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.Continue Reading