Last Update:5 December 2024
The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
In a world of much confusion,
we need more clarity.
In a world of much chaos,
we need more unity.
In a world of painful separation,
we need more loving reconciliation.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Message of reconciliation between sinful humanity and a holy God. Sin is what separates us from God and brought us into a position of enmity with God. Jesus Christ is God's Mediator who brings reconciliation. God reconciled the world to Himself through Christ by not imputing people's trespasses against them (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus was the One who took the punishment for sin on Himself, although He Himself knew no sin. Through Christ and His substitute death we fulfil the righteous requirements of God because in Christ we become the righteousness of God (v 21). The Just died for the unjust to bring us back to God (1 Peter 3:18). The Good News of reconciliation brings peace to humanity through the Messiah.
Reconciliation brings Peace
Reconciliation is a beautiful thing. It brings healing and restoration into a broken and painful relationship. Sin not only separates us from God, it is also a destructive force that breaks us down and alienates us from one another. God would not leave us in sin and its destructive power. Rather, God was in Christ to bring reconciliation to the world. Through Christ we can become a new creation, leaving the old life of sin behind and starting a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The word 'new' used here speaks of quality, rather than time. The past cannot be undone, but God gives us a new way of life and a fresh start. God offers us 'newness of life' (Romans 6:4), a different, a better way, to live life. Although the wages of sin is death, yet in Christ God offers the gift of salvation and eternal life to humanity (Romans 6:23). This gift is accessible by faith for justification before God. We move from death to life through Christ and the forgiveness that comes from Him (Colossians 1:13-14). God is the great Reconciler. He would not impute our trespasses and punish us (2 Corinthians 5:19), but placed it on Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf—Jesus the Saviour (v 21). There is forgiveness through Christ and in this is reconciliation (v 19). This is the Gospel of Salvation, and of Grace and of Peace. This is the hope of eternal life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the word and ministry of reconciliation.
Paul had himself experienced God's mercy despite his own sinful past. He wrote that it is a trustworthy statement that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom he considered himself the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13) and seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save it as an expression of God's love (John 3:16-17). This is the Gospel of reconciliation Paul proclaimed. He had been lost, despite his rigorous religious observation and became an ambassador of the gospel of God's grace in the 'ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18) spreading the 'word of reconciliation' (v 19) and making an appeal to people to be reconciled with God (v 20). This is possible because of Christ's atoning death on the cross: the sinner can become righteous before God in Christ, because the Saviour took the punishment of sin on our behalf (v 21). Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to those who believe (Romans 1:16). To some, however, it appeared foolish, others took offence, yet Paul preached 'Christ crucified' as the power and wisdom of God to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). In Christ there is the power of reconciliation because of the blood by which we can be forgiven of sin and receive eternal life. The gospel is the message of love, which brings reconciliation.
This message of reconciliation must be proclaimed. The 'word of reconciliation' is the content of the 'ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Paul saw himself and other alike him as 'ambassadors for Christ,' who were urging people to 'be reconciled to God' (v 20). God offers the world forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Creator. The work of reconciliation was established by Christ on the cross; the word of reconciliation must be proclaimed by God's ambassadors, who spread the ministry of reconciliation like a beautiful aroma. Ambassadors don't preach their own message or themselves. Paul was clear: we preach Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Corinthians 4:5), Christ crucified (2:2), the hope of glory. Only the Prince of peace can bring peace to humanity, for only He establishes reconciliation. The word used (katallasso) means ‘to change, exchange, reestablish, restore relationships, make things right, remove an enmity’; the word ‘describes the reestablishing of a proper, loving, interpersonal relationship, which has been broken or disrupted.’ Jesus restores the broken relationship between sinful humanity and their holy Creator. He did so by removing the sin that separates us from God by taking it upon Himself on the cross. This was the highest expression of love. Christ died for us as an expression of God's love and to bring reconciliation to heal the world.
Christ died for us
as an expression of God's love
and to being reconciliation
to the heal the world.
Love and Reconciliation
The reconciliation offered by God is the divine expression of love. Love is shown in action. What greater proof of love than to give His life for us?
‘For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:6-8
The love of God is demonstrated by the death of Jesus for the sins of humanity. The blood shed on the cross brings forgiveness of sins, justifies us before Him and saves us from God's righteous wrath on sin (v 9). Although at enmity with God because of sin, Christ brought reconciliation as the demonstration of God's love (v 10). This gave Paul reason to rejoice, having received this precious reconciliation (v 10).
The love of God is such that He did not send Jesus to condemn the world for its sin, but that He took it upon Himself to spare the world of condemnation (John 3:16-17). Reconciliation through Christ is how God shows His love for us. It's that divine reconciliation that restores the broken relationship with God and empowers us to restore broken relationships with other human beings. There's much strife and bitterness in the world. God offers forgiveness and peace, love and reconciliation. What God does for us, we are then able to do for others. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). God is love and His love was expressed in Christ (v 16). He removes all fear with His love (v 18). People can learn to live freely in love and peace. God's divine reconciliation is the foundation for human reconciliation—the restoration of broken relationships. Reconciliation is, figuratively speaking, the window of love from which to view the world from a divine perspective.
Reconciliation restores broken relationships—
first with God, then with others.
It opens the path to
a life of peace and happiness.
Hope is the window of love.
Reconciliation brings Healing
Reconciliation is a beautiful thing. It heals hurt, removes what separates us and restore relationships. When people find reconciliation with God, they find peace. That peace will enable them to seek peace with others. We can forgive as we have been forgiven. We can take steps of humility and seek reconciliation with others. In a famous parable Jesus spoke of a son who took his share of the inheritance, demanding it from the father while he was still alive, but then squandered it on loose living. He lost everything and wondered what to do. He reasoned within himself that it would be better to return to his father. He was sure that his father would take him back, even just as a servant. He knew he 'blew' his inheritance as a son, yet also knew his father's goodness and love for him. The father gladly reconciled with his lost son and restored him to sonship because of his great love (Luke 15:11-24). This was, of course, an illustration of the love of God for people wasting their lives and divine inheritance in sin. God would receive back a repentant sinner. God's love extends the offer of reconciliation to each one of us. Reconciliation brings peace with God and our fellow human beings. God is the God of peace.
Because of the reconciliation with God Paul had experienced, he had a passion to share the love of God with them. The love of Christ compelled him to share the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:14). Christ died for sinners and rose from the dead for them. Because of this great love and the atoning work of Christ, believers are to live for Him who died and rose for them (v 15) and spread the word of reconciliation by which we extend the ministry of reconciliation into a lost world in need of salvation (vv 18-19). Paul was an ambassador of Christ who urged people on His behalf: 'be reconciled with God' (v 20). This is the Good News people need to hear in order to be saved, for faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:14-17). When people hear the Gospel of salvation, they can place their trust in Christ and find forgiveness, acceptance and redemption (Ephesians 1:6-7, 12-14). Receiving Christ by faith and accepting the offer of God to be reconciled with Him, leads to a life of peace and happiness. It is the homecoming, like the prodigal son who returned to the father's love. This is the gospel of love, hope and reconciliation in Christ. Hope is the window of love. Reconciliation is the path into a future of peace.
Reconciliation makes the world a more beautiful place. Where there is confusion, reconciliation brings clarity; where there is chaos, it brings unity; and where there is separation, it brings peace. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ with the word of reconciliation, the gospel of God's love, and thus to carry the ministry of reconciliation to people. We are to spread peace in the Name of the Messiah!