Images of God’s plan: Reconciliation

Jun 21st, 2010 | By tglover | Category: Taylor Daily Press

In my last column we explored the use of the word “redemption.”  In this study, consider another image used to describe the greatness of God’s gift to humanity – “reconciliation.”

Romans 5:10-11 reads, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  

The word “reconciliation” (Greek, katallasso), according to Vine’s, “denotes to change, exchange (esp. of money); hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship.” Thus, we suggest that it means to restore friendship by resolving the enmity and/or differences. It is a fitting word to describe the condition of one separated from God by sin. Once again, God’s initiative is seen. We saw this in redemption, also. In order to restore the sinner to a position of friendship, God makes it possible for the offending party to come back. Some provision must be offered that would remove the consequence of sin from the sinner. Without that provision, the sinner is eternally separated from God (through death, cf. Isa. 59:1-2). It is important to recognize that God reaches out first not because he is at fault for creating the enmity. Man chose to offend a holy God. Remarkably, it is God who would take the first step in creating an opportunity for humanity to come back into fellowship. Jesus was the one through whom God would initiate the plan.  The passage cited above in Romans 5 states that we were reconciled through the death of his son. Once the ransom price was paid at God’s own cost, God’s justice against sin was satisfied. The principle invoked here is, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The first step toward peace was through the death of the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29, Col 1:20). The punishment for sin had been paid and an opportunity for a new start is now open for all.

Another word fits this context well: “propitiation.” The substituting sacrifice of Jesus’ blood is designed to appease or propitiate the wrath of God on the sinner. God offering the propitiatory sacrifice shows the extent to which he will go to have the world come back to Him (cf. John 3:16).

Further, God gave the “ministry of reconciliation.” It is also described as the “word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-19). He writes, “But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” The word of reconciliation is a work that proceeds from God, and because of the accomplishment of that work, it is possible for a ministry of reconciliation to be entrusted to men. 

This is the second part toward peace. It is now man who needs to be reconciled to God, not God to man. The plea that follows the action of God is, “be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The sinner must “receive” the reconciliation already accomplished.  Here is the human side. If the first reconciliation, “the reconciliation of the world unto himself,” had been the laying aside of human enmity, there could now be no point in the exhortation, “Be ye reconciled to God.” It is through the word of the Ambassadors (the Apostles) that God is pleading with us to be reconciled to him. The fact that God “pleads” us to be reconciled demonstrates two things about the role of the sinner in reconciliation. First, reconciliation is not unconditional (we must respond!). Second, reconciliation is not universal (some will be lost!). This is further illustrated in the next verse as Paul writes, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Co 6:1).  

Have YOU been reconciled to God? You may write me at timothy.j.glover@att.net.

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