Reconciliation is the restoration of Friendship and Fellowship.
Apart from the words used in Romans 3:21-28 clarifying the gospel message for today, is another word used in Romans 5:10 – “RECONCILED.” This is actually the theme of God’s message to man today. Mankind, because of sin and rebellion against God, had been cut off from any relationship with God. As a result of his rebellion against God, man had become an enemy of God.
Obviously, for man to have God as his enemy is a lost cause for man. Since God is holy and just and righteous, the fault of this breakdown in the relationship was on man’s part. So God does not need to be reconciled, man does. But what can man do? He is incapable of righting his wrong. He is in need of a mediator, and God in His grace has provided one; the God-Man, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. His death (which was for the complete payment of our sins) is the basis for our reconciliation back to God. Roman 5:10 says:
- “FOR IF, WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD BY THE DEATH OF HIS OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, BEING RECONCILED, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.“
As the Bible unfolds the wonderful message of reconciliation, the problem is traced all the way back to the first man, Adam. By his disobedience all mankind became sinners (Romans 5:12,19). On the other hand, by the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ the provision has been made for all mankind to be made righteous.
When we speak of the work of reconciliation in behalf of ALL of mankind, we are speaking of something unique to this present age. In the book of Genesis, from chapters 1 to 11, Nations were formed. These are the Gentiles. As a whole the Gentiles turned from God in rebellion and God cut them off from Himself. From Genesis 12, all the way through the balance of the Old Testament and into the New Testament until mid-way through the book of Acts, God had created and chose to deal with only one Nation – Israel. During this time the Gentiles were God’s enemies (see Ephesians 2:11,12). Israel was His people. But they too rebelled against God when they failed to receive all that God promised them through the prophets. When this happened, God did something no prophet ever predicted. God cut off Israel (for a time) from being His people. Romans 11:28-32 reveals God’s purpose in this. In writing to Gentiles, Paul says:
- “AS CONCERNING THE GOSPEL, THEY (ISRAEL) ARE ENEMIES FOR YOUR SAKES…FOR GOD HATH CONCLUDED THEM ALL IN UNBELIEF, THAT HE MIGHT HAVE MERCY UPON ALL.“
With both Gentiles and Israel cut off from God as enemies, the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ became the means to reconcile both unto God in one Body (the Body of Christ) in this present age (see Ephesians 2:14-16).
According to II Corinthians 5:18-21, Jesus Christ has accomplished reconciliation on behalf of everyone. God is not holding anyone’s sins against them today; and if anyone will receive this reconciliation (by faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished) they shall be reconciled unto God in a permanent way. God will never condemn a believer for his sins because as II Corinthians 5:21 says:
- “FOR HE (GOD) HATH MADE HIM (CHRIST) TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO NEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM (CHRIST).“
As God’s ambassador, and pleading with you on Christ’s behalf, the Apostle Paul urges:
- “BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD!“
God is waiting for your response. Will you by faith believe and receive what Jesus Christ has done for you, or will you continue to rebel?
PRACTICAL POINT:
Christ’s death on the Cross has accomplished more than you may have ever realized:
- To wit, (that is) 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. 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.
