The Ministry Of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to
Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and
has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s
behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.
God has done all of these things by changing us from being His
enemies to becoming His friends through Jesus our Savior and Lord.
He has given us the task of making others His friends also. Our
message is that God desires to make all human beings to become His
friends through Christ. God has forgiven their sins. And He has
given us this message which tells people how He makes them to become His friends.
Thus we are speaking for Christ, as though God Himself were making
His appeal through us. We plead on behalf of Christ that you should
let God change you from being His enemies to become His friends! Christ was
without sin, but for our sakes, God had made Him to bear our sins in
order that we might be in union with Him, and have the righteousness
of God.
What is the Biblical meaning of reconciliation? The Greek word
“reconciliation” literally means to change completely. Sinners are
separated from God, and have become enemies to God by committing
sins, and doing wicked works. But God has provided reconciliation
through the death of Christ. This is the only way that a person can
be reconciled to God. When reconciled, man is able to be with God
again. From being an enemy of God to becoming a friend of God. A
complete change indeed!
God has given us this awesome task called the ministry of
reconciliation. Basically, we are to proclaim the Good News of the
cross, and share what the Lord has done for us with others. And the
best way to tell others is to live the life so that they will see a
living testimony for Christ!
In reconciling others to God, we need to overcome many barriers that
form the dividing wall of hostility between two parties. God has not
just reconciling people to Himself, He is also reconciling people to
their enemies! Yes, by turning enemies into friends!
Ephesians 2:14-17
Christ Our Peace
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has
broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of
commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one
new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through
the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to
those who were near.
The Good News is that Christ Himself has brought us peace by making
Jews and Gentiles to become one people. With His own body, He has
broken down the wall that separated them and kept them as enemies.
He put an end to those religious rules and laws made by man, in
order to create, out of the two races, one new people to be in union
with Himself. In doing so, He is our peace, making and establishing
perfect peace.
By His death on the cross, Christ destroyed the enmity between the
Jews and the Gentiles. By dying on the cross, Jesus united both
races into one body, and brought them back to God. So Christ came
and preached the Good News of peace to all—to the Gentiles, who were
far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him.
We have been given this blessed privilege to be ambassadors for Christ. Every
believer should play a part in this ministry of reconciliation.
1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters,
but
God who gives the increase.
Some will sow the seeds. Some will water the plants. But, it is God
who really matters, because He causes the growth, and brings forth
the increase!
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
As we proclaim the Good News, we have become peacemakers. And God will
bless us
as we tell others by living out His message of reconciliation. Lives
will be changed, and God will get the glory.
Below is the chorus of the hymn "Christ's Ambassadors":
We are Christ’s ambassadors;
And our colors we must unfurl,
We must wear a spotless robe,
Clean and righteous before the world.
We must show we’re cleansed from sin;
And that Jesus dwells within.
Proving duly that we’re truly
Christ's ambassadors.
As we have been reconciled to God, let us do our part in
reconciling others to God!
Written on 15 January 2022