During the final days of Jesus’ ministry here on earth while He was with His disciples, He wanted to prepare them for His impending death. Knowing that the disciples would be confused and overwhelmed by the events that would soon transpire; Jesus began to explain to them about His going away. In John’s Gospel chapter 14, starting at verse 16 Jesus tells His disciples: "And I will pray the father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; . . . for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." Although we know the disciples did not fully appreciate; neither could they understand, the importance of these words until after the day of Pentecost. We too can be comforted, and gain assurance of Jesus’ abiding presence in us, from such verses.Again, in Acts 1:8, Jesus says: "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me. . ." The word for power is the Greek word DUNAMIS which means miraculous ability, or force. It is the same word from which we get the English word dynamic, and dynamite. We are given this powerful dynamic ability to live the Christian life, and to be His witnesses. Notice the evidence of this power as recorded in Acts chapter two. That which changed a frightened group of followers into bold proclaimers of the Gospel resulting in 8,000 salvations in two days.
Being a witness is when we, "speak that we do know and testify that we have seen." (John 3:11) Each one of us has been given a ministry to be a witness, and to testify to others about the truth of the Gospel of the Grace of God, which God has made real in our own lives. Paul said: "…and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
The word Gospel means Good News. However, what this Gospel of the Grace of God means, (for which we all have been given the ministry of being a witness to others about), is understood and believed differently by different people. To many, who know not the extensiveness of the Grace and Mercy of God, it is a conditional Gospel. As such, it becomes exclusive and limited in its outreach. Only they, who by the special terms and categories set down by their learned misinterpretation of Scripture will qualify, which is not "Good News" to all.
Learned, because it is taught in schools, and from behind the pulpits, and believed by those who are kept blinded to the truth of the Grace and Mercy of God, and to the extent of the effectual vicarious atonement of our Glorious Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ.
This is not so difficult to understand when we realize we were told, and believed many untruths from our youth on up. Who has not sat on a department store Santa’s knee, and presented that bearded stranger with a "wish list"? Or, who has not hunted for chocolate eggs left by a rabbit? Or, put a tooth under their pillow expecting cash mysteriously left in its place in the morning? We believed these fairy tales we were told because we trusted the source of our information. In these cases it was our family, but the same blind trust applies when a Pastor tells us a "fairy tale gospel" and we do not question the facts for ourselves because it sounds right. "It must be true," they say, "because the majority of Christians teach it." But since when is truth determined by a majority? Does not truth remain true even if no one believes it? If however, our eyes are opened, and by the Grace of God we finally discover the truth, we must believe that which is true, and cling to it, and be set free by it. If not, we will hold to that which we have believed all along to be true, though it is not, and be kept in bondage to a lie.
Sadly, the latter is usually the case when it comes to bible doctrine. Many Christians feel more secure in clinging to the burning rope of error, swinging in perilous danger over the pit of lies they have been taught, than to risk letting go, only to stand on the solid rock of the truth of the Gospel.
The truth about the Good News, to which we have been given the ministry of proclaiming to all nations is that: God has made a way for all men to be reconciled to Himself. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation." (II Cor. 5:18) A proper understanding of what is meant by reconciliation will enlighten our understanding of the Gospel, and enable us to marvel with awe-struck praise at the glorious plan and purpose of our God.
Perhaps there are few truths contained in Holy Writ more glorious than that of the reconciliation between God and man. A priceless find of divine insights into the nature of God are discovered within a right knowledge of this truth. I would even venture to say, without fear of overstatement, that a right understanding of this reconciliation process is a pivotal foundation upon which many other biblical truths stand or fall. Even before that first crime of disobedience in the garden of Eden plunging all mankind into death, and a state of enmity with the Creator, our Sovereign God had planned and purposed the outcome. The truth of God reconciling all mankind being back to Himself is the purposed outcome, and is at the very heart of the Gospel. "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things. (Rom. 11:36).
The dictionary, in part, defines reconcile as: "1. To bring back to friendship after estrangement. 2. To settle or adjust as a quarrel."
For a Greek definition, and explanation of its usage, please permit me to quote from the writings of a recent study by noted bible teacher, Preston Eby on this topic. (quote) "You will notice that the Concordant Literal Translation has changed the wording from reconciliation to conciliation. (II Cor. 5:19) This needs some explanation. There are two Greek words, both of which the K.J.V. has translated reconciliation: KATALLASO and APOKATALLASO. They are related, but slightly different.If two people are separated by some dispute, they need to be reconciled to each other. But if just one of those people takes it upon himself to drop the case, and forgive the other...a conciliation has just occurred. A conciliation is a one-sided peace, done outside the will or knowledge of the second party...He who has conciliated his brother then sends his ambassador with the white flag of truce to sue for peace, to beg the other to conciliate in return. If he does so, then it is two-sided -- it is a re-conciliation. Other scriptures show irrefutably that God will bring the issue to a successful conclusion -- all men will be reconciled to God. The conciliation will become a reconciliation. Hallelujah!" (End quote.)
If we only grasp this one truth: "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not imputing their trespasses against them" it will revolutionize our understanding of the love God has for all men. For many, the concept of who God is, and what He is like, is presented as unapproachable. He is a God untouched, and uncaring about the troubles of men. He is the God Moses met on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. A God full of anger and wrath, and judgment. He is seen to be Holy, but unmerciful, unloving, and ready to condemn for eternal punishment and torture any who cross Him. For these ones God is to be placated and pacified with fearful reverence.
Oh, how they need to hear, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD! They who teach God abandoned Jesus on the cross because He could not look at the sin Jesus bore on our behalf, need to hear it; GOD WAS IN CHRIST! They who teach an exclusive gospel, (us four and no more) need to hear; God was NOT IMPUTING THE WORLD’S TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM. In other words God was not laying to the world’s charge, their own wrong doings. Even when we were all deep in the pit of our trespasses and sins, and at enmity with God, and enemies of the cross; God so loved the world that He sent His Son to destroy the works of the Devil, and to set the world free, for all to be reconciled back to Himself. It is not that all can be, but some will not be reconciled. HEAR THIS: God will reconcile the world. "For as in Adam ALL die so also in Christ shall ALL be made alive. But EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER." (I Cor. 15:22,23)
It is this; "every man in his own order" that if missed, brings confusion about God’s purpose. How can every man be reconciled, when we know there are many who die, clearly rejecting the salvation of God? To that I ask, where is it written God’s Grace ends with death? Did not Jesus conquer death and hell? Did not Jesus win the victory over the grave, and remove the sting of death? Then think about it. If death is beyond the reach of God’s Grace, then death has more power than Grace. If God is powerless to forgive sin even in death, then sin is greater than God’s power. The fact is, Jesus was the "lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) Jesus was the sin offering of the world to satisfy the justice of God. God put sin to death in Jesus on the cross. Jesus died once, and for all, and His death is sufficient for all sin, for all men, for all time!
We know it is not in our keeping the works of the law that we are justified. It is not because of what we have done, or can do to earn it, but in what Christ has already done on our behalf. It is not because we don’t "drink, smoke, or chew, or run with women that do" that saves us. We know that it is not who we are, but WHOSE we are. Jesus said: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.." (John 15:16) Oh, how we need a fresh reminding it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." (Titus 3:5)
How can we know all of this, and yet talk as though we have a free will to do the choosing? We talk as if there is righteousness within, acted upon by a free will that separates us from the rest of fallen man. The only righteousness within us is Christ. The only thing that separates us is, that we had our understanding enlightened to the mystery of our salvation in our order, and we have been numbered among the firstfruits of salvation. (I Cor. 15:23) It is the firstfruits which is a downpayment, and a promise always indicative of a coming harvest. The coming harvest is the reconciliation of all mankind, each man in his own order.
Chosen, preordained, elected, firstfruit, however we would consider it, God has a plan for the world, and a divine order by which He has granted to us His salvation. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." (Col. 1:13) "We have passed from death unto Life." (I Jn. 3:14) We have been Born Again into a Spiritual Kingdom. (Jn. 3) He has made us to be members of the Body of Christ, an enChristed company of believers, a New Creation Man. As such, we are privileged to take part in this process, in which He will bring all to completion in Himself. "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ" (II Cor. 5:18). Thus, as ambassadors, representatives as Christ in the earth, we have been given the ministry to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel to all the world: God has already conciliated the world to Himself, therefore believe, and be reconciled to God.
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