Romans 5:1-11 NIV
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
VERSES ON RECONCILIATION
Colossians 1:22 NIV
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Romans 5:11 NIV
11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
WHAT IS RECONCILIATION?
Reconciliation is a beautiful word.
It means bringing things that are apart, back together again, or reuniting them in total accord.
In accounting or bookkeeping, reconciliation means the numbers are in agreement and complete. In other words, everything is A-OK.
Reconciliation is the act of moving from being separated from God to reunion with God and becoming His child.
The Greek word for reconciliation is “katallage”, which when translated means being restored to one’s favor.
The Hebrew word for reconciliation is “kaphar”, which when translated means atoned for or receiving atonement.
Atonement means the reconciliation of God and humankind, through Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Throughout the Bible, we find instances where God provides ways for people to return to Him in reconciliation and fellowship.
Finally, in Jesus, we see the final and only path or way back to God.
In our salvation, redemption and pardon, we are reconciled with our Heavenly Father.
God is holy and cannot abide with sin. Through the blood of Christ, we are cleansed of all unrighteousness and made righteous in the sight of God. Because the blood of Christ paid our sin debt, we are therefore reconciled with God and become His child.
The entire message of the New Covenant rests on the foundation of reconciliation with God.
We could never be reconciled standing before Him in an unrighteous state. However, through Christ, we are cleansed of all unrighteousness. We are no longer separated from God.
In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
Only through our Lord and Savior, are we reunited with God and everything is A-OK.
RVH