What does the Bible say about reconciliation?

• Hosea 3, Hosea reconciles
• Matthew 5:9, blessed are the peacemakers
• Matthew 5:21-26, first be reconciled then offer God your gift
• Romans 5, we have now received reconciliation
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, all this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
• Ephesians 2:11-22, reconciled through the cross
• Ephesians 4, unity of the Spirit
• Colossians 1:15-23, God reconciled all things

Sermon ideas about reconciliation

The theological root of reconciliation is God's action in reaching out toward humanity, even when our human hands might try to push God away. The covenant, the law, Christ in his first coming as an infant and a crucified Savior and, finally, Christ in his return to put all things right are all evidence of God who pursues reconciliation, a restored relationship, with us.

In simplest terms, the broken relationship between God and humanity required mediation. Christ, who was fully divine and fully human, came to earth to represent each to the other. In his sinlessness and death, the penalty for sin was completely paid and "the dividing line of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14) was breached. Christ came to earth, died and ascended to heaven in order to work the reconciliation required between God and humankind.

As Christians, we have received the generous offer of reconciliation with God through Christ. As our unique calling, we are to embody this same reconciliation toward others — in personal relationships and through systems of government, commerce, and society that promote unity and equity. The task is large and will never be completed until Christ returns but, as his followers, it is up to us "to make every effort to live at peace with all people" (Romans 12:18).

Forgiveness is a decision, often made over and over again, to let someone stand free in your heart and your mind from the wrong they have done to you or to others. Reconciliation is an act of embracing that forgiven person back into your life, with access again to friendship, trust, and love. Reconciliation requires the work of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not require reconciliation. As Christian people, we must work to want to extend our love again, even to people who have hurt us, but it may not always be possible (due to death) or safe (due to abuse or violence) to do so.

The unity of the church depends on the work of reconciliation among its members. This is always a work in progress for sinful people. One of the great examples of this hard work and restoration is the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The Belhar Confession is a confession written by the churches in South Africa as a testament to their own failures and a celebration of their desire to match their actions to their theological understanding of reconciliation.