In this series of articles, I have written about forgiveness or propitiation, redemption, and justification so far. Propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath by making a blood sacrifice, releases us from owing God a sin debt we could never repay. Redemption sets us free from the bondage sin always produces. Justification declares that we are not guilty and have been given Christ’s own righteousness in God’s eyes.
The subject of this article is reconciliation, which describes God the Father restoring us to intimacy with himself.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God [reconciliation] was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has [reconciled] made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11 (NLT)
It could be said that everything that preceded reconciliation was done in order that God’s born-again children might be restored to intimacy with him.
Reconciliation means that we have been fully accepted into God’s family and can receive the full benefits of sonship. It is a restoration of trust and a commission of responsibility.
Trust, once it is shattered, is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to restore. We can make a decision to forgive people unconditionally, without their even requesting it or showing any signs of repentance or remorse. Trust, however, can only be repaired over time, with participation from both sides of the relationship. In a sense, it is earned. As the forgiven party proves faithful, the betrayed party may wish to bring that person close in a trust relationship. I have seen marriages restored in this way. It is a beautiful thing.
Our Father God reconciles us to himself unilaterally, based on the trustworthiness of his Son, not our own proven faithfulness. Reconciliation is a gift beyond all reasonable expectations, one we could never earn or possibly deserve.
Let me give you a practical example of the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation that may help. I hope that none of my readers or listeners will ever have to do this. A grieving relative may choose to visit a jail to offer forgiveness to the murderer of a family member. This releases the offender from any debt owed to that person. Forgiveness can be very freeing to both parties, but it does not mean that the murderer is innocent or should not suffer the consequences of his crime at the hands of the state. Our personal forgiveness does not release an offender from the verdict and judgment the judicial system may hand down. Neither does it release him or her from God’s justice. In addition, forgiving such a person does not necessarily translate into inviting them over for dinner. We can forgive a completely unrepentant and untrustworthy person, but, hopefully we would never invite such a human being into our home and expose our loved ones to him or her. Astoundingly, however, when God reconciles us to himself through his Son, he opens the door of his heart and welcomes us into his family.
Reconciliation enables us to experience the wonderful depths of Father God’s love for us.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT)
Reconciliation is what gives us free access into God’s presence.
A king would not welcome an untrustworthy enemy into his throne room, but Father God welcomes us, his former enemies, into his presence.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
Paul even goes so far as to call the gospel the message of reconciliation.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NLT)
God’s willingness to reconcile with his former enemies is perhaps the most wonderful and amazing aspect of the gospel. It should make us eternally thankful and should never be taken for granted.
Being God’s friend and part of his family is the highest honor and greatest privilege imaginable.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for sending your son to die for me to release me from the debt of my sin, making it possible for me to reconciled to you. Thank you for including me in your eternal family and privileging me to freely enter your presence. I am forever grateful. Amen.
