"For our sake He [God] made Him [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him [Christ] we might become the righteousness of God".
2 Corinthians 5:21
This is another post, in my series of posts on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Here is the working definition of the atonement, I created, for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today we are going to think about an important part of the atonement, that runs in an undercurrent all through that definition. Today, on this Maunday Thursday, I want to understand a little better the reconciliation that comes from the atonement of Christ.
Before we explore 4 points the above verse teaches us, about the reconciliation of the atonement, lets understand reconciliation a little better as a word. Webster's dictionary defines the word reconcile as, "to cause to be friendly or harmonious again; to adjust or settle a difference or division; to bring to submission or acceptance or conform". We use the word reconcile or reconciliation in a number of places. We reconcile bank records. We see reconciliation between fighting nations. And we even use reconcile (like the third part of the definition) when we think through actions like reconciling ourselves to the fact there is a speed limit on the highway. As humans, with each other and in our world, reconciliation is a common word of 2 parties coming together, after a seperation.
But we need to understand the reconciliation of the atonement and see what 2 Corinthians 5 teaches us about God being reconciled to man through Jesus. First, our above text makes clear there is a problem or divide between God and man that needs to be fixed. As previous posts in this series have already pointed out (the necessity of the atonement) sin has caused a fracture between God and man. God is holy. Humans are depraved, evil, sinful, dirty beings. The holiness of God can't be in the presence of the unholiness of humanity. Thus, there is a huge gulf between God and man.
Second, the passage above makes clear that reconciliation is needed on both sides. Paul is clear with the Corinthians that alienation exists on both sides. God is clearly offended and has His anger bent on humanity and every single human. God is holy so his wrath and anger are focused and drilled intently on every single human becasue every single human has sinned. This reality means God's attitude towards humans needs to changed. But humanity is also alienated from their side, becasue they as humans loves sin and themselves above all else. Humans are sinful becasue they are spiritually dead. Humans, just as much as God, need an attitude change. Reconciliation needs to take place from both sides of the divide.
Third, this teaching by Paul makes clear that reconciliation is very much possible. Christ mission was fulfilled. Jesus came to this earth to live a perfect life and die a sin-filled death. Christ accomplished this mission. When Jesus declared, "it is finished" He was referring to the part of the mission that was focused on the wrath of God and the payment for sin. Jesus Christ made a way. Reconciliation was now possible between God and man becasue Jesus Christ became sin for the sheep.
Which leads to the final point this text is very explicit on and that is the truth that reconciliation has already take place from God's side. God's wrath for the elect has been satisfied. Jesus payed the penalty for the sheep. God imputed the sin of His people onto Jesus and taken the righteousness of Christ and imputed it on His people. In the eyes of God, the elect can now be reconciled because of the atonement of Jesus. Jesus Christ, the only perfectly righteous human, gave His people His righteousness and took upon Himself their sin, so God can be reconciled to them.
All 4 of these points from 2 Corinthians lead to the final concluding thought on the reconciliation of the atonement. What Jesus did for us, or more clearly, what God the Father did through His own Son for us, is both a concrete truth and a particular action. Paul is clear. Jesus became sin and thus removed the sin stain, power, and penalty for certain (the elect) individuals. Those for whom Jesus died, are now reconciled to the Father because the divide and alienation has been removed. This also means that yes, God is reconciling the whole of creation to Himself and will one day make a new heaven and new earth thanks to the death of Jesus. But the reconciliation that Jesus gave on the cross was for a particular people, the people that Jesus took their sin upon Himself.
This means, as a child of God, I have the greatest comfort in life becasue Jesus Christ permanently brought be back into a relationship with His Father through His death. Jesus Christ paid the sin debt which never has to be paid again. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the anger and wrath of God and exchanged it for the love and grace of God. Jesus gave His people, His righteousness, so they can now stand before His Father. Jesus killed the power of sin in the life of His people. As Christians, we can rejoice and worship both Jesus Christ our atoning Savior and God the Father for securing a reconciliation with Him.
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