Paul's Invitation for Reconciliation

One of the themes of Paul’s epistles is reconciliation.  He taught that through Christ we can be reconciled to God—we can ultimately come into the presence of the Father because of Christ’s atonement.  He wrote to the Ephesians, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16).  Because of Christ did on the cross, He took away the enmity between us and the Father by removing the sin that separates us.  To the Romans Paul explained, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10).  The death of Christ reconciles us to the Father as he further explained to the people of Colossae: “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Colossians 1:20-21).  In other words, we are all enemies to God because of our wicked works but the Savior’s blood makes it possible for us to brought into harmony with Him.  Our sins and fallen state have alienated us from the Father, but Christ did “make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).    

               To the Corinthians Paul explained the responsibility the comes to those who have been reconciled to God.  He wrote to them, “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” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).  Because we are reconciled to God through Christ, we are given the “ministry of reconciliation.”  Because Christ reconciled the world to Him, we have been given “the word of reconciliation.”  I believe what Paul is saying is that as we receive forgiveness through Christ, we are called upon to help others receive that reconciliation.  Our ministry is to invite others to be reconciled to God through Christ, to repent of their sins and receive forgiveness.

               And surely that was what Paul himself did—he was an enemy of Christ and the Saints and was miraculously brought into harmony with Him when the Savior called out to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?... I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  After what was surely a very painful period of repentance, where he couldn’t see and didn’t eat, Saul “arose, and was baptized.”  Having reconciled himself to Christ, he then spent his whole life trying to help others do the same: “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:4-5, 20).  He was an indefatigable example of seeking to bring people into reconciliation with God, and his words likewise invite each of us to be reconciled to God through the Son.