In the previous article, we discussed propitiation, which referred to the act of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In this article, we are focusing on the result of Jesus’ sacrifice. Notice what Paul wrote:
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while 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. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11).
The Greek word for reconciliation is katallage. It refers to a restoration of divine favor after the enmity that existed between man and God is removed. The New Century Version uses the phrase, “Through him we are now God’s friends again” (Romans 5:11). The King James Version uses the term atonement, which shows how it is connected to our previous article on propitiation. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, He made a propitiatory sacrifice which enabled us to be reconciled to God.
Understanding the Concept
We will take a closer look at the text above in a moment. Before we do, let us notice some other passages that help us understand the idea of reconciliation.
First, there was a separation between God and man. When Paul addressed the Gentile Christians in his letter to the Ephesians, he reminded them of the time in which they were “separate from Christ” and “without God” (Ephesians 2:12). This separation existed because of sin. This is one of the reasons why Jesus’ death for us is so remarkable. It was “while we were yet sinners, [that] Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Sin separates man from God. This is not only true for the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:12), it is also true for the Jews. This is why the prophet Isaiah said, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). Because of this separation, we were in need of reconciliation in our relationship with God.
Second, God took the initiative to bring about this reconciliation. Paul told the brethren in Corinth of this: “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). However, while it was essential for God to take the initiative to reconcile us to Him, we still had to be willing to be reconciled. This is why Paul’s work as an apostle involved him appealing for man to “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). This requires repentance on our part (Acts 2:38; 3:19; et al.), as the apostle John wrote, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).
The Greek word for reconciliation (katallage) is also used to describe the restoring of a broken marriage: “But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). When we discuss the topic of divorce and remarriage, we often focus on the lawful cause for putting away one’s mate – fornication (Matthew 19:9). However, that is the exception. The rule is that marriage is permanent. Jesus said, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6). If a separation does occur, reconciliation should be the goal when possible. However, that requires both parties to be willing to reconcile, which will involve repentance, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Thinking of this in terms of the marriage relationship is helpful. The church is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:31-32), and we are “betrothed” to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2). Paul explained that both Jews and Gentiles have been reconciled “in one body to God through the cross” (Ephesians 2:16). That body in which we have been reconciled to God is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, “the enmity” that existed between man and God has been “put to death” (Ephesians 2:16). We can now enjoy fellowship with Him.
Understanding This in Context
Now let us return to our opening text and see what it teaches about reconciliation:
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while 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. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11).
Paul explained earlier in this letter that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He wrote to the Galatians that we were “shut up…under sin” (Galatians 3:22). Therefore, on our own, we were “helpless” (Romans 5:6), unable to remedy the situation.
However, God took the initiative to bring about a solution to the problem of sin. As Paul explained, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This was a demonstration of His love. John wrote, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). When Jesus died on the cross to make “propitiation for our sins,” the mercy of God was extended to us [we discussed this in the previous article] so that we can be “saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:9).
While we were in sin, we were “enemies” of God (Romans 5:10). Many do not want to think of their condition in such unambiguous terms, yet there is no middle ground. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). This should remind us of how terrible sin is. It is not to be taken lightly. As we noticed earlier, John wrote, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6). The reason why it is impossible to remain in fellowship with God when we continue in sin is because “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). We need to appreciate just how serious of a problem sin is, not only to avoid it but also to appreciate the reconciliation available through Christ.
It is through the sacrifice of Christ that we have “received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). The King James Version uses the word atonement in place of reconciliation. The English word (atonement) helps describe the concept (“at-one-ment”). Through the sacrifice of Christ, we can be one with God. This is the message of the gospel. The apostles were given “the ministry of reconciliation” and preached “the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Paul summarized this in his letter to the church in Colossae: “And through Him [Christ, as] to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister” (Colossians 1:20-23). The gospel shows the problem (we are separated from God due to our sin), the solution (forgiveness through the sacrifice on the cross), and how to take advantage of this solution (by obeying the gospel in faith). The gospel is preached in order to appeal to men to take advantage of this chance for us to be one with God.
Conclusion
Jesus gave His life on the cross to reconcile us to God. We were helpless without His sacrifice. We were separated from God because of our sin, which made us enemies of His. Yet we can be “at-one” with Him through Jesus’ death on the cross.
However, we must choose to take advantage of this sacrifice. This is why Paul and the apostles echoed Christ’s appeal to “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
