Text: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
Definition of the term: Our humble dictionary defines the concept of reconciliation as the means by which one party is restored in friendship, or brought back to friendship, or unison, with another; to make pacification between two parties who have been separated through a break in fellowship; to make peace between two parties by means of the payment of a satisfactory appeasement.
Reconciliation: “In terms of Biblical doctrine, reconciliation is the removal of the enmity (hostility, ill-will) between God and the sinner, and the establishment of a new relationship of peace and friendship between them, on the ground of Christ’s payment of everything due to God and His Holy Law because of sin. In Scripture, reconciliation is ascribed to the merit of the Blood shedding of Christ.” (Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Alan Cairns p 296)
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
Reconciliation: is achieved between a Holy Lord God of wrath against sin, and the sinner – naturally born into this world; ‘fallen’ in sin and in Adam’s fallen image, in one WAY only.
“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the WAY, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)
“Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Reconciliation: It is made possible through the Substitutionary suffering of Christ Jesus on the Cross, whereby in His absolute Holiness, He has made the acceptable Atonement Sacrifice to appease God’s Holy wrath against our sins. Christ has in fact suffered in our place to pay the infinite penalty for the sins of those who have, are, and will be saved. Praise His Name! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Reconciliation: As theologian John Owen writes, “To make reconciliation (which Christ is said in many places to do), it is required first, that the wrath of God be turned away, His anger removed, and all the effects of enmity on His part towards us. Secondly, that we be turned away from our opposition to Him, and brought into voluntary obedience to Him.” (Death of Death by John Owen, page 151)
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of Commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:12-15) Wow! Now, that’s eternal RECONCILIATION!
The Ministry of Reconciliation: Because God has reconciled us sinners to His Holy self by Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, we therefore are given what the Scriptures teach is the true ‘…ministry of reconciliation…’ – sinful man to a thrice Holy Lord God of wrath against all sin! Hallelujah!
This is the only true ‘…ministry of reconciliation…’ we regenerate, Spiritually born again, Christians possess!
We cannot seek to reconcile sinful mankind to sinful mankind before we succeed in reconciling sinful mankind to our Holy Lord God through the true ministry of reconciliation – ‘…the Word of reconciliation…’, or the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Cross of Redemption.
Once we have, by God’s good grace and will, been successful in reconciling sinners to our Holy Lord God then, and only then, can we seek to reconcile saved, yet still sinful, mankind to each other!
“…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto US the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you BY US; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20) (Isaiah 8:20) (Romans 10:13)
Go to then, beloved Christian, use your true ‘ministry of reconciliation’.