The word translated “reconcile” from the Greek means “to change thoroughly,” and is used several times by the Apostle Paul in his epistles. Reconciliation between sinful, wicked mankind and Holy God was accomplished on the Cross by our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells us , “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Ever since the “fall” of man because of his disobedience, man has continued in sinful rebellion against the Most High God, thus sinful man became “an enemy” of God. However, because a merciful God has shown mercy where judgment was well deserved, man can be reconciled to God.
The apostle Paul states, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6-10). Therefore, Paul is saying that reconciliation implies that there was a “former relationship” that existed and something happened to ruin or breach that relationship, which ultimately required God to act.
Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us through His shed blood and death on the cross, man can now be reconciled to God. It must be pointed out that it is sinful, wicked man who must be reconciled to God, and not God reconciled to man. Man is the sinner and God is the Savior. And this reconciliation is for man’s sins—not his person, hence Jesus Christ made that atoning sacrifice for man’s sin through His death and shed blood. Man had absolutely no part in reconciliation. It was the work of God alone—man was only the recipient.
Our text also states, “much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” This refers to the interceding work of Christ with God in heaven on our behalf. Let’s remember that Christ is now seated at God’s right hand, a position of infinite power and authority, who “ever lives to make intercessions for us” (Hebrews 7:25). Christ’s care for those He has redeemed with His own blood, will never cease. We have a great Savior who died for us and who is now living for us.
If we pause for a moment to think of our sinful state prior to reconciliation, we can joyfully appreciate what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. William MacDonald makes a very valid point when he wrote, “Going back to what we were and what we now are, 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!”
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” If God purchased our reconciliation so dearly, will He ever let us go? If His death had such power to save us, how much more will His life have power to keep us! (Believer’s Bible Commentary p. 1697). Since sinful man was at enmity with God; he was the one desperately in need of reconciliation. Our sovereign God was fully aware of man’s predicament and provided the remedy through the person of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.