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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5.17-20; all emphasis above and below mine jb).
The word of reconciliation is part and parcel with the ministry of reconciliation and both of these are connected to the fact that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The word of reconciliation is the message that brings about reconciliation. In the most literal sense, it is not a word, it is a group of words, namely, the gospel message. However, Paul used the singular of word (not words, plural) to indicate that it is a codified, unchanging message. In a similar vein Jesus said, “...the word [note the singular usage] that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12.48). The gospel is fixed in heaven and no man has the authority or ability to add one whit to it or to remove one whit from it. Men may add to the message but the result is a perverted, unauthorized gospel (see Galatians 1.7-9).
The word of reconciliation is the message which Peter preached to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. After being summoned from Joppa by an angel, Peter came to the crowd assembled with Cornelius and said, “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all — that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10.36-42).
The word of reconciliation is directly and inextricably connected to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Paul affirmed that He was able to “...reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile] to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off [Gentiles] and to those who were near [Jews]. For through Him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2.26-22).
If humanity is ever to be reconciled to God it, of necessity, will be through the means that God has designated. Man is not the offended party here; rather He is the offender. Man does not set the terms of restoration and reconciliation; God does. That word, the word of reconciliation, is contained in the Scriptures and protected by Divine power and providence. If we would be “God's friend again,” it will be because and only because we have accepted the terms of reconciliation He established!
Questions:
1. What is the Word of Reconciliation?
2. According to Jesus, in the last day what will judge those who reject Him?
3. Did Peter have the word of reconciliation when he went to the house of Cornelius? How do we know?
4. What happens to the word of reconciliation when men add to or take away from it?
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