Ministry

Reconciliation and Unity: The Goal of Christian Ministry

Plammoottil V. Cherian, M. Div., Ph. D., Chicago

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciledin the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. (Colossians 1:19-22)

Reconciliation [rekən ˌ

silēˈāSH(ə)n] is defined as the restoration of friendly relations. In the Bible, reconciliation involves a change in the relationship between God and man and man and man. (man here means humanity not the male gender) It is the broken relationship that has created disharmony, enmity and alienation from God and fellow brethren, but now through a change of heart enters into harmony, unity and fellowship with God and one’s brothers and sisters. The word reconciliation comes from the Greek word καταλλάσσω [(Strong’s 2644, kat-al-las'-so], meaning a proper decisive change from the previous nature of enmity to friendship, honesty and harmony. In a Biblical sense it is the redemptive process of a sinner reconciling to God through the mediation of Lord Jesus Christ.

Reconciliation is a powerful word, which becomes part of life of many individuals, in families, between ethnic groups, political parties and nations in a general sense. Though it happens daily, it is not an easy process to reconcile unless the heart and souls of both parties that are being reconciled involve. Honesty, sincerity, and a will power to forgive and forget are the true ingredients needed for reconciliation and these elements are the gifts of the Holy Spirit in true reconciliation. At the end, the process of reconciliation must bring out the awfulness, the wrongs, the abuses, the pain it caused and the hurt. Unless the Holy Spirit is involved, it is a risky business. I have watched politicians after bickering over party issues, even during national calamities, but may come together and make a show of reconciliation and unity, have a prayer and handshaking but then go back to their chambers, to carry on with politics as usual placing party ideology over the people, country and God. An honest confrontation with reality can only bring lasting peace and healing. Reconciliation without the mediation of the Holy Spirit can bring only superficial (face saving) healing and the wound will grow.

The Process of Reconciliation

Unless we are first reconciled to God, we cannot reconcile with fellow humans. In today’s culture we often hear phrases like “I am sorry,” “I take full responsibility,” by politicians, churchgoers, and non-churched people which do not mean much, except the mere expression of the words. Without reconciliation with God, the process is powerless, vain and meaningless and we do not achieve true harmony and fellowship with others. One who has not reconciled with God is still in enmity with God, and we are under God’s wrath. In Romans Paul vehemently explains how God paved a way for the reconciliation with a fallen and disfigured world. He elected and ordained Abraham to be the father of all as a covenant family in the kingdom of God, and the blessings promised to Abraham, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you,” became fulfilled through the ultimate Son promised to Abraham, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. For those who put faith in Jesus, he becomes the Mediator between God and man, the Redeemer and Savior. Thus we become partakers of the Abrahamic covenant.

Because God is gracious, loving and merciful, all people on earth are not automatically reconciled to Him and declared right, but it is granted to all who accept the ultimate sacrifice and the atonement God made for us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Thus Abraham was elected to be the channel of blessing to all families on earth, which Jesus completed. All redeemed people collectively form the Bride (the Church) of the Bridegroom, Lord Jesus Christ, who purchased us by his precious blood on Calvary. That is the essence of reconciliation, the substance of the Gospel of God (Rom. 1:1) and the eternal Gospel (Rev. 14:6).

Paul teaches us that before reconciliation with God we were powerless, wild, ungodly, sinners and enemies of God, and were under the wrath of God (Rom. 5:6-11). Reconciliation with God will change these conditions through the mediation of Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 2:5:17-19). What the verses convey is Christians are brand new people once they accept Christ, in their mind, heart and intellect—a transformed heart and mind, and transformed way of thinking and acting. Paul instructs that we are made new, joined with the heavenly Father when we are reconciled to God. This we achieve by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. By the works of the Holy Spirit, we become new creatures with new features. Reconciliation with God does not mean we are reformed, rehabilitated, or re-educated, but we are recreated to become new creature and live-in vital union with Christ (Col. 2:6:7), as Jesus himself taught, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4). By reconciliation with God, we are beginning a new life under a new Master.

Christians Ambassadors of Christ for Reconciliation

By reconciliation God brings us back to himself by blotting out our sins and making us righteous, and we are no more alienated from God, no strangers or foreigner to Him, when we place our complete trust in Christ, who becomes Lord and King in our life. Those who are fully reconciled to God, have another mandate—we have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and thus we have the ministry of reconciliation. Thus, we are not only reconciled to God, but also called to be ambassadors of Christ, sent out into the world in the ministry of reconciliation, which is a serious responsibility, and we dare not take it lightly. The question you and I have to ask is, how well I am, fulfilling this commission as Christ’s ambassador?

Reconciliation is an objective work of God through Christ to restore us back to God from a fallen world, as God promised Adam and Eve in the Garden through the promise of the Seed of Woman (Gen. 3:15). But it is also subjective on the part of human being, as all may not accept the call, “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Today the whole world is operating, keeping God on the sideline by the erroneous notion of “Separation of Church and State.” Nowhere in the foundational documents of Western civilized nations such as United States and United Kingdom it says, nations cannot rely on God for righteous governing. The problem of the whole world today, in my view is “politics without God” and Churches failing to be true ambassadors of Christ. Christ sent messages to the seven churches through John, the Apostle, reminding them of the urgency of reconciliation, or face consequences (Rev. 2:1—3:22). Individuals and churches and society collectively cannot and must not forget that we are reconciled to God through Christ, and our calling is to help others reconcile to God.

In several instances, the New Testament teaches that we are reconciled to God: (1) through the death of Christ (Rom.5:10; Col. 1:22); and (2) through His blood on the cross (Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20). Both in Romans and Corinthians, Paul uses reconciliation and justification as synonymous terms. Those who are reconciled have peace with God and access to Him as His children (Eph. 216—18). Also, those who are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ are justified. The whole message of the Gospel is one of reconciliation and justification. Reconciliation brings justification, and justification leads to holiness or sanctification. Without sanctification no one can see God, and thus the warning, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” Heb. 12:14). This is the essence of Christian doctrine, to be in the presence of God while living on earth and in eternity—for which holiness is essential. Be holy, as I am holy (Lev. 11:4; 1 Pet. 1:13-16).

Conclusion

In summary, a detailed study of the verses quoted at the beginning indicates the work of God in two distinct reconciliations: (1) The reconciliation accomplished at Calvary—God in Christ reconciled the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Here God did not change because God always loved the world as he created it for habitation of humanity (Isa. 45:18) whom he created in his own image (Gen. 1:26,27). God is an unchanging God (Mal. 3:6). Nor was the world changed, for it continued in sinful rebellion against God. But by the death of Christ, the relationship between God and the world was changed, because of God’s mercy the barrier of separation was removed and sin was atoned judicially enabling God to show mercy where judgment was deserved. This reconciliation is the work of God alone and man had no part. (2) There is a provision for reconciliation by the sinner wrought by God whereby he becomes changed from his rebellious attitude towards God, so that we are persuaded to receive the reconciliation already accomplished through Christ on the Cross (Rom. 5:11). Those who take this opportunity for reconciliation, become a new Christian having a part, being ambassadors for Christ bearing the “word of reconciliation” committed to them (2 Cor. 5:19) and pleading with men, “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).

The message of redemption, salvation, reconciliation, justification and holiness has come to us from God though Christ who has passed it on to us. Thus, God gave us a ministry of reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation involves the proclamation of the Gospel and its assurance that redemption and forgiveness are available in Christ. Five times in the passages (2 Cor. 5:18-21), Paul mentions the word reconciliation in different forms, reminding the church that the heart and soul of Christian ministry is a ministry of reconciliation. Thus it is the duty of preachers, priests and bishops to tell all people, irrespective of their position or power to reconcile to God and fellow humans. That is the essence of the Gospel. The ultimate aim is that we are not only reconciled and justified but that we might become the righteousness of God through Christ, and will bring others the righteousness of God. Amen!

References:

1. Holy Bible, The New Scofield Study Bible (1989),

Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee,

USA. 2. D. M. Baillie (1956) God was in Christ second revised edition Faber & Faber. pp.231. ISBN 10:0571070244 3. James Denney, (2017) The Christian Doctrine of

Reconciliation. 354 pp. Andesite Press. ISBN 10:1375927620 4. Vincent Tylor (1958). The atonement in the New

Testament Teaching (third edition). Epworth

Publisher 224 pp. ASIN: B0007J8L2S.

Editor’s Note: Dr. P. V. Cherian is a retired professor of medical Sciences and a scientist, who served the Diocese of North America and Europe as its Associate secretary from 1984-1990. He is a dedicated scientist and theologian connecting the truth of sciences with the Biblical theology that has records of every discovery made in the universe during the last five hundred years. He is the author of six books on these and other social and moral issues that plague the world in the preset culture.