Part 1 – God’s Plan for Reconciliation with Man

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Reconciliation In Christ .

To ‘reconcile’ speaks of two estranged parties coming together, with their differences resolved. This is exactly what Christ’s Cross-work has done for mankind, reconciling ALL men to God. “Reconciliation” is the initial expression of God’s pure graceHis unmerited favor toward lost humanity.

The problem is mankind’s sins that separate us from God. This is the equivalent of being ‘dead’ to God.

“And you hath he [Jesus] quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1)

So lost mankind is separated from God due to his sin …but God Himself has worked to make man Reconciled to Him without man’s effort except to “believe” in Christ as His Savior. He did this by … the offering up His own Son, Jesus Christ, to make the death-payment that was due ‘for the sins of all men everywhere,’ and then also Assigning the Righteousness of Christ’ to any man who will Trust in Christ as his Savior. Thus, having done all for man, God and man can now be in ‘union’ again.

Therefore, since the Cross-Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, about 2,000 years ago, men have been able to Freely be Reconciled with God by Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Thereby, believers are saved from ultimate judgment and from “everlasting destruction” (2Thes. 1:9). What’s more… every believer simultaneously comes into an intimate relationship’ with the Godhead by the union’ of Christ’s Spirit that is then dispensed into the believer’s own “the spirit of man (1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV). This was the formerly hidden Secret Plan of God from before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:3-6).

“… God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [Gk. musterion, the Secret Plan Of God] among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27 (KJV)

Sadly, the church has for many years abandoned the simple Biblical truth of “the gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24) that saves “alienated” mankind. Rather they’ve preached judgment and condemnation upon the lost unbelieving souls of the world, thinking this is gospel preaching. They have forsaken the proclamation of the Apostle Paul’s good news gospel ofReconciliation that is already made possible by Christ Cross-work as the first order of preaching the gospel of the grace of God”).

“we were sometimes (Grk. pote, in past time] ALIENATED [not judged / condemned, but alienated] from the LIFE of God, in our minds by wicked works.” (Col. 1:21)

Obviously, the Lord God knew of man’s ‘Alienation’ and yet still desired to be in ‘union with man.’ So, He made “the way” in Jesus as “the lamb slain” to pay for the sins of ALL mankind. By the shed blood and ‘death of Jesus,’ all who will ‘believe’ are Reconciled” with God and also receive Jesus’ resurrected “Spirit of Life” to be their new Life.

“… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8b (KJV)

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 (KJV) Grammatically, use of the article “the” implies “the only genuine “way, truth, and life”

Thus today, God is working “all things” for those men and women whom He foreknows will hear, listen, and “receive His offer of Reconciliation to be ‘saved... simply By Trusting in Jesus as the Savior.

Then also Paul wrote of not only “Reconciliation” but of “Much More.”

Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, While We Were Yet Sinners, Christ Died For Us. 9 Much More then, being NOW Justified By His Blood, we SHALL BE SAVED from Wrath through him [Christ]]. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we WERE RECONCILED to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being [already] RECONCILED,’ we Shall Be Saved (Greek., sozo, COMPLETED) by His Life.

Saved here above means to “become COMPLETE.” You see we as humans without God’s Reconciliation to God andHis Son’s Christ-life IN US are actually incomplete’ humans.