our sins. And through His resurrected and eternal life, He keeps us until the day of His return. “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Paul also makes reference to the reconciling work of Christ in his letter to the Colossians, where he states, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19,20). Dr Charles Stanley, puts forth a helpful commentary: “Before Christ, we were alienated from God, which means that we were hostile to Him—rebellious, sinful enemies completely separated from His presence. Yet the Lord created us to be united with Him in a deep, intimate relationship. So when we talk about being reconciled to God, we mean that our relationship with Him has been restored through Jesus’ blood on the Cross” (The Charles F Stanley Life Principles Bible p. 1438).
Many of us have sung this ancient blessed hymn on reconciliation titled: The King’s Business. “This is the message that I bring, / A message angels fain would sing; / “Oh, be ye reconciled” / Thus saith my Lord and King, / “Oh, be ye reconciled to God.” (Author E. T. Cassel 1849-1930).
It is interesting that Paul asked the Church at Ephesus to remember that previously they were “in the flesh,” because they were without Jesus Christ being separated from Him. Paul says, “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12,13). And Paul continues to tell them “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
It is certainly wonderful and amazing what reconciliation does for us. God has demonstrated His own love for us to the extent that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Therefore, we have been brought from darkness into light and from the power of Satan to God. And all because “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” Let us continue to “rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11).
Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, let us rejoice always, giving God thanks for what he has done, and continues to do for us. Amen.