Reconciliation

Today’s $5 Word - Reconciliation

We actually use the word reconcile, “Dick and Jane reconciled today.” We know that means they had a falling out, but worked it out, and are now back together. So why would I include this among $5 Bible words? Because reconciliation in the Bible is a wee bit different.

The basic meaning of reconciliation is restoration to favor. So, there has been a falling out, but who did the falling and who did the restoring? The Bible is pretty clear!

Romans 5:10-11
10 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.

We were enemies of God. Such harsh language. It’s not that God was hostile, we were. We were sinners, rebellious sinners. It was God who took the initiative - he sent His Son to die for His enemies. and by the death of His Son He reconciled us.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

I’m not sure why the KJV translated this as atonement, because it is the word reconciliation. Although I remember Derek Prince explaining that the word atonement is best understood as at-one-ment. I like that! That is reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2
5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 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.

v 18 God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. God did it and we were the ones reconciled. Paul then says God gave him the ministry of reconciliation.

v 19 God was in Christ. What a powerful truth! Jesus was the Son of God. What does that mean? It means God was in Christ. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Yes, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. He took the initiative. There was no counselor involved, helping the two parties work out their differences: God, because of his great love for us, reconciled the world unto Himself. How? not imputing their trespasses unto them. Paul builds anticipation by making statements and then explaining them in the following verses.

v 20 Oh the love and grace of God! He was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself and now He has sent Paul with the message and invitation, Be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

Here is how the reconciliation works. There is an exchange, a tremendous and uneven exchange: Christ was made sin for us, he took our sin upon himself on the cross; when we believe in Christ we are made the righteousness of God in him. That’s reconciliation!

6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 to show this was the plan all along. I love this, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Be ye reconciled to God!

Colossians 1:19-23  
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…

At the beginning I asked, “Who did the falling and who did the restoring?” This passage makes it very clear - there was no problem on God’s side, the problem was us. Alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works. We were the ones running, hiding, resisting God. Despite this, God, in His great love, made peace through the blood of the cross. Oh the cross of Christ! By the cross God reconciles all creation unto himself; by the cross he restores those who believe in Jesus; by the cross he will present us, former enemies, holy and unblameable and unreproveable before him. That’s reconciliation!!

Reconciliation. A $5 word with a million dollar message. Be ye reconciled to God!