Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-034 (Theology)

Living Words of the New Testament, by Rev Dr Leon Morris

RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation tells us clearly what Christ did for us on the cross. It is not used as often as some such words (for example, justification), but it does bring out an important aspect of Christ’s atoning work (see Rom.5:l0,11; 11:15; 2 Cor.5:18-20; Eph. 2:16; Col.1:20,2l).

Reconciliation basically means making people at one again after a quarrel. This is done by dealing with the root cause of the enmity. Unless this is done, there may be an uneasy truce, but there cannot be a real reconciliation. Now the cause of the enmity between God and man is sin (Isa.59:2; Col.1:21; Jas.4:4). If there is to be a reconciliation, sin must be dealt with.

And, of course, the cross did just that. ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Cor.15:3). This way of looking at the atonement does not say how the cross put away sins; it contents itself with saying that it did. And because sin is dealt with, the way of reconciliation has been opened up.

Another way of saying much the same thing is to use the terminology of making peace. In a very important passage Paul links the making of peace between God and humanity with the making of peace between humans (Eph.2:11-21). He points out that there are bitter hostilities among men, perhaps the most bitter in his time being that between Jew and Gentile. But Christ altered all that. He made peace (in verse 14 we have the striking words ‘he is our peace’, so closely associated is he with the making of peace). He did it by the cross which meant reconciliation and the end of hostility (16).

Notice further that when peace is made between the sinner and God this results in peace between the sinner and other sinners. Christ ‘has made us both one’ (14). No enmity can resist Christ’s reconciling work. Reconciliation means peace with God and man. Those at peace with God cannot bear grudges against other people.

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Rev Dr Leon Morris is an internationally recognised New Testament scholar, theologian and author, from Melbourne Australia.

This feature series of ‘Living Words of the New Testament’ appeared in ‘Daily Notes’, published by Scripture Union.

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