We Have Been Reconciled

Let’s take another look at yesterday’s passage (Romans 5:3-11) and focus in on God’s plan of reconciliation in (5:11).

³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

In (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) Paul expounds upon this subject where he discusses how there is some sort of reconciliation between God and man. Reconciliation denotes to change, an exchange takes place. For the Christian, it is the change of being an enemy of God to being a friend of God. Did you know that is where you are positionally with The Lord as a believer (follower) of Jesus Christ? This reconciliation is what God has accomplished on His own without the help of man. It’s really that God has taken the initiative to reconcile man back to Himself. Therefore, we should take note of two points concerning God’s reconciliation:

1. God is not reconciled to man, as though God were partly to blame for the enmity
2. Rather, man is reconciled to God, for it is man who moved away from God!

So what makes reconciliation possible?

• It is possible because of the initiative that God took first
• It is possible through Jesus Christ – by His death for our sins
• Read: (Colossians 1:19-20)

He died to atone for our sins

• This is the fundamental theme of the Gospel – (1 Corinthians 15:1-3)
• His suffering for our sins was foretold – (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12)
• He was the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world – (John 1:29)
• God offered Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins – (1 John 4:9-10)
• Providing redemption from sin through His precious blood – (1 Peter 1:18-19)
• And through faith in Jesus Christ are made righteous – (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Now how does God see His redeemed ones?
• Read: (Colossians 1:22) (Romans 4:6-8)