“Be Reconciled To God”

David Eldridge

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul writes, “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.” What is reconciliation and why does Paul plead that individuals be reconciled? Let us look to God’s word for the answers.

Reconciliation defined. Vines defines it as, “To change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile.” When there is enmity (hostility) in a relationship reconciliation must take place to bring that relationship back again. It is in reconciliation that we find the separation and hostility removed and the bonds reunited.

Why we need to be reconciled. The need for reconciliation can be seen in the fact that we once had a relationship with God being pure in infancy and childhood (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:14). However, that purity gave way to sin as we reach an accountable time in our lives. It is then we commit sin and all are found guilty (Romans 3:23). By this worldliness and sin in our lives we separate ourselves from God (Isaiah 59:2). Notice Colossians 1:21. Paul teaches, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.” In our sin we have become alienated from God and His enemy. This hostility breaks our good standing with Him and we find ourselves in need of reconciliation.

The means of reconciliation. What has made reconciliation possible? We fin the answer in Romans 5:10. There it is written, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” It is through the death of Jesus that we might erase the hostility and be in union with God once again. A multitude of passages testify to this fact (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 2:16; Hebrews 2:17). More specifically in Colossians 1:20 we are told Jesus made “peace through the blood of His cross.”

How to gain reconciliation. From the previous points we know reconciliation is found when we take advantage of the sacrifice of Jesus, meeting His blood which washes away our sins which cause the separation from God. Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:34). We reach the death of Jesus, hence the blood, in the waters of baptism (Romans 6:3). Have you been baptized that you might be reconciled?