Reconciliation

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 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 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 5:1-11, ESV)

1. Definition of reconciliation

2. Why do we need to be reconciled?

3. How does reconciliation happen; who is the object of reconciliation?

4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.

1. Definition of Reconciliation

Collins Dictionary – “ harmonize; bring back into friendship”

Merriam-Webster – “1 a: to restore to friendship or harmony

<reconciled the factions> b: settle, resolve <reconcile differences>”

“…is God providing peace where previously there was enmity ( ill will, hatred ), and God restoring mankind to fellowship with Himself…”

“…God removing the barrier caused by sin – producing peace and enabling man to be saved…”

“…a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace between two parties…”

“…through sin man was and is alienated from God. But through Christ’s death peace with God (salvation) was made possible for the whole world but only made effective through the exercise of faith in Christ…”

There are two aspects of reconciliation that we need to be aware of. The first part is considered objective. By that, reconciliation is provided by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. This objective reconciliation is also referred to as provisional. With this term we can come to understand that prior to faith, a person is rendered savable by Jesus sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

The second part is considered subjective. By this, reconciliation occurs when the person places their faith in Jesus for salvation. This portion is also referred to as experimental. This does not mean that salvation is an experiment in the same sense of “trying it out” to see if it works or fits one’s lifestyle. But it carries with it the idea that the person can actually “experience” true inner peace with God the Father.

The Greek origin of reconciliation is found in the word, ‘katalasso’. This word means ‘to effect change’. Re-reading the 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 passage, we will find that God is the initiator or source of the effect. Man needs to be reconciled or restored – as we will soon see – into a right relationship with God if there is any hope to escape God’s judgment and eternal condemnation.

Putting this all together then would have us learn that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, reconciliation was provided for the whole world. But, this reconciliation is only made effective when the person exercises faith in the act on the cross and from the tomb. We then summarize that reconciliation is man ward. This flowing from the heart of God towards the souls of people who believe. Despite the fact that it is people who continue to deny Him.

2. Why do we need Reconciliation?

In our western culture we have a difficult time grasping the idea that an “all-loving” God could or would ever be wrathful towards people he has created. There is some understanding that those who do ‘really bad’ things deserve God’s judgment, but we run into emotional and physiological roadblocks when we consider those around us of whom are labeled ‘upright and honest and good people’. We have no problem seeing the Dahmer’s, Hitler’s & Bin-Laden’s of this world judged for what they have done but we find it very difficult to accept that God would be just as righteous if he exercised His wrath upon co-workers, family and spouses. Some would say that this might prove some kind of deity-schizophrenia or a holy bi-polar disorder. However, the target of reconciliation (and possibly every other ‘tion’) is the problem of sin. The sinful person is at enmity with God. God is holy, we are not. God is utterly righteous, we are not. God cannot have sin co-exist with Himself. A cursory reading of Romans 1:18-32 would help us with this reality. When we couple the Romans 1 passage with the Romans 5 passage we soon see how reconciliation is needed. For a sinful person to have a right relationship with God, the issue of indwelling sin has to be dealt with. This carries a sobering but concrete reality in our understanding of God, especially when it comes to understanding His love for those whom He has created. But we also need to be aware of one potential problem. Some might take this to mean that we need to ‘clean up’ our act before we can come to Jesus for forgiveness. But this is a gross misunderstanding. Nowhere in scripture does it tell us to get our lives back on track before we come to God. In fact it’s the exact reverse. Our lives will get back on track when we first come to God.

3. How does Reconciliation Happen?

The act of becoming reconciled with God, indeed the beginning of peace with God comes first through Jesus Christ. Because it is through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that brings peace between God and people but a person’s faith in Christ is the point of access into God’s grace. We can understand that reconciliation occurs when the offender goes to the offended and seeks to make things right. According to our definitions the offender would move towards the offended and seek to; “harmonize; bring back into friendship”, “restore to friendship or harmony”. But therein lies a problem. The one who is offends with the sin they commit will not come to the offended. In fact scripture is clear that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them. Scripture declares that men are dead in their trespasses and sins; following the prince of this world; following the passions of our own lives. (Ephesians 2:1-10) However, reconciliation occurs when people place their faith in the one who makes them alive, who saves them by His gifts of faith and grace. Because God made Christ to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) In short, it is the placing of your trust in the sufficiency of the atonement of Jesus.

4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.

The question could be restated as, ‘Who is reconciled to whom?’. Traditionally there are three answers. We will examine them in brief and I will try to explain why I have rejected them.

Answer One – God is reconciled to People – this would try to show that God’s wrath has been removed and thus it is God who has changed. God will allow His attribute of love to nullify His attribute of holiness. The reason that I have rejected this position is because it contradicts God’s attribute of immutability (unchanging nature). God will not compromise His holiness for anyone. He can not.

Answer Two – Both God and man are reconciled to each other. This position would want to see some compromise between the two parties. A reconciled God justifies the sinner who accepts the reconciliation offered by Jesus. The reason I have rejected this position is because man has not been offended by God. Man needs no reconciliation from God. God has been nothing but good to man. What sin has God committed towards mankind that He would need to harmonize Himself with those whom He has created? God has done nothing wrong. He could not because had He committed wrong, God would not be pure and holy. There would be some measure of sin with Him.

Answer Three – Man is reconciled to God. It would seem clear that passages such as Romans 5:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10 and many others would fully support and endorse this position. A question that has occurred during the mining of these verses is, ‘does this reconciliation need to be effected first in order for man to exercise faith? Or does faith in Christ energize the reconciliation?

So let’s finish. God takes the initiative. God sends His son to earth to live a pure life and to offer a sacrifice pure enough to satisfy God’s anger against sin. The act of grace provided by this reconciliation is effected through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. But what does this reconciliation bring? Reconciliation not only brings peace but it also brings an understanding that we have escaped such a terrible thing as the righteous judgment of a holy and just God. Salvation.

"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 to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (Romans 5:9-10, ESV)