The 4 Reconciliations

The word reconcile means: To conciliate anew; to call back into union and friendship the affections which have been alienated; to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement; as, to reconcile men or parties that have been at variance. It comes from the Latin word ‘conciliate’ which means: To draw or bring together, to unite

Reconciliation does not have any eternal value apart from justification and redemption. To be reconciled, therefore, does not mean that a person or group is "saved" but is now in a position to receive salvation.

Reconciliation, in the bible, means that man has been brought into a favorable relationship with God based on the full payment "for all sin, for all men, for all time." That is, God is not holding sin against mankind (any man saved or lost) in the current dispensation of grace. This "grace" will run out one day at the catching away of the church the body of Christ.

There are four reconciliations in the Pauline epistles, they are:

1. Personal reconciliation
2. Reconciliation of the world
3. Reconciliation of all things
4. Reconciliation of Jew & Gentile

Personal Reconciliation

VERSE: Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

VIEWPOINT: Reconciliation guarantees the peace of God in the dispensation of grace. We were enemies, we were at war with God. In John 15 Christ tells his disciples: 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. But Gods love extends to all men in this age. He laid down his life not just for his personal friends but also his personal enemies.

VALUE: God is not your enemy whether you are saved or lost. Through reconciliation he has brought you into his favor. You cannot merit, buy or earn this kind of attention it comes by GRACE.

Reconciliation Of The World

VERSE: 2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (see also Rom 11:15)

VIEWPOINT: To "wit" here means witness. Witness what is happening at Calvary, witness the love of God for his creation. Mankind has rejected God being unthankful, unholy without natural affectation, not wanting to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up. But now God gives witness of his love. Romans 5:8 says... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And thereby, purchasing favor for the world to himself. We really do have good news today. Religion and tradition try to cover it up and Satan tries to hid it but there it is!!! God is not charging the planet earth with their sin today. The world has been brought into a state of conciliation by the sacrifice of Christ. Again, when he died he paid for all sin for all men for all time.

VALUE: The value is self evident! Justification (being declared righteous by a judicial act of God) is based not on what I can do, Christ paid enough, but on what I believe. Contrary to "Calvinism and Catholicism". Eternal redemption is now available "unto all and upon all that believe"! In the dispensation of grace, not one soul will end up in the lake of fire because of their sin, but because of unbelief. (2 Th 2:10-13)

Reconciliation Of All Things

VERSE: Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

VIEWPOINT: This verse is often used by those who teach the fable of "universal reconciliation", i.e. , even Satan will be saved. But this is neither what the verse says or teaches. The "all things" in the passage is defined for us by the context starting in verse 14. Verse 16 says... " Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:. Clearly the "all things" have to do with the governmental structure in the universe. There is an invisible governmental structure in the heaven that we cannot see, but there is one on the earth that we can see. God will use the reconciling nature of the cross, one day, to bring that structure back under his control. Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:.

God will use the "body of Christ to fill up the heavenly places vacated by the to be expelled and current prince and power of the air ( see Eph 1:23& Col 1:19). And he will use the nation Israel to fill that governmental structure on the earth.

VALUE: The government of heaven and of earth stand in opposition to the God and creator of the universe. But one day, shortly, those governments will bow the knee in friendship, loyalty, and fidelity to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Rom 16:20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Reconciliation Of Jew & Gentile In One Body

VERSE: Read Eph 2:14 – 20. Eph 2:16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

VIEWPOINT: Jew and Gentile are now reconciled together in one body not "at the cross" but rather "by the cross". The cross conciliated Jew and Gentile in one body. In time past God made a dispensational distinction between Jew and Gentile. But now that distinction is gone and the middle wall of partition erected by God and the law between us has been broken down.

VALUE: There is but one gospel being preached today. It is the gospel of the grace of God. The law has been nailed to the cross. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

IN CONCLUSION: God has brought all men into his favor today "by the cross". We have been reconciled. His former enemies are now his friends. But friends do not enjoy the full benefit of sons. Are you a son or a friend?