Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 says “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
So, four words in Strong’s concordance (Strongs Concordance Lookup on Linked Word):
a. reconciled – katallasso (to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value)
b. ministry – diakonia (service, ministering, especially those who execute the commands of others)
c. reconciliation – katallage (exchange)
d. message – logos (many definitions)
A few thoughts:
Through Jesus Christ, every person has an invitation to not only understand but personally know God as a whole, and God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit individually. These verses are highlighting that while we were reconciled at the cross, the explanation and acceptance of the fullness of this logos of reconciliation seems to indicate an ongoing ministry supported by a probably eternal process of exchange, certainly with reconciliation not being a one time event. Then, if this process is in fact eternal, we always miss out when we settle for our present understanding and current expectations of who God is and who we are.
While “not counting people’s sins” in this passage is also wonderful, it still leaves us empty (sinlessness produces no crowns or glory to throw down before our King when we see Him face to face). Fruit requires abiding in Christ. And He invites us to learn His voice and enables obedience which produces glory for our King.
It’s okay that we may not know Father God or the Holy Spirit like we may know Jesus (He is the one we humans can most easily identify with). The “logos of reconciliation” (whatever that means) will be centrally involved in this process, certainly with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Going from one measure of glory to another, we the image bearers are invited to be fascinated with Christ and Him crucified and gaze on Him.
Questions: Will we accept God’s invitation to come and see for ourselves, to exchange our poverty of human reasoning and our faith for His offered riches for those “in Christ?” The charge by the Father “listen to Him” still challenges us today: will we determine to listen for His voice moment by moment each day and respond in faith? Then, having learned to feast at His table will we forsake our self-centered tendency and receive the ministry, executing His command to tell others and teach of God’s reconciliation? Then as we go, we may share and receive the blood and body of our Lord from unexpected sources. Will we be generous givers and generous receivers as we discern the body?
Other questions rise: In honoring the Son, will I simply believe everything He says? In honoring the Holy Spirit, will I learn and follow as He speaks? In honoring the Father, as He invites me to keep the Son’s commandments which He says will release His Father love and fellowship (John 14:23), will I choose to learn and pursue those commandments?