“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: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

Our sin has separated us from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) From the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned, the consequences of that sin was death; that is, separation in their relationship with God who had created them to have a relationship with Him. All of us have sinned and in our sin are separated from God. It is from that beginning, God already had a plan to restore our relationship with Him. He wanted a reconciliation with those created in His image. That is to restore the relationship. That is why the Old Testament points us to God’s promise of one who will bring reconciliation. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) The reconciliation would bring to us peace with God.

The reason why Jesus, God in the flesh, has come to us is to bring reconciliation. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20) Our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ transforms us from enemies of God to those who receive His life in us. “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!” (Romans 5:10)

Through our reconciliation with God, He now calls us into His service with the ministry of reconciliation. “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: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19) Now, as those reconciled, we become His representatives in this world with a message of hope, which is that others may also come to Him and find reconciliation. “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. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

It is through this reconciliation that we find peace with God. Paul would describe this peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Now in a new relationship with God, His peace is ours.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block