Reconciliation In Christ

By Arthur J Licursi

To 'reconcile' speaks of two estranged parties coming together, with their differences resolved. 'Reconcile' is defined as 'making two people or groups friendly again, to cause someone to accept a decision or action, or to match the details of two accounts.' This is what Christ's cross has done for man.

Mankind's sin-debt account had separated all men from God... but God Himself made Reconciliation for man by Christ's death as payment for "the sins of the whole world." Men today may 'receive' His Reconciliation and be saved from judgment, and come to an intimate union with the Lord.

Sadly, the church has for many years misplaced the Biblical truth in gospel preaching by declaring 'judgment' and 'condemnation' upon the lost unbelieving world, thinking this is key to gospel preaching. Erroneously, they largely forsake the proclamation of the "good news" as first order of preaching "the gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17 (KJV)

Paul wrote; "we were sometimes alienated (not judged or condemned, but 'alienated') from the LIFE of God, in our minds by wicked works." (Eph 4:18) The Lord foreknew of man's alienation and yet desired to be in union with man, so He made a way that men may be Reconciled to Him and then be saved... simply by faith in the Savior.

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. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we Were RECONCILED to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being (now) 'RECONCILED,' we Shall Be Saved (Gk sozo, completed) by his life.

The truth is that The Lord came to earth to die for ALL men that they might be 'reconciled' to Him; and that reconciliation is not made by a man's own feeble religious efforts or doings.

Colossians 1:20 And, having (already) made peace through the blood of his cross, by him (in order) to 'reconcile' ALL things (including lost mankind) UNTO Himself ...

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

It is not judgment that is first on the agenda for lost mankind. NO!  Judgment is to come upon all who Will Not to 'Receive' the Prepaid 'RECONCILIATION' that is available ALL men "in Christ.   "... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2), not judgment.

Today men are born alienated from the life of God in Christ, but 'Reconciliation' has been made by Christ's cross on behalf of ALL men, not just those who would receive it... that 'Reconciliation' is now available to ALL men through simple faith (trust) 'in Christ alone' as their Savior.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 And all things are of God, who hath Reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of Reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing (counting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye Reconciled to God. 21 For he (The Father) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; (so) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Therefore, today, 'Reconciliation' has already been made by Christ for ALL men. I realize there is a corrupt doctrine called 'universal reconciliation, which is to be scorned. It says ALL MEN are reconciled and will be Saved in the end, after death. THIS IS A LIE OF SATAN. It seems that the Devil takes the truth of God to corrupt and distort it. In this case he leaves out the core element of faith in Christ as the Savior of anyone who would 'receive their Reconciliation' to God "through Christ."

The Bible clearly says, since "the Lamb of God" was slain "for the sins of the world" (Jn 1:29) and by this sacrifice ALL mankind stands 'reconciled' to God... BUT that reconciliation must be personally and individually 'RECEIVED BY FAITH' in Christ's death and resurrection. So we might say there is a proper 'universal Reconciliation' that was paid for by Jesus' death... for ALL mankind.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord (Master) Jesus, and shalt Believe In Thine Heart That God Hath Raised Him From The Dead, Thou Shalt Be Saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession (profession) is made unto salvation.

Paul, in Romans 5:10 says there is something more than Reconciliation; "For if, When We Were (Lost) Enemies, We Were 'Reconciled' To God By The Death Of His Son, MUCH MORE, being (thus) reconciled, we shall be saved (Gk, sozo, completed) by his 'Life'" (Zoë, Christ's own spirit of LIFE, cf. 1Jn 5:11-12).

Before the cross Sin reigned. It was in the air men breathed. BUT NOW  "... as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might 'grace reign' through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)

Thus, Reconciliation is already accomplished for ALL lost men and therefore salvation is in the air, as close as our breath. Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

In reconciling the world to Himself, Christ has made it possible for ALL lost men to be saved. He reconciled ALL men to Himself by the His Cross... already, before they believed. Now it is for lost men today to receive Christ's death on their behalf and receive Christ's life, to be saved (completed).

Rather than judgment hanging over a lost man's head, it is Reconciliation hanging over His head, already 'Paid In FULL." This is the truth that we need to proclaim so ALL men will claim the Salvation afforded to them by faith in Christ's death for them.

Reconciliation is the result of Christ's atoning sacrifice having been finished at the cross, for ALL mankind. Then, ANY person may receive salvation by placing their God-given faith "in Christ."

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

‘Reconciliation’ is but the 1st or the two stages of salvation. In Leviticus 16:29-34 have a great 'dual type' of Christ seen in the "two goats" of this Mosaic ritual as prescribed by the Lord. The 1st Goat is called the "goat of atonement" whereby all men are reconciled to God, while the 2nd Goat is called the "scapegoat," which actually carried men's sins away. The 1st goat was killed and sacrificed for the sins of the people of Israel, typifying Jesus' death of the cross for them. The imagery gets even more interesting for us as seen in Hebrews 9:11.

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and NOT Through the Blood of Goats and Calves, but through His Own blood, He entered the holy place Once For All, Having Obtained Eternal Redemption."

The 2nd goat of Leviticus 16, was the "scapegoat." When someone says, "I am just a scapegoat", we understand that this person is being unfairly blamed for some wrong another has committed. Again, Jesus fits the imagery. Israel's High Priest, Aaron, placed his hands on this 2nd goat, which symbolized the transfer of all the sins of the people to the ‘Scapegoat.’ This goat was taken out to the deep wilderness, never to be seen again. In the same way; 1) Jesus suffered unfairly on the cross for sins He did not commit. He was innocent and sinless yet suffered as if He had sinned. 2) Jesus also is our scapegoat! Just as the scapegoat was driven into the wilderness, Jesus was crucified outside the gate of the city of Jerusalem to actually take our sins away... never to be recalled.

The Lord says, Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

We could summarize this as follows:

• The fact is that Christ died for 'the sins of the world' - even while we were lost. Christ already expiated (carried away) the sins of ALL men to 'reconcile' them to God, even before they believe.
• Salvation blessing is close at hand to all men, as if Salvation (not judgment) is hanging over the head of every lost person ... to picked as the fruit of the cross, to be claimed... by faith.
• Since the lost are "dead in trespasses and sins" the lost are helpless, needing the Free Gift of 'faith,' by which God's grace works... unto salvation (cf. Eph 2:8-9).
• The lost have the free gift of faith sufficient to "receive" reconciliation in Christ as Savior... with His new life to dwell in them. (Rom 12:3)
• The lost have "the gospel of the grace (not yet judgment) of God in Christ,' and Reconciliation hanging over their heads, close at hand.
• All we as preachers of the grace gospel need to do is to proclaim the gospel of complete salvation in Christ as Savior and His life to dwell in the lost (cf. Col 1:27b-28). Nowhere does Paul preach the threat of hell, rather he proclaims "the gift of God."

The Savior and HIS RESURRECTION LIFE: Colossians 1:26-28a Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of This Mystery among the Gentiles; which is 'CHRIST IN YOU,' THE HOPE OF GLORY: 28 WHOM WE PREACH...

So its not the preaching of hellfire, brimstone, eternal damnation and loss that is to be preached. Today it is "the gospel of the grace of God (good news)" that wins men's hearts to makes a man saved by faith in Christ. Today, 'salvation' is simply one's for the claiming... by claiming their prepaid 'reconciliation' to God as found only... in Christ's cross-death for us all!

Today men lost man stands 'not yet' judged, but "alienated from the life of God." Such men need the light of the glorious gospel to be preached and shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world (the Devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For WE PREACH not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The lost need to hear about and receive Christ's reconciliation and resultant salvation it affords to all who will believe, then to enjoy the riches of Paul's 'mystery' gospel of Christ's dwelling in them.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: 28 Whom We Preach ....

Paul's gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." Paul's "gospel of the grace of God" is the 'good news" that Christ has ALREADY died and paid for ALL your sins... simply receive HIM!

Acts 16:31 And they (Paul and Silas) said, Believe on (trust in) the Lord Jesus Christ (alone), and thou shalt be saved, and (the same offer applies to) thy house.

2 Cor 5:20 (AMP) we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be 'reconciled' to God.

So today we proclaim not judgment as the 'good news,' but rather the opportunity to receive God's freely given 'reconciliation in Christ.' This then is "the love of God" manifest to a lost and dying world while they are yet in sin!