Jesus Christ: The Great Reconciler

Jesus Christ: The Great Reconciler


…For the love of Christ constrains us because we thus judge: that if one died for all, then are all dead, and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again. Wherefore, henceforth live we no more after the flesh.

 

Yea, though we once lived after the flesh, yet since we have known Christ, now henceforth live we no more after the flesh. Therefore, if any man live in Christ, he is a new creature (old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new), and receives all the things of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation — to know that God is, in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them — and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 1:17b-18  RE


With the recent discussion in our fellowship about constraints in an ecological environment I thought it was interesting that Paul says to the Corinthians that “the love of Christ constrains us”.  I would propose that the love of Christ is the greatest constraint because it inspires us to see the world the way He does, and that because we have become new creatures in Christ we no longer live unto ourselves but we live for Him, to do His will.


  As a new creature we receive all things from God. This means receiving nothing from the world or the accuser. God is our source. We look unto Him in every thought. 

          Possibly His greatest opportunity for us is this very special gift he calls “the ministry of reconciliation.”  What exactly is this ministry? 


Is it possible that  in the same way that God reconciles us to himself through Jesus Christ, he has committed to us the opportunity to reconcile others to ourselves? And to lead others to be reconciled to God through Christ?  


It appears the attitude that would hinder us, is if we started to view people from the natural man perspective. We cannot impute their trespasses unto them because God is the ultimate arbiter.Our brothers and sister are not our opponents.  

He is actively reconciling the world unto Himself and inviting us to participate in that process. He acts first. He doesn’t give up, or say we are too far gone. His arm is still outstretched.  God has faith in us to truly be new creatures; other worldly - His ministers. His angels?   


Reconciliation ripples through the creation. Our acts of repentance, forgiveness and contrition reverberate in ever increasing influence through the cosmos.  

The process looks something like this. First we seek to be reconciled to God. As our  views become clearer because we have attempted to approach a holy God, we realize a brother or sister has something against us. 

So we set out to be reconciled with them.  We come with meekness, assuming we need their forgiveness, not the other way round.  We are not there to persuade them or defend/justify ourselves. We are there to reason together, to understand our offense and rectify it. When they perceive in us the portion of light and truth we have received from our attempt to come to the Lord, our brother or sister can be drawn closer to Him. 

Now having been reconciled to our fellow laborer, we can with joy and confidence approach the throne or altar of God.  

“Therefore if any of you will come to Me, or will start to come to Me, and remembers that your brother or sister holds anything against you, go your way first to your brother or sister to be reconciled with them, and then come to Me with full commitment in your heart and I’ll welcome you.”

We are welcomed because we have emulated Him.  We have learned how to reconcile. So we truly embrace His reconciliation with us.  

This is an ever-deepening process we are called to embrace as a life’s work - a ministry. 


1  https://scriptures.info/scriptures/cc/3nephi/5.25#25

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