Romans 5:11 - "And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."
To be reconciled to God, what an amazing thought. Try to dig past the academic sound of that word and really take hold of the meaning of reconciliation. I would understand that term to not be judicial peace with God, but rather the embrace of family. That we would be brought into friendship with God. That’s what this passage is talking about. However, if context was ever essential to understanding a verse, this is one of those times. I would like us to briefly consider WHO was reconciled and HOW it was done.
1. WHO we were… I fear that most of us tend to think quite well of ourselves. Even before our conversion… we were pretty decent people. We were reasonably nice and fair to others, and good neighbors and citizens. But this isn’t an accurate picture of those Christ willingly sacrificed and suffered for. Paul describes us this way:
- 1. vs 6 “…still without strength” - We were UTERLY helpless… we had NO ability whatsoever to fix our problem.
- 2. vs 6 – “Christ died for the ungodly” - We were sinners … those who regularly defy and disobey the Almighty God who created us for obedience.
- 3. vv 7-8 – “BUT … while were still sinners” - We were undeserving … we gave God NO reason whatsoever to merit His even having a thought about us aside from judgment.
- 4. vs 10 – “…when we were enemies we were reconciled” - We were enemies … God had EVERY reason to “declare war” or pronounce eternal torment on us instantly.
- 1. vs 6 – “in due time Christ died” in other words “at just the right time Christ CAME”. When we needed him… in our utter helplessness and NEED, God was moved to act on our behalf … just when the time was perfect.
- 2. vs 6 - Christ LOVED us by dying for us … THE UNDESERVING. The fact that God loves us is amazing enough. The fact that this love would spur an action as immense as dying on our behalf, in our place, for our benefit … AMAZING !!!
- 3. vs 9 – “having now been justified by His blood” - Christ JUSTIFIED us so we can be right before a holy God. We were not simply let off the hook or given a get out of eternal torment pass … we have been made PURE and right before a Holy God. I am no longer seen as sinful in His eyes. He sees me as rightly as His son. WHY ?? … WHY FOR ME??
- 4. vs 10 – “we were reconciled to God” - Christ RESTORED me to friendship with God. This tops it all. Maybe, in my sinful pride I can see God letting me “off the hook”; and maybe in my most prideful moment I could visualize God seeing me as right. But in all my pride and arrogance I cannot visualize that God, whom I chose to be an ENEMY to, would do all that He has done and then invite me into His home to be His friend and His child. Why ? … Why God would you do this for me?