Paul speaks of the ministry of reconciliation. But what does he mean by this? Merriam-Webster defines reconcile as “to restore to friendship or harmony.”[1] Paul had just explained that he had found new life in Christ and then explained how this came about.
2 Corinthians 5: 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].[2]
Jesus Reconciles Us
Every child has some type of relationship with their parent. It may be good or bad. And so it is with our heavenly Father; every person has some type of relationship with Him, good or bad. From the beginning, God intended for people to live in a relationship of trust and obedience with Him. When sin entered the world, it corrupted this relationship.
Then God initiated a restoration through Jesus. Our sins counted against us. Paul uses accounting terms here. Our sins are much like debts on a credit card that must be paid. We are unable to pay the price. Jesus led a perfect, sinless life to become the lamb that paid the blood price for our sin. Jesus paid the debt so our relationship with God can be restored or reconciled. As we repent and trust Jesus, our sins are forgiven, making a way to a restored relationship with God.
The Reconciled Become Reconcilers
Paul had received God’s gift of reconciliation as he trusted Jesus as Messiah. He knew what it was to try to earn favor with God by following the law. It didn’t work. He could rely on the grace of God to receive forgiveness through the action of Jesus on the cross. Because Jesus had restored his relationship with God, Paul now had the privilege of taking this message to others so they could be reconciled with God.
Paul wasn’t doing the reconciliation alone; he used the plural pronoun “us.” This ministry included the believers in Corinth. They, too, had experienced the restoration of their relationship with God. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun![3] God desired to use the church to spread the message that through Jesus Christ, any who believed could be restored to favor with God.
Today, as followers of Jesus, we are to have this same ministry of reconciliation. Jesus has reconciled us so that we can share His message with others. With whom does God want you to share this message? To learn more, listen here:
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile
[2]Amplified Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.
[3]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.