The Mighty Reconciler

Jesus not only came to show us what God the Father is like, but to Reconcile us to Him. He accomplished this through His death on the cross, making it possible for all who believe in Christ Jesus to be saved from eternal death in Hell. Yes, when all humanity was at odds with a holy God it was Jesus Christ who came to our rescue. Through His work we sinners can be reconciled to God. Note Paul’s explanation of this wonderful reality.

2 Cor. 5:18, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Col. 1:19-20, For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] 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.

Now, reconciliation presupposes that we once had a relationship with God. First, the word reconciliation implies that a relationship has been “broken” and that it is in need of mending. As sinners we are lost, separated from God, with no relationship with God.  We were even at enmity against God, at odds with Him and even attacking his holiness with every single act or thought of sin. 

It is true; however, that every person once had a relationship with God before we were estranged from Him by sin.  You see in Adam, our Federal Head/ Seminal Head, we all had a relationship with God prior to the fall of Adam (Rom. 5:12-21).  Without exception then, we all once had a relationship with God in Adam.  Therefore, the use of the term reconcile in the Bible is a perfect description of God’s grace gift of salvation toward us.

Faith In the Blood of Christ is Enough For Reconciliation With God!

Col. 1:13-14, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 Ephes. 1:7-8, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; [8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

To Become Reconciled to God We Need Only Repent/ Believe in Jesus Christ. Faith is the Son of God as our Savior and to accept what He did on the cross as being on our behalf. Jesus Christ is totally sufficient for our salvation. He did not leave out a single necessary element in the salvation and reconciliation He provides. 

No Rituals, Or Ceremonies Are Necessary on Our Part.

There are those in various religions and even some 'Christian' denominations who claim that for a person to be fully reconciled to God, he must complete various rituals or fulfill certain types of works or obligations. This stems from an inadequate understanding of what the Lord Jesus actually accomplished through his definitive and comprehensive sacrifice for sin. Again the issue is not that Christ's atonement is ineffective in some way, but the fact that we have failed to embrace the full truth of Christ's Cross and empty tomb. 

The Bible Only Teaches Faith in Christ the Lord and Savior.

John 3:14-15, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16,  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Faith in the completed work of Christ results in eternal life and whosoever believes in Him will not perish. Instead genuine believers will know all the joy of everlasting life because of the Lord Jesus, the Mighty Reconciler. 

Jesus Alone is the THE Savior!

Galatians 6:15, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

God's Word Proclaims Strongly That No Amount of Works, Effort, or Goodness on Our Part Can Bring about Our Salvation. Human rituals, ceremonies, and religious activities can never secure reconciliation to God. These must fail because they are merely the offerings of fallen sinful human beings. Anything we attempt to appease God will and does fail because it is tainted with our sinfulness. In our fallen condition we have no right or basis for even approaching a holy God. How then can any religious ceremony we perform render us fully acceptable to Him?

In Fact, No One and No Thing Other than Jesus Christ Is the Savior. And furthermore, Jesus Christ is fully sufficient to be the Savior—nothing “in addition” to believing in Christ Jesus is necessary for a person to be born again spiritually, to receive God's forgiveness, and to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ephes. 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We can be sure that our spiritual relationship with God is good because we have been reconciled through the blood of Jesus Christ. We do not need to supplement our salvation with legalistic practices in order to earn God’s favor and approval.  We have been fully reconciled to God through faith in the complete sacrifice and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This is what God requires and nothing else can substitute for it or supplement it. Nothing!

Christ’s Reconciliation Brings about a Wonderful Change!

2 Cor. 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Believing In Jesus Christ Creates a “newness” in a person. The old sin nature was crucified with Christ and its power/influence in our lives has been broken. A new nature that desires the goodness and righteousness of God has been installed and firmly established. We are no longer the spiritual sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, but we are the spiritual sons and daughters of God the Father.

This change is not something that we are required to “work up” on our own. It is not something we must strive to do. Rather, it is the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is the One who changes us, from the inside out.

Read carefully these assuring and strengthening verses:

John 1:12-13, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  

  

2 Cor. 5:17-19, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [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.

  

2 Cor. 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

Receiving Jesus Christ grants us the power to become sons of God. To be “in Christ” makes us new creatures where all things have become new. Jesus Christ was made sin for us at Calvary that we might be made the righteousness of God through faith in Him. What a glorious identity we have with God the Father once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and have been reconciled to God through His shed blood!

Beloved, there is nothing inadequate about the reconciliation Jesus offers us sinners. There may be some inadequacy in our understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, but no actual deficiencies in His saving work. When we understand what Christ affords us we have peace and assurance. We know there is nothing we can contribute to a perfect work of grace. Yes, Jesus Christ is The Mighty Reconciler!

Heir of The Universe

Hebrews 2

Chapter two of Hebrews begins with the implications of chapter one’s message. Since God has spoken in His Son, Jesus Christ, since Christ is the Heir of all things, and since Christ will rule supreme over all in the future, God’s people must pay careful attention to what He is communicating. There is the danger of allowing these teachings to slip away because of inattention to them (Heb. 2:1). Newell stated that “Drifting is the quietest, easiest, most delightful way of dying!”

The Law was given with the assistance of angels and it required serious punishment for violations. Likewise the New Covenant spoken by God the Son certainly requires greater retribution to those who “neglect” this “great salvation” (Heb. 2:2, 3). Salvation is the sum of all the benefits and blessings believers will experience after they return to earth to reign with Messiah. God’s people must not “neglect”—treat lightly or be careless with—the great salvation they possess. Their deliverance will be more fully realized and experienced in the Millennial Age of the earth. This salvation is great because it was first mentioned by the Lord Jesus, it was confirmed by the apostles who heard Christ and taught it, and it was accompanied with signs and miracles from the Holy Spirit (Heb. 2:3-5).

In the “world to come,” the Millennial Age, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, will rule over the entire world. This was Adam’s original purpose to rule the world for God and under God, but he forfeited this when he fell into sin. Christ will be the full realization of this glorious anticipation of the Son of Man ruling the “world to come” for God. Angels will not experience this, but God incarnate will upon His return from Heaven. Christ was made a little lower than the angels and was crowned with the glory of reigning over all of the works of God (Heb. 2:5-8).

Currently though everything is not subject to Christ, the Son of Man, as King of the World. Instead Christ appeared as a man to become the sacrifice for all sin with the purpose of bringing many sons of God to glory. Through His sufferings Christ was perfectly fitted to become the Captain of believer’s salvation (2:9, 10). No, today He is crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Believers are His brethren and He with them are viewed as “one” (Heb. 2:11). Christ will one day lead them in the worship of God singing praises to Jehovah in the church (Heb. 2:12). Currently believers are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:20-23; 2Cor. 5:21). This too is an extraordinary expression of grace!

Christ was incarnated also to destroy the works of the devil through His cross (Heb. 2:14). He completely overthrew—disannulled his power—Satan who had the power of death and wielded it to strike fear in the hearts of men. This clears the way for Christ to rule supreme over the entire world in Satan’s stead. The Lord Jesus’ incarnation also fit Him to be a faithful and merciful High Priest to His believing brethren (Heb. 2:17). He entered fully into the human experience gaining understanding of their struggles. As their High Priest, He made reconciliation for sins and since He suffered temptations as they did, he aids believers through their temptations (Heb. 2:18). All of God’s redemptive plans in Christ Jesus are certain to be fully realized and He the Son of Man will rule the world to come. 

God's Most Glorious Message

Hebrews 1

God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. His revelation is superior to the prophets, angels of God, and creation itself. The Person of the “Son is God, the Creator, Upholder, Lord, Heir of all things,” says Newell. Clearly God has spoken to humanity in His Son. Throughout the Old Testament history God spoke in many ways, at various times, and by variegated means, but in these last days He has spoken in His Son, Jesus Christ. He Himself is God’s message in the book of Hebrews.

The Son is the Heir of all things and the origin of all things. That He should be Heir of all is consistent with the divine plan. As the Creator of the worlds, He is the manager of the ages and all of history. Jesus is also the brightness of God’s glory. That is Christ is the expression of the collective divine attributes of God. He is the expressed image of God’s divine Person—the exact expression of His substance. As Upholder of all things the weight of the world safely rest upon His mighty words. He is the God of providence! He is the living expression of God’s constant care for all things in the universe. This is not merely the result of mindless and emotionless laws in the universe, but the direct involvement of the Son. By Him all things consist.

The Son also effectively purged the sin of lost humanity as the Great High Priest. Upon completion of this awesome accomplishment, Christ sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High. His sacrificial work is done and He is exalted. In His incarnation He experienced humiliation and was made a little lower than the angels, but now as the Son of Man He is exalted in Heaven at the Father’s right hand. He has a more excellent name than the angels. They are only sons of God, but the Lord Jesus is the Son of God.

The aforementioned truths about the Son and Heir of God are well supported in the Old Testament Scriptures as demonstrated by the seven quotations throughout the remainder of Chapter One of Hebrews. The glorious Christ is soundly distinguished from angels by the title Son (Heb. 1:5). He is also the Firstborn or First Begotten who will be brought back into the world at His second advent with all the prerogatives of the King of the World. The angels will openly worship Him then in the earth. The angels are His creatures designed to minister and serve, but He is the Son of God who rules forever (Heb.1:7, 8). God the Father clearly addresses the Son as God in these verses that point to Christ’s millennial reign in the earth.

Once again Christ is addressed by the Father as the Creator of the universe and He expresses delight in the Son’s eternity and immutability. Creation will change, it will wax old, and one day the current creation will be discarded, but Christ will endure forever. Self-existent deity is also rightly ascribed to Christ in contrast to the fact that creation will eventually perish (Heb.1:11). The Lord will one day rap up this old world and create a new world. There shall be a New Heaven and New Earth (Heb. 1:11, 12). The Father will see to it when He brings the Son back into this world that Christ’s enemies, both spirit and human, will be subdued under His rule and authority (Heb.1:13). The angels, however, will serve the heirs of millennial glory and salvation as Christ rules and as the heirs reign with Him (Heb. 1:14). Clearly the Son of God is the Heir of all things! He is in fact God's most glorious Message of Hope and Salvation to fallen humanity. Accept God's Message, Salvation, and Hope in Jesus Christ.