Reconciliation is a word that is used fairly common in the New Covenant writings. The scriptures go to some lengths to describe to us the fact that through Jesus Christ, we have been “reconciled to God” – but what exactly does that mean?
The simple definition of the word “reconcile” is to return to favor, or to make one acceptable, which is basically what has indeed happened, but there is more to it than simply that. The fact that the scriptures make a point that God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself, tells us something specific that highlights a picture of Jesus, and our new identity in Him that can be quite a blessing; and I would like to share it with you today in this study.
Romans chapter 5 verse 11 contains an interesting statement. The verse reads: “And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.” The verse reads: “And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.”
And it led me to this line of thought and question: What does it mean to be reconciled? And do we honestly rejoice in our reconciliation?
Sure, we may hear talk about rejoicing, but how often do we even think about our reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ? If we are honest with ourselves, many times we act and think as if we still have not been reconciled at all!
So today in this study, we are going to explore this topic and answer these questions, because Paul spends quite a bit of time explaining this – not without reason – he clearly wants us to know and understand the precise reason and foundation for why we can truly rejoice in God.