Reconciled To God

In what prophecy was the work of reconciliation foretold?

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are declared for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put and end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” Daniel 9:24.  

What message of entreaty has God sent to us through His appointed messengers?

“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. 2 Corinthians 5:20.  

Through whom is this reconciliation made?

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” Verse 18. 

The Price of Reconciliation

What was required in order to effect this reconciliation?

“For if, when 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.  

What basis for reconciliation was made by Christ’s death?

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:20.

How was He treated?

“He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Isaiah 53:5. 

What did John declare concerning Him?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world?” John 1:29. 

To what place did Christ carry these sins?

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.

The Father Suffers With Christ

In thus reconciling the world to Himself, what attitude did God take toward men?

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

What rendered it possible for God to treat sinners thus?

“We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. 

Note – It was because of man’s disobedience that he was separated from God. Even though he refused to obey, God’s great love that was manifested at the creation of man has been shed upon all generations since that time. Not willing that any should perish, God manifests the same love in giving His only Begotten Son that man might have life and have it more abundantly.

Unity, Purpose, and Joy of Reconciliation

How did Christ reconcile all men through the cross?

“And in this one body to reconcile through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Ephesians 2:16. 

What is the great purpose of the work of reconciliation?

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”

Colossians 1: 21,22.  

Through whom is the reconciliation received?

“Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:11.

“None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption; for only He who was in the bosom of the Father could declare Him. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father’s love to lose humanity

“’God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.’ He gave Him not only to live among men, to bear our sins, and die their sacrifice. He gave Him to the fallen race. Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of humanity. He was one with God has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that are never to be broken. Jesus is ‘not ashamed to call them brothers’ (Hebrews 2:11); He is our Sacrifice, our Advocate, our brother, bearing our human form before the Father’s throne, and through eternal ages one with the race He has redeemed, The Son of Man. And all this that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin, that he might reflect the love of God, and share the joy of holiness.

“The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired apostle John beheld the height, the depth, and breadth of the Father’s love toward the perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence; and failing to find suitable language in which to express the greatness and tenderness of this love, he called upon the world to behold it. ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’ 1 John 3:1. What a value this places upon man! Through transgression, the sons of men become subjects of Satan. Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the sons of Adam may become the sons of God. By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. Fallen men were placed where, through connection with Christ, they may indeed become worthy of the name ‘sons of God.’”  - E.G. White, Steps to Christ, pp 14,15.

One Choice of Three

For holy heaven and sinful earth to be reconciled and come to peaceful relations, one of three things was necessary. Heaven must take up earthly ways, or earth must turn to heavenly ways, or both must be merged. In the nature of the case there was only one real way – earth must be reconciled to God. To open the door of heaven to man meant Calvary. There every sinner may find the peace of reconciliation, fellowship with God, and hope of everlasting life. 

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