Malachi
Member
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.(Eph 2:13-18).
Humans: Enemies of God
All human beings who are not children of God are enemies of God from birth, whether they know it or not. And until and unless this enmity is brought to an end, they cannot have either true peace or true fellowship with God. This enmity between God and man began in the Garden of Eden when the first human couple deliberately disobeyed God. All human beings are therefore naturally sinful and naturally self-centered (Romans 5:12). This is evident in babies and young children. All are therefore born with “carnal” minds (minds working through the “flesh” or sinful nature within), and carnal minds are at enmity with God.
Therefore Scripture says (Romans 8:6-8)“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Carnal minds also love the world (worldly things) therefore they are further enemies of God: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Man’s Biggest Problem: Sin
The biggest problem every human being faces is this wall between himself and God. If it remains throughout life and that person dies, it will lead to eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). One cannot talk to God, or fellowship with God, or truly worship God unless this enmity is broken. And the only one who could break the enmity and restore peace between God and men was the Man Christ Jesus.
God’s Only Solution: Reconciliation
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God from eternity (1 Peter 1:18-20). When He shed His own blood for the sins of the world, He paid the full price for the redemption of humanity. He “took away the sin of the world” by the offering up of Himself (Ephesians 2:13). This sin was the barrier between God and men, but it was totally destroyed at the Cross. Therefore God could reconcile sinners unto Himself. Thus we read (2 Corinthians 5:19) “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.”
What exactly is “reconciliation”? It is the Greek word katallage (kat-al-ag-ay) which means “restoration to the Divine favor”. This means that instead of enmity there is peace with God. Instead of a partition between God and man, there is no partition at all. And once there is peace with God, one can have the peace of God ruling in the heart. That means that man can also be at peace with man, and with his enemies.
Repentance: Necessary for Reconciliation
Repentance is not merely a change of mind about God and about sin. It is a change of attitude to God and to sin. It is a complete repudiation of sinful living and idols in one’s life. It is a turning away from sins and idols, and a turning to God and Christ by faith (Acts 3:19). It means receiving Christ as both Lord and Savior (John 1:12,13; Rom 10:8-13). Those who repent are reconciled to God, have peace with God, and have access to God the Father through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
Humans: Enemies of God
All human beings who are not children of God are enemies of God from birth, whether they know it or not. And until and unless this enmity is brought to an end, they cannot have either true peace or true fellowship with God. This enmity between God and man began in the Garden of Eden when the first human couple deliberately disobeyed God. All human beings are therefore naturally sinful and naturally self-centered (Romans 5:12). This is evident in babies and young children. All are therefore born with “carnal” minds (minds working through the “flesh” or sinful nature within), and carnal minds are at enmity with God.
Therefore Scripture says (Romans 8:6-8)“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Carnal minds also love the world (worldly things) therefore they are further enemies of God: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Man’s Biggest Problem: Sin
The biggest problem every human being faces is this wall between himself and God. If it remains throughout life and that person dies, it will lead to eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). One cannot talk to God, or fellowship with God, or truly worship God unless this enmity is broken. And the only one who could break the enmity and restore peace between God and men was the Man Christ Jesus.
God’s Only Solution: Reconciliation
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God from eternity (1 Peter 1:18-20). When He shed His own blood for the sins of the world, He paid the full price for the redemption of humanity. He “took away the sin of the world” by the offering up of Himself (Ephesians 2:13). This sin was the barrier between God and men, but it was totally destroyed at the Cross. Therefore God could reconcile sinners unto Himself. Thus we read (2 Corinthians 5:19) “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.”
What exactly is “reconciliation”? It is the Greek word katallage (kat-al-ag-ay) which means “restoration to the Divine favor”. This means that instead of enmity there is peace with God. Instead of a partition between God and man, there is no partition at all. And once there is peace with God, one can have the peace of God ruling in the heart. That means that man can also be at peace with man, and with his enemies.
Repentance: Necessary for Reconciliation
Repentance is not merely a change of mind about God and about sin. It is a change of attitude to God and to sin. It is a complete repudiation of sinful living and idols in one’s life. It is a turning away from sins and idols, and a turning to God and Christ by faith (Acts 3:19). It means receiving Christ as both Lord and Savior (John 1:12,13; Rom 10:8-13). Those who repent are reconciled to God, have peace with God, and have access to God the Father through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
