Reconciliation: The Message and the Ministry

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – “¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ 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. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to teach Sunday School with the above Scripture as the focal passage. As is always the case, I learned FAR MORE than I taught, and I had lots of time to ruminate on those verses. The two highlighted phrases really jumped to the forefront in my mind as I pondered the text.

We, who are IN CHRIST, know and have received the “message of reconciliation.” In other words, we understand what Jesus did on the cross for us, so that our relationship with God could be restored — the relationship that had been broken because of our sin. Now, as “Christ’s ambassadors,” it is our job to share that message with others, thus making it our “ministry of reconciliation.”

Reconciliation, of course, involves both vertical and horizontal relationships. Us with God and us with those around us. When we accept Christ as Savior, we become “new creations.” This passage also states that “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” In other words, we need to see them through God’s eyes. Surely when we do that, the hate/criticism/bitterness/prejudices of the past can go away, and love/acceptance/understanding can appear instead.

Verse 21 is what Chris Tomlin used in the opening of his song “Jesus Messiah.” It’s one of my favorite praise and worship songs. Let these words be a blessing and an encouragement to you today.