THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

        Reconciliation means "to change from enmity to friendship."  It is a change on the part of one party, induced by an action on the part of another. It is the process by which God and man are brought together again. The Bible teaches that God and man are alienated from one another because of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. Sin brought enmity between man and God; the death of Christ as the sacrifice for man’s sin brought reconciliation between man and God. Man sinned but God’s love remained. (Romans 5:8 -  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)

        Although God loved the sinner, it was impossible for Him not to judge the sin. (Hebrews 10:26-27 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.)

        His righteousness and mercy provided a means for man to be reconciled to Him.  Jesus Christ gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice so that all who would receive Him could be reconciled to God.

        We are going to read 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 in several different Bible translations to help you get the complete thought of the passage.

        (THE KING JAMES VERSION)

        Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

        (NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)

        Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 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. 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.

        (NEW AMERICAN STANDARD UPDATED) 

        Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

        (AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION)

        Wherefore if any man is in Christ, (he is) a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech (you) on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.

              (Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.)

        Paul is speaking of the results of justification; one result is the shedding abroad of the love of God in the heart. Then he dwells upon the death of Christ as being the manifestation of that love.  If God loved us so much in our sinful and unlovable state that He gave His Son to die for our salvation, when we were under His condemnation, how much more shall His love bestow upon us the blessings secured by that death. 

        We should note that there is "wrath" on the part of God against sin and sinners. (Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;)

        The gospel is a revelation not only of love, but specifically "a righteousness of God."  He shows that the essence of the gospel is found in the propitiatory death of the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom alone can men find justification, salvation, and deliverance from the wrath of God. Justification and reconciliation are actions of God. Justification delivers from "the wrath of God"; reconciliation takes effect upon enemies.  Reconciliation is the completed act of God, which took place before any human actions were performed.       

        (2 Corinthians 5:19 - To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.)       

Here Paul refers to the gospel as "the word of reconciliation."  

 (2 Corinthians 5:20 -  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.)  Paul pleaded and persuaded men: "Be reconciled to God."         

        The means of reconciliation have been paid once and for all.  Christ made the sacrifice because of God's love not so men could obtain it. "Man can suffer, but cannot satisfy; God can satisfy, but cannot suffer. But Christ, being both God and man, can both suffer and also satisfy. He is competent to suffer for man and to make satisfaction to God, in order to reconcile God to man and man to God.

            The Scriptures we read called for us to exercise the ministry of reconciliation.  Ministry does not refer solely to pastors or preachers but encompasses every believer.  Paul urged the equipping of the Saints so they would be able to minister to one another.  A minister does not come to be served but to serve.  In 2 Corinthians 5: 18, 19, "the ministry of reconciliation" and the "word of reconciliation" refers to beseeching or pleading with men to be reconciled to God because of what He has done in Christ Jesus.  

            We are also called ambassadors.  An ambassador is an authorized messenger or representative who has the authority to speak on behalf of another.  In this case we are representing Christ in beseeching men to come into reconciliation with God.

All Scripture is from KJV unless otherwise noted.