stephen R Harrison

“Be Reconciled to God”

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

–2 Corinthians 5:20

Reconcile comes from two words in Latin that mean “to bring back together”. You can reconcile your checking account to make sure it’s accurate. You can reconcile your feelings to facts so they agree. You can reconcile a relationship with a friend when in conflict. Most importantly, you can be reconciled to God. Sin separated us from God. Isaiah 59:2 says they are a barrier between us and God, keeping him from hearing and seeing us. How are we reconciled to God? It starts with salvation. When we confess Jesus is Savior and our need to be forgiven from sin, we begin a new life in Christ, a new relationship with God. Reconciliation is a gift that only God can do through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.

After salvation, sin can cause distance between us and God. Through repentance, we confess sin, express sorrow, and ask for forgiveness.  Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Reconciliation is the presence of God’s peace. We are reconciled to God. We have peace with God through Jesus. You’ll never have the peace of God until you have peace with God.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Paul uses the word “reconcile” five times to convey the vast separation created by sin. We are far from God and in desperate need of reconciliation. Not only is there distance between us and God, but we are enemies of God before we are saved (Romans 5:10). We need something more behavior modification. We need to start over – to become new creations in Christ and be saved (5:17). Paul doesn’t offer this as a mere suggestion. He pleads, urges, and implores. It’s urgent –

“BE RECONCILED TO GOD” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

Second Corinthians 5:17-21 tells us in Christ, we receive a new life through reconciliation (5:17), a new ministry of reconciliation (5:18), a new message of reconciliation (5:19), and a new title of ambassadors of reconciliation (5:20). All this is made possible because “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (5:21). 

During Lent, thank God for this new life, ministry, message, and title. Ask him how you can share this message with others so they may be reconciled to God. 

Questions: 

Have you been reconciled to God (born again)? 

Has sin caused distance between you and God?

How can your reconciliation help others be reconciled? 

Prayer:

Jesus, we confess our sins and draw near to you. Thank you for reconciling us to God through Christ. Keep us far from sin and in our new ministry as ambassadors of the message of reconciliation. May others be reconciled to God through Jesus. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Read: 

2 Corinthians 5:17-6:10

Action Step:

Name those you can pray for to be reconciled to God. Beside their name, list when and/or where you can share the gospel’s message with them.