22. Reconciled to God
Romans 5:10a For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
God promises reconciliation for us who were enemies of God. First, we admit that we are enemies of God, hostile to Him by the sinful nature that rebels against Him. We may think we don’t want to be enemies and we don’t often see ourselves that way; but the sad truth is that we do want to be enemies and we do rebel. There are still times when we do want to sin; sin makes us enemies. If we don’t want to be enemies then why do we continue in sin? I admit: I am by nature hostile to God. I want to make my own rules; I do not want to follow rules imposed by the proper higher authority. The sin that rules in me wants to break the Ten Commandments in thought, desire, word and deed.
I am desperately in need of reconciliation. I want to be reconciled, but instead I insist on my own way. God was in Christ reconciling me to Himself. In Christ, I am reconciled completely. But even after reconciliation through the Cross I continue in sin and rebellion, since I am by nature an enemy of God. I need to continue being reconciled to God through faith in Christ; repentance and faith in the Gospel brings about renewed reconciliation again and again. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says: “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” The present imperative of “be” implies an ongoing, repetitive action, namely: Believe the Gospel!
The reconciliation that Jesus brokered between us makes us friends with God. We are encouraged to take hold of this promise and enjoy a warm, intimate and loving relationship with our former enemy. We have forsaken the real Enemies (Sin, Death, and Devil) and have been united with our real Friend. Being now and daily reconciled we have peace with the God who is in us and with us and He will never forsake us.
In addition, we can regard all other people as friends, at least potential friends, instead of treating some of them as enemies. Others, like spouses, may act like enemies at times, but when we are reconciled to God we are able to treat them as friends and be always reconciled with all people. Life is so much better when we live among friends, always being reconciled.