Be Reconciled!

"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."

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

These verses were read during announcements at church this morning and they were a useful exhortation to me.  A key word and theme repeated in this portion is reconciliation.  To be "reconciled" is "to restore to friendship or harmony; to make consistent or congruous."  We are not God, and as sinners we are completely opposed to and incompatible with God.  Since repenting and believing the Gospel, God "has reconciled us to Himself."  No amount of effort on our part can reconcile us to God, for who among men can wash himself free of the stain of sin?

In His grace God has reconciled us to Himself and has committed unto followers of Jesus the ministry of reconciliation.  The aim of our labours therefore is to lead other sinners to be reconciled with God as well.  Having experienced God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness of our sins through the Gospel, we can share the good news of eternal life with others.  We who were once enemies of God have been made one with God because Jesus Christ died for us, rose from the dead, and the Holy Spirit now lives within us.  We have been born again, regenerated by the same dynamic power that raised Jesus from the dead.  As God's ambassadors we seek to advance His kingdom, knowing we have a home in heaven prepared for us.

Based on how God has reconciled us to Himself and given us the ministry and word of reconciliation, Paul implores followers of Jesus:  "Be reconciled to God."  What is he saying?  Since we have been redeemed by God we ought to live like those who are redeemed from sin.  We have been made new creations through spiritual regeneration, and therefore we ought to walk in newness of life.  Our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions ought to correlate with the spiritual transaction which has taken place.  If we are Christ's, then we ought to follow in His steps and love as He loves, forgive as He has forgiven us.  It would be a terrible thing for an ambassador of a nation to have multiple warrants issued for their arrest by the government they are tasked to advance.  It is a shame when Christians, whose divine calling by God is to labour to see others reconciled to God, are not even on speaking terms with Him because of sin.

The admonition given to the church in Corinth is fitting for us today.  All whom God has reconciled to Himself should make every effort to be truly reconciled to God, submitting our lives to God's authority and perfect will.  There should be a correlation between our truth claims and choices, and agreement between God's Word and our lives.  Our love and allegiance to Christ should be more than words but be demonstrated by our decisions.  If we know Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, then we ought to live like citizens of heaven.  We are worthless ambassadors of heaven if we live like children of hell.  Since we are children of God through the Gospel, let us walk in His love and light.