Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."
Text: Ephesians 2:16
THE WORK OF RECONCILIATION
The work of bringing about peace was a monumental task. However, that was not the only task Jesus undertook. There was another task that was as significant- that of “reconciliation”. The theme of reconciliation was also given prominence in the other writings of Paul. Let us consider these texts.
“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. And not only that, but we
rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
ROMANS 5:10-11“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled
us to Himself through
Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE DOCTRINES OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
1. Sin brought about the state of enmity:-
a) Between man and man
b) Between man and God
2. Jesus through His death at Calvary brought about peace:-
a) Between Jew and Gentile (man and man)
b ) Between man and God
3. Reconciliation was the next challenge
a) Jew and Gentile together are to be reconciled to God
b) Reconciliation is a vital add-on result of Christ’s atonement
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
Paul added (in his epistle to the Corinthians) that God has given the work of proclaiming the message of reconciliation to believers. Those who have come to salvation in Christ, and who would thus have experienced both the peace of God and reconciliation have been entrusted with “the word of reconciliation”. If we were to fulfill this ministry effectively, we would have to work at possessing a deeper understanding of the doctrine of reconciliation.