RECONCILIATION
There are many definitions, but one I like is “The Restoration of Friendly Relations.” There are three levels: One is towards God; One is towards Self; One is towards others. These are exemplified in
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
By nature we are alienated from God and from each other. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. It is also this sin that causes discontent within ourselves, that feeling that something is wrong. Since we are fallen human beings in a fallen world, only God can take the step that brings us back into harmony with Him—and He has! See Galatians 4:4-7, “In the fullness of time God sent His Son...”
Jesus Christ came into our world and our existence to take upon Himself this fallen world with all its sin, degradation and ugliness. As a child of God, I can rejoice that my old self is gone and a new self has been raised from the waters of Baptism and by faith “I may be His own, live under Him in His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting blessedness and righteousness,” so says Martin Luther. (Explanation to the third article of the Creed.)
Rev. Dr. Ralph Heller
Sharon Lutheran Church ELCA
Greensboro, NC
Perry and Kaye White’s brother-in-law
There are many definitions, but one I like is “The Restoration of Friendly Relations.” There are three levels: One is towards God; One is towards Self; One is towards others. These are exemplified in
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
By nature we are alienated from God and from each other. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. It is also this sin that causes discontent within ourselves, that feeling that something is wrong. Since we are fallen human beings in a fallen world, only God can take the step that brings us back into harmony with Him—and He has! See Galatians 4:4-7, “In the fullness of time God sent His Son...”
Jesus Christ came into our world and our existence to take upon Himself this fallen world with all its sin, degradation and ugliness. As a child of God, I can rejoice that my old self is gone and a new self has been raised from the waters of Baptism and by faith “I may be His own, live under Him in His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting blessedness and righteousness,” so says Martin Luther. (Explanation to the third article of the Creed.)
Rev. Dr. Ralph Heller
Sharon Lutheran Church ELCA
Greensboro, NC
Perry and Kaye White’s brother-in-law
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