Don’t Confuse Reconciliation and Salvation

Don’t Confuse Reconciliation with Salvation

Second Corinthians 5:19 tells us that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them.”

Given this fact, some have wondered why everyone does not have eternal life.

Reconciliation is a two-way street.

If you and I were at odds, you might choose to move beyond our differences and treat me as your friend. For your part we would be reconciled. Nevertheless, if I held a grudge and refused to be reconciled, we would remain estranged and would not have a relationship.

If, on the other hand, I accepted your overture and agreed to be reconciled, we would no longer be estranged. We would both be reconciled. We would have a relationship. Indeed, we would be friends.

Let’s read this with a little context.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20

18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (NASB 2020)

Notice that although God has reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus, He asks those of us who have agreed to be reconciled to become His ambassadors begging others to be reconciled. There would be no cause for such an appeal if both sides of the reconciliation had already taken place.

God’s reconciliation made salvation and eternal life possible. Now we are left with a choice, be reconciled, or remain estranged.