Biblical Reconciliation – What is it and why do we need it now?
One cannot separate ‘Biblical Reconciliation’ from, the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now is a good moment to spend some time in God’s word, have a read and reflect on Romans 5:6-11.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
Biblical Reconciliation is God at work for us. For he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16). ‘Unfathomable’ is a word that is often used to frame how God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Our eternally dire situation of being a sinner is well described as being powerless and God’s enemies. We can’t blame God for this, it was human sin that separated us from the relationship with God that he had created for us. The gift of faith that the Holy Spirit gives us, so that we ‘have now received reconciliation’, is a gift that we will praise God for ‘all day long’ (Psalm 25:5) and while living eternally in heaven.
Now is a good time to ponder and put to memory the following realities! Biblical Reconciliation…
- is the Gospel
- involves the forgiveness of your sins by God himself
- removes the guilt of your sin, failed expectations, hurt and shame
- gives you your eternal identity as a child of God
- opens the way for you to be led by the Holy Spirit in your life with Jesus
It is appropriate to think of Biblical Reconciliation as vertical reconciliation! The Greek word translate ‘reconciliation’ in Romans 5:6-11 is rich with meaning. It captures the understanding of being moved from a broken relationship to entering into a full, healthy and loving relationship. This is what Jesus has done for you and for all people so that, being fully restored, you can experience God’s love and favour.
Why do we need Biblical Reconciliation now?
As a person having received reconciliation you are being led by the Holy Spirit in your life with Jesus as you live with others. In this respect, it would be appropriate to say that there is ‘horizontal reconciliation’. You are freed in Jesus for the Gospel to be involved in your relationships, be it with a spouse, your parents, your children, your friends and members of your congregation or school, even people you work with!
Here’s the catch! While we are free in Jesus for the Gospel to be involved in our relationships we often fail to do so! We are so pushed by expectations, a form of law, that when those expectations are not met we become frustrated, and while we burn with the desire to have control we become angry and behave in ways to get our own way. You could say this is a pretty good description of being uncaring, insensitive and loveless!
We might dismiss that we are like this when the going is good, but have a closer look! What about when the going is tough, what are we like then? We don’t have to look far now that we and the rest of the world’s people and nations are affected by the Coronavirus – Covid 19!
“Things are tense between people” is one comment I heard on the radio, as the person went on to describe impatience, bad words, lack of respect and inappropriate behaviour that is being experienced between family members. What observations have you made? In your society? In your congregation or school? In your marriage? In your home?
It’s a reality that we need God’s wisdom to live out our life of Biblical Reconciliation. This is where LCA Reconciliation Ministry is here to serve you. Over the coming weeks and months there will be regular eNews editions with articles and links to resources so that you have informed ways to engage in your relationships to the glory of God.
We pray that our loving heavenly Father will continue to use this time to lead us into a deeper awareness of ourselves and our sinful tendencies, and that he will continue to lead us into an even deeper awareness and appreciation of the unfathomable love with which he loves us in his Son so that we are led by the Holy Spirit in all our relationships.
We are looking forward to walking with you and serving you!
Pastor Paul Kerber
Ephesians 4:32 – 5:2
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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