Reconciling Relationships in the Image of God
Reconciliation, in a biblical context, signifies a transformation from enmity to friendship, a mutual change affecting both estranged parties [1]. This concept is central to understanding the relationship between God and humanity, as well as human relationships.
The New Testament presents Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity [3, 6, 7]. Through Christ, God actively reconciles the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them [4, 5]. This reconciliation is not merely a change in human disposition towards God, but a divine initiative [1]. As John Gill notes on 2 Corinthians 5:18, God was "in Christ drawing the scheme, fixing the method of reconciliation" [10]. The mediation of Christ is an act of God's love, not its cause [11].
The death of Christ on the cross is the means by which this reconciliation is achieved [8]. Ephesians 2:16 states that Christ "reconciled both in one body to God through the cross, by killing the hostility in himself" [2]. This act addresses the alienation of humanity from God, which is characterized by wicked works and enmity [1, 8]. The "body of his flesh" and "His death" are the elements through which Christ's reconciling sufferings took place [13].
The scope of reconciliation extends beyond the individual. Colossians 1:20 speaks of God's pleasure "to reconcile all things to himself" through Christ [12]. This includes bringing together those who were formerly divided, such as Jews and Gentiles, into one body [14]. John Chrysostom emphasizes that Christ himself "melted both the one and the other, and produced a glorious one," serving as the type and example for this unity [14].
The ministry of reconciliation is also committed to believers, who are entrusted with the "word of reconciliation" [5, 8]. This implies a call to participate in God's ongoing work of restoring relationships. The concept of reconciliation is deeply intertwined with the idea of peace, as suggested by the name Jerusalem, meaning "vision of peace" [9].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
- Ephesians “et reconciliet ambos in uno corpore, Deo per crucem, interficiens inimicitias in semetipso. -- Ephesians 2:16”
- 1 Timothy “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, -- 1 Timothy 2:5”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:19 (Rotherham) — How that, God, was in Christ, reconciling, a world, unto himself, not reckoning, unto them, their offences,—and hath put, in us, the reconciling discourse.”
- 2 Corinthians “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. -- 2 Corinthians 5:19”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 2:5 (LEB) — For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Mediator — In virtue of his atonement -- Eph 2:13-18; Heb 9:15; 12:24. The only one between God and man -- 1Ti 2:5. Of the gospel covenant -- Heb 8:6; 12:24. Typified Moses. -- De 5:5; Ga 3:19. Aaron. -- Nu 16:48.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reconciliation With God — Predicted -- Da 9:24; Isa 53:5. Proclaimed by angels at the birth of Christ -- Lu 2:14. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances is necessary to -- Eph 2:16; Col 2:14. Effected for men By God in Christ. -- 2Co 5:19. By Christ as High Priest. -- Heb 2:17. By the death of Christ. -- Ro 5:10; Eph 2:16; Col 1:21,22. By the blood of Christ. -- Eph 2:13; Col 1:20. While alienated from God. -- Col 1:21. Without strength. -- Ro 5:6. Yet sinners. -- Ro 5:8. While enemies to God. -- Ro 5:10. The ministry of committed to ministers -- 2Co 5:18,19. Mi”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jerusalem — vision of peace”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 5:18: To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself,.... This expresses and explains the subject matter of the ministration of the Gospel, especially that part of it which concerns our reconciliation with God; and declares the scheme, the author, the subjects, the way, and means, and consequence of it. The phrase, "in Christ", may be either joined with the word "God", as in our version, "God was in Christ reconciling"; that is, he was in Christ drawing the scheme, fixing the method of reconciliation; his thoughts were employed about it, which were”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:18: all--Greek, "THE." things--all our privileges in this new creation (Co2 5:14-15). reconciled us--that is, restored us ("the world," Co2 5:19) to His favor by satisfying the claims of justice against us. Our position judicially considered in the eye of the law is altered, not as though the mediation of Christ had made a change in God's character, nor as if the love of God was produced by the mediation of Christ; nay, the mediation and sacrifice of Christ was the provision of God's love, not its moving cause (Rom 8:32). Christ's blood was the ”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:20: And by him to reconcile all things to himself,.... This depends upon the preceding verse, and is to be connected with that phrase in it, it pleased the Father, Col 1:19; and the sense is, that it was the good will and pleasure of God from all eternity, as to lay up all fulness in Christ for his chosen people, so to reconcile them to himself by him; and which is another reason why Christ is, and ought to be considered as the head of the church, whose reconciliation he has procured, and why he ought to have the chief place in all things, and among all persons. Recon”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:22: In the body of his flesh--the element in which His reconciling sufferings had place. Compare Col 1:24, "afflictions of Christ in my flesh" (Pe1 2:24). Angels who have not a "body of flesh" are not in any way our reconciling mediators, as your false teachers assert, but He, the Lord of angels, who has taken our flesh, that in it He might atone for our fallen manhood. through death--rather as Greek, "through His death" (which could only take place in a body like ours, of flesh, Heb 2:14). This implies He took on Him our true and entire manhood. Fle”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: brought about was to be founded in Christ Himself, was to have the basis of its existence and continuance in Him and not in any other unifying principles whatever.”—Meyer.—G.A.] He gave not this charge to another, but Himself, by Himself, melted both the one and the other, and produced a glorious one, and one greater than the first creation; and that one, first, was Himself. For this is the meaning of “in Himself.” He Himself first gave the type and example. Laying hold on the one hand of the Jew, and on the other of the Gentile,”