Reconciled To God

II Corinthians 5:17-21

Every once in awhile I hear the sad story of people who have had some terrible argument, and are now hostile and estranged from each other.  It might be an adult child who tells his parents he never wishes to see them again as he walks out. Perhaps it is the parent who kicks his teenage or adult child out, telling them to never darken the doorway again.  Maybe two, once close friends are now not talking to each other. For whatever the reason, they need someone to step in the middle and attempt a reconciliation between them. Since the days of Adam and Eve, mankind has been estranged from God due to our sins.  We have needed someone to bridge that gap for us, to come and bring reconciliation between man and God. In our passage today we read how that was accomplished.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote this second letter to the Corinthian church, starts off this passage by describing how when believers first come to faith in Christ, they become a new creature, we experience a new birth (vs. 17).  Our sins are forgiven, paid for by Jesus’ substitutionary death. After the new birth, our old value systems, priorities, beliefs, and loves are replaced. Evil and sin are still present, but we view them in a new perspective, and they no longer control us. When someone comes to Christ and accepts Him as their Savior, they are not merely turning over a new leaf. They are beginning a new life with a new Master. This is all accomplished by God. He wants sinful men to be reconciled to Himself, and He calls believers to proclaim to others the Gospel of reconciliation (vs. 18).

One may ask how was this reconciliation accomplished?  Paul goes on to explain in the next verses. God used His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the only acceptable and perfect sacrifice, as the means to reconcile sinners to Himself (vs. 19).  God offers this reconciliation to everyone, regardless of race or status. However not everyone takes and accepts it. Those who accept will receive atonement. Those who don’t will pay the price.

The heart of the Gospel is explained in verse 21, and tells how sinners can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the sinless Son of God. However, God the Father treated Jesus, while on the cross, as if He was a sinner, though He was not.  He had Jesus die as a substitute to pay the penalty for the sins of those who believe in Him. God will not allow sin in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13).  The penalty of sin is death and separation from God for eternity (Romans 6:23). Jesus did not become a sinner.  He remained as holy as He ever was.  Jesus was treated as if He were guilty of all the sins committed by all who would believe, though He committed none. The wrath of God fell on Jesus, and the just requirement of God was met for those for whom He died. Thus, sinners who believe are made righteous. Jesus bore our sins so that we can bear His righteousness. God treated Jesus as if He had committed the sins, and those who accept Him as Savior as if we did Jesus’ righteous deeds.

When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are no longer God’s enemies, strangers, or foreigners to Him.  We have been reconciled, and now we have the task of telling others to be likewise reconciled. We have been given the job of an ambassador (vs 20).  An ambassador is a representative of the ruler and government of one country to the ruler and government of another. We are to represent the King of heaven to those on earth, bringing the Gospel, and pleading with them to be reconciled to God.

Have you been reconciled to God?  If not, as an ambassador of the King of heaven, I come to you today to urge you to admit your sins, and to accept the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf.  Ask Him into your heart and accept Him as your Savior. Be reconciled to God today!