“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 boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Ephesians 5:10-11)

The Old Testament gives us a window into the love of God and His estrangement from mankind. It opens to God’s very good creation, and it closes with many of God’s people scattered and those who remained struggled with their relationship with Him. However, through God’s love a glimmer of hope. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) A promised Messiah who would offer a new way to God, which would bring reconciliation.

Reconciliation is needed because the people had become estranged from God. The estrangement started in the garden when Adam and Eve first sinned against God. The evidence was when God had to ask, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9b) It continued when Isaiah, God’s prophet, announced this word from the Lord, “Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.” (Isaiah 1:4) Man could not be reconciled to God. Only God could make a way for man to be reconciled to God.

 God promised to overcome the one who had tempted them and offer the hope through an offspring to come. In relation to the tempter, “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15b) God would continue to seek out man with the hope of reconciliation and the fulfillment of His promise. “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10)

Reconciliation would come through One who was the son of man, and One who would be God Himself. Reconciliation would come through Jesus, the Son of God, and the son of Mary, thus the Son of Man.

“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 boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

God has overcome our estrangement from Him by becoming one of us and then taking our judgment for our sin, death. Now, through the cross and the resurrection, we have a new life, and an eternal life. We will live because God has reconciled us to Himself.

Reconciliation does not stop with our reconciliation. God uses us, the reconciled, to offer His gift of reconciliation to others. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) This is the work of the church. The reconciled shows others how to be reconciled. We become God’s representatives to a world estranged from God. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

In a world filled with pain and rejection, may we as God’s ambassadors, offer His love and His desire for people to be reconciled with Him.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block