The Ministry of Reconciliation

The Ministry of Reconciliation

The ministry of reconciliation is quite possibly the most important and glorious ministry into which we can enter. 2 Cor. 5:17-20. We can only obtain this ministry as new creations who are reconciled to God.

All over the earth people are not reconciled to each other. The prevailing atmosphere is hard and cold. The love of many has grown cold.

Everything that is new, good, and peaceful is from God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation, because “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” This is the authority we have as new creations in Christ. Jesus has redeemed the whole world with His precious blood; He does not refuse anyone who comes to Him. He will not reckon any of their sins to them if they come to be reconciled with God in Christ.

We cannot, as a new man, be reconciled with the old man with all his old and evil deeds, but as ambassadors in Christ’s stead we can exhort, “Be reconciled to God.” How great it is that someone who has lived in all manner of sin can receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God and have a share in His great glory.

We have not lived in vain if we, through the ministry of reconciliation, succeed in preventing one or several marriages from breaking up. Perhaps this is how we can even save large families.

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Rom. 5:10.

We have peace with God if we have been reconciled to God. However, this does not mean that we have all the peace that is in God, nor all the wisdom, righteousness, love, and goodness that is in Him. We partake of the fullness of His riches according to our hunger and longing.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19. This is a further and deeper salvation that continues for the rest of our life. We enter into a blessed rest and peace in everything that comes our way.

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Col. 1:18-20.

Jesus came as the firstborn among many brethren to do God’s will perfectly on earth as it is done in heaven. In this will God wants to reconcile all mankind to Himself in Christ Jesus. In this will Jesus wants to have brethren in one body, with Himself as the head. He wants to have brethren with whom He can share His eternal inheritance.

Everyone before Jesus was subject to the law of sin and death. However, Jesus always did His Father’s will and walked according to the laws of the Spirit of life. In this will we can now be reconciled in one body through the word of the cross. The selfish will of the flesh can never bring about unity and fellowship. It will always cause all kinds of strife with the result there will never be peace. However, as new creations we can all be reconciled “to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Eph. 2:17-19.

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:20. Paul was a violent man and a criminal, but he was reconciled to God in Christ with the result that he became one of the greatest men of God on this earth. Ananias was in the ministry of reconciliation as a disciple of Jesus, and he was used to show Paul the right way.

We can show the greatest glory to unhappy and restless people, with boldness, in the Spirit of faith. “Now be reconciled to Him, and you will have peace; thereby good will come to you.” Job 22:21.