“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
When Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry, He declared to everyone the words found in the book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Luke 4:18) That declaration was in essence the “shot across the bow,” the announcement that Christ had come to seek and save the lost, to bring them to God by reconciling them to God. For this reconciliation, or the act and work of bringing two individuals together in peace, Christ came. In order to accomplish His purpose and work He had to remove what is called the “enmity” that existed between sinful man, and a holy God.
From man’s standpoint, born with a heart that does not seek God, but is in opposition to Him, specifically ruling in the life, he exists as an enemy of all that is good and holy in God. His nature is totally characterized by a disposition of heart that is willingly independent of God, himself being in essence his own god. From God’s perspective, there is no change in His nature, regardless of the state or disposition of man. He is holy, sinless, righteous in the most perfect manner. There is no lie in Him, no contradiction between what He declares and what He is. All that is good has its perpetual beginning and ending in Him, for He alone is God, forever existing without the slightest change or alteration of His character. His Law is the expression to man of His nature. Christ’s coming was the revelation of His love, and the perfect justice that had to be accomplished, if the sins of sinful man could be blotted out.
The enmity that existed between God and man was revealed, and is presently revealed, by the wrath of God towards all that is of sin and Satan. The evidence that man is at enmity with God is revealed by the rage that exists in his heart towards God, his constant war with his fellowman. How could Christ come into this situation, hopeless from every standpoint, to save sinful man from the wages of sin and death, locked in a downward spiral towards eternal destruction, and yet, fulfill the righteous standard, the perfect standard of righteousness which alone God could accept for man. On the one hand every sin would need to be atoned for, forgiven, blotted out, wiped away, never to be remembered again. On the other hand, a perfect righteousness would need to be given to man, even though he was devoid of all righteous goodness. Who would bridge the gap of paying the price for the sins of every man? And who would live a perfect, sinless life on earth as a man, fulfilling the holy Law of God, fulfilling His mission, and purpose, to become the perfect, perpetual sacrifice for man’s sin. His name alone would be ” the Lamb of God,” who takes away the sin of the world. When Jesus died on Calvary, tasting death for every man, the terrible, massive blow of the wrath of God struck the Son on behalf of all men. It was in that very minute when Christ declared, “It is finished,” that this spotless Lamb of God, by the shedding of His perfect, and precious blood, accomplished what no other man, or being in heaven could ever do. He would, after His death, enter into the holiest of all in heaven, there to present to the Father His precious blood as the testimony of His love, and power. Christ alone would become in that moment, as the Apostle Paul would declare, the “…one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” (1 Timothy 2:5,6)
Christ’s ministry began working towards reconciliation. Now, He works through the church to effectively manifest HIs victory.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to minister. In Jesus’ name, Amen.