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| Jesus Christ is the world's peacemaker! |
What is reconciliation? Webster’s Dictionary defines reconciliation as “the act of harmonizing parties at variance; renewal of friendship after a disagreement or enmity”. Reconciliation is the act of drawing together parties in disagreement.
Thus, we may learn reconciliation comes after a dispute. We make reconciliation because of dispute; if no dispute, no reconciliation too. Reconciliation could take place between only the parties at variance or a third party may be required; known as the peacemaker.
The types of reconciliation
In the Bible, reconciliation can be categorized into two, Man and Man reconciliation and God and Man reconciliation.Man and Man Reconciliation
Man and Man reconciliation mean the reestablishment of the amicable relations between two or more people. Jesus demonstrated on this, “so, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first, be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift,". (Mat 5:23-24)He further said “... if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican”. (Mat 18:15-17)
Examples of Man and Man Reconciliation
Jacob and Esau reconciled
Genesis chapter 33 recounted how Jacob and Esau reconciled. Jacob sent a message to Esau he was coming to their homeland, he should have mercy on him. The messengers returned with the news that Esau is on his way to meet him. Upon hearing the news, Jacob was terrified, so, he grouped his family into two and put them in order of importance to him. In case Esau smites the first group, the second will get the chance to escape. It was tears of joy for both Esau and Jacob as they meet and embrace each other. Brothers are together again, they have reconciled."And Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." (Gen 33:1-4)
The cause of the enmity between Esau and Jacob is one of the most popular passages in the Bible. It all started when Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother, Jacob. Rebecca also helped Jacob wittily take the blessings reserved for Esau as the elder. Esau resolved to kill his younger brother during the days of mourning after the death of their father, Isaac.
The reconciliation between Pontius Pilate and Herod
“And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves”. (Luke 23:12)The cause of the quarrel between Pontius Pilate and Herod is not clear. However, it is probable that the killing of the Galileans in the Temple at Jerusalem was the cause of the quarrel.
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.” (Luke 13:1)
It is believed that the Galileans at the time of Jesus were very wicked. They might have wound up some confusion in the temple while sacrificing. Pilate, therefore, sent his soldiers and killed them, mingling their blood and that of the animals, which they slay to sacrifice in the process. Herod and Pilate’s reconciliation came about when the later sent Jesus Christ to the former to try Him since Jesus is from Galilee. Galilee is not under the jurisdiction of Pilate but Herod’s. To Herod, it was a sign of great respect accorded to Him by Pilate. This might mend all things for both of them. The most important thing is that both Pilate and Herod are friends again but just to ridicule Jesus. (cf: Luke 13: 1-2)
Read also:
The types of the grace of God
How to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God
Forgiveness of sins before and after the death of Christ
God and Man Reconciliation
God and Man reconciliation is also the reestablishment of the cordial relations between God and Mankind.Humankind is an enemy in his mind
Nothing happens without a cause. The serpent, which was more subtle than all the beast of the earth, took advantage of the lustful desire of Man and deceived Eve. Both Eve and Adam ate of the forbidden fruit of which God told them not to eat. Now, they went against God’s law; separation has come. God from the Garden of Eden, lest they should get access to the tree of life, sacked Adam and Eve. He placed Cherubims at the east of the Garden with a flaming sword, which turns every way to guard the entrance to the tree of life. The friendly relationship between God and Man has come to a halt.God told Adam and Eve that, the very day they shall eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. The death referred here is the spiritual death: the spiritual separation from the presence of the Almighty. God cursed the Man, Woman, and the serpent. The woman shall labor before given birth, thistles and thorns shall sprout out because of Man, he shall sweat before getting food, as for the serpent, it shall walk on its belly, dust would be its food.
Because of one man, sin entered the world and spread. It was not because those that followed Adam have inherited his sins, neither do we. They have personally sinned against God, so also is us today. Nevertheless, the consequence of what Adam and Eve did, affect the entire human race. In the book Isaiah chapter 59, the first two verses say "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.” The penalty for our sins is death, eternal separation from God.
Since the fall of Man, God has been finding means and ways in which He could reconcile us back to Him again. In time past, to make amends for the sins of man, animal sacrifices were offered to God.
“And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.” (Lev.8:14-15)
“And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” (2Ch.29:24)
The animal sacrifices could not cease because the people who were purge with the blood, still feel guilty in their conscience. The sacrifices were, therefore repeated year after year. That was why God has no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins”. (Heb. 10:4) Therefore, the animal sacrifices and the Levitical Priesthood could not reconcile men to God.
Jesus Christ has taken it upon Himself to pay the price for our sins. This is the only way by which reconciliation could come. God will never compromise his holiness for corruption. Jesus Christ did not think it robbery to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation. He took the form of a slave and sacrificed Himself for the world.
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb.2:17) What a mediator! Jesus Christ has sacrificed Himself just once, no repetition of sacrifices, the greatest High Priest ever. While on the Cross- Jesus cried loud and said "it is finished”, the peace work has been done; it is extremely costly. These are the peace agreements Jesus Christ has offered to the world. Those that would accept this peace treaty would reconcile with God.
The human race is weak; there is absolutely no one who is qualified to reconcile us with God. The only means by which one could reconcile with God is to depend on the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary. Therefore, one must accept Himself as a sinner, secondly, he should believe upon hearing, that truly Jesus Christ came to die, buried, in addiction He resurrected on the third day as recorded in the scriptures (the gospel of Christ). Moreover, one must turn away from all corrupt acts of the body. He should confess that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God. He must baptize in the name of the savior, Jesus, for his cleansing blood to compensate for him. You will reconcile with God if you accept these peace agreements; it is very personal.
Some people have accepted this peace treaty long ago. Paul, an apostle of Christ wrote that the saints at Rome have reconciled with God. “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.” (Rom 5:10) So also are the saints at Corinth “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”. (2Corinthians 5:8)
You can also accept this peace agreement and obey for reconciliation with God. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. (Heb. 5:9)
In peacemaking, the offender is punished and the offendee compensated. The human race has gone against God, what we deserve is death; eternal separation from the presence of the Almighty God. Through the death of Christ, we have received the greatest reconciliation that has ever happened in the world, upon acceptance of the peace agreement brought by Jesus Christ.
If one disregards the propitiation made by Jesus Christ by not accepting this peace treaty, the person must be willing to make it himself. Have you reconciled with God? This would be the greatest reconciliation that would ever happen to you!
All scriptures are taken from the King James Version (KJV)
Get in touch with the church of Christ nearest you!
“And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.” (Lev.8:14-15)
“And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” (2Ch.29:24)
The animal sacrifices could not cease because the people who were purge with the blood, still feel guilty in their conscience. The sacrifices were, therefore repeated year after year. That was why God has no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins”. (Heb. 10:4) Therefore, the animal sacrifices and the Levitical Priesthood could not reconcile men to God.
Jesus Christ has taken it upon Himself to pay the price for our sins. This is the only way by which reconciliation could come. God will never compromise his holiness for corruption. Jesus Christ did not think it robbery to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation. He took the form of a slave and sacrificed Himself for the world.
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb.2:17) What a mediator! Jesus Christ has sacrificed Himself just once, no repetition of sacrifices, the greatest High Priest ever. While on the Cross- Jesus cried loud and said "it is finished”, the peace work has been done; it is extremely costly. These are the peace agreements Jesus Christ has offered to the world. Those that would accept this peace treaty would reconcile with God.
The human race is weak; there is absolutely no one who is qualified to reconcile us with God. The only means by which one could reconcile with God is to depend on the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary. Therefore, one must accept Himself as a sinner, secondly, he should believe upon hearing, that truly Jesus Christ came to die, buried, in addiction He resurrected on the third day as recorded in the scriptures (the gospel of Christ). Moreover, one must turn away from all corrupt acts of the body. He should confess that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God. He must baptize in the name of the savior, Jesus, for his cleansing blood to compensate for him. You will reconcile with God if you accept these peace agreements; it is very personal.
Some people have accepted this peace treaty long ago. Paul, an apostle of Christ wrote that the saints at Rome have reconciled with God. “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.” (Rom 5:10) So also are the saints at Corinth “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”. (2Corinthians 5:8)
You can also accept this peace agreement and obey for reconciliation with God. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. (Heb. 5:9)
In peacemaking, the offender is punished and the offendee compensated. The human race has gone against God, what we deserve is death; eternal separation from the presence of the Almighty God. Through the death of Christ, we have received the greatest reconciliation that has ever happened in the world, upon acceptance of the peace agreement brought by Jesus Christ.
If one disregards the propitiation made by Jesus Christ by not accepting this peace treaty, the person must be willing to make it himself. Have you reconciled with God? This would be the greatest reconciliation that would ever happen to you!
All scriptures are taken from the King James Version (KJV)
Get in touch with the church of Christ nearest you!
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