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The Doctrine of Reconciliation

by | Jun 13, 2022 | Bible Brief

OR

THE REMOVAL OF THE WALL OF SEPARATION

 “For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh” (Eph. 2:14-17).

 

  1. A wall of separation has been constructed between God and man because of man’s sin (Isa. 59:2).
  2. There is need for a Mediator to remove this wall of separation (Job 9:33).
  3. The need for reconciliation implies that warfare has taken place:

 

¨ A quarrel, or breach of friendship; and sin has made a breach;

¨ It has broken the friendship between God and man;

¨ It has broken the friendship between man and his fellow man;

¨ The sinner is filled with enmity against God and mankind; and

¨ The sinner is the offender and God is the offended one.

 

  1. Reconciliation is a work of God in which God both mediates the conflict and then removes the alienation between God and man. According to the Bible, God’s holiness has been offended by man’s sinfulness resulting in alienation from one another.
  2. The word “reconciliation” has several popular applications:

 

¨ The work of a mediator

¨ The work of an accountant

¨ The work of an insurance adjuster

¨ The work of a peacemaker

 

  1. The word “reconciliation” comes from the Greek word, kat-al-lag-ay, and means “the making of things right.”
  2. God the Father takes the first step in reconciling the sinner to Himself. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). He did this, of course, while we were still “sinners,” “enemies,” and “without strength” (Rom. 5:8, 10; Col. 1:21). The means by which the sinner is reconciled to God is an accomplished act of God. It is history! It is finished completely—long before the sinner believes. The application of its wonderful, peace-giving results awaits only the sinner’s response in faith to the promise and testimony of God concerning the work of Jesus Christ.
  3. God Himself “has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-19).
  4. Christ is the appointed Mediator/Peacemaker (Eph. 2:14-17).
  5. Paul considered his Gospel of Grace to be “the Word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19).
  6. Believing members of the Body of Christ are the appointed “ambassadors” of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20).