Reconciliation

Good morning, Church. As I was in my quiet time with the Lord this morning, I was looking up the word redemption in the Bible Dictionary. But before I could get to it my eyes caught the word reconciliation. I had to stop and read what it said about that precious all revealing word as it is used in God’s Word. It was amazing. I can’t write the whole meaning here but I’d like to go over parts of it for us.

It starts out with the meaning:

“Reconciliation is the restoration to friendship and fellowship after estrangement. O.T. reconciliation contains the idea of an atonement or covering for sin (Lev. 6:30; 16:20; Ezek. 45:20). In the N.T. it possesses the idea “change thoroughly” (II Cor. 5:18,19), “to change thoroughly from one position to another” (Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20, 21) Reconciliation, therefore, means that someone or something is completely altered and adjusted to a required standard (Romans 5:6-11).”

I was going to stop the actual quote from the dictionary here, but on second reading it wouldn’t make the sense it made with the rest of the definition. So the rest of the definition is:

“By the death of Christ the world is changed in its relationship to God. Man is reconciled to God, but God is not said to be reconciled to man. By this change lost humanity is rendered savable. As a result of the changed position of the world through the death of Christ the divine attitude towards the human family can no longer be the same. God is enabled to deal with lost souls in the Light of what Christ has accomplished. Although this seems to be a change in God, it is not a reconciliation it is rather a “propitiation.” God places full efficacy in the finished work of Christ and accepts it. Through His acceptance of it He remains righteous and the justifier of any sinner who believes in Jesus as his reconciliation.”

“When an individuals heart sees and trusts in the value of Christ’s atoning death, he becomes reconciled to God, hostility is removed, friendship and fellowship results” (M.F.U.)

Church, when reconciliation to our Creator God is accomplished with our hearts we are:

Ephesians 1:3-6 (Please read these scriptures for yourself.)

‘We are chosen by the Father.’

Verse 7-12:

‘Redeemed by the Son’

and last but not least:

Verses 13-14

‘Sealed by the Spirit.’

We are taken from an Old Condition (Old Man) ‘Dead to God’ to a New Condition (New Man) ‘Alive to God.’

Reconciliation is the “Key” and “First” step in our relationship to our Father, God. How can this be done? By:

Trusting and believing in God’s Love for us.

All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible, General Editor-John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.

M.F.U.-Merrill F. Unger

O.T.-Old Testament

N.T.-New Testament