- Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 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.
Not only has God reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, but He has also blessed us by giving to us the ministry of reconciliation. The promise is that we may minister reconciliation to others and with others. This is a kind of power God has promised to us. We have the power to reconcile people to God through the proclamation of the Gospel. We also have the power to serve people with reconciliation with each other.
When we have a part in the sharing of the Gospel we are privileged to have a part in reconciling people to God. God has reconciled all people to Himself who once were enemies of God through the cross of His Son. All who believe that message are reconciled to God. It is those who have received that Good News and are reconciled to God who then have the promise and the privilege of ministering the message of reconciliation to other people.
Then, after faith in Christ, believers have the power to be reconciled with other people who act as enemies. The power is in the apology and the forgiveness that we extend to those we have trespassed against and those who have trespassed against us. We can also minister to others by encouraging and enabling them to forgive others with whom they are at odds, thereby reconciling them with each other. Sometimes people need the encouragement of a third party to reconcile with each other. We don’t realize this promise and we don’t often use the power we have been given. The Gospel always has more power than we can think or believe.