By Rick Combs
May 07, 2021
When we speak of salvation, we mean atonement, propitiation, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, justification, sanctification. All this because God through Christ Jesus loves us and gave Himself for us.
In our previous two posts, we looked at atonement, propitiation, forgiveness, redemption, and justification. Now, we will discuss reconciliation and sanctification to wrap up this series.
5. Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:19 tells us “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
Reconciliation means to renew or unite in friendship after enmity, to settle a disagreement. The world’s concept of this is “let’s all be friends”, but in this statement there is no atonement! Reconciliation requires enmity first which is the quality of being an enemy. The world is at enmity with God. This tells us where all the evil and violence in this world comes from! This is the reason. The world hates God and keeps Him as far away as possible. This is usually accomplished in two ways; having nothing to do with God, or by being very religious and going through the motions out of an abundance of emotion.
We are reconciled to God by the death of Christ – Rom 5:8-10; “But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”.
The devil is the enemy of all righteousness, he is the god of this world – Acts 13:10, Eph. 2:1-3. No wonder this world is such a mess! But, God through Christ offers full and complete reconciliation to Himself through the washing away of all our sins by the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son.
6. Sanctification – We usually think of this as living a perfect life that we eventually attain to. But, the definition of sanctification is; separation unto sacred use; to make holy, pure, clean, or perfect. It is what sets us apart to perform God’s will and purpose – Jer 1:5, Exo 28:41. God is holy, pure, and clean: the things he uses must be also – Lev 20:7-8.
Justification and sanctification work together to make us meet for God’s use. It is God that sanctifies – Rom 15:16, and as believers we are sanctified in Christ. 1 Cor 1:2, 1:29-31. Notice especially 1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”. All of these realities are in the present tense; washed – sanctified – justified!
Christ is your sanctification. You are made holy in Him the moment you believe the Gospel of Grace – Col 2:10, 3:12.
By the cross you are separated from the profane and sanctified – Col 2:11-12, Rom 6:6-7.
[By the way, when I list a scriptural reference it is important for us to look them up which familiarizes us with God’s Word and for accuracy.]
The cross does more for you than just a sacrifice for sins. It separates you! This separation is unto a heavenly calling which is God’s Purpose – Eph 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” and 2:6-7 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come…”. This sanctification of the body of Christ is for the purpose of reconciling all things in heaven and earth (Israel’s calling) to the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might be all in all. Colossians 1:2 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”. As a member of the body of Christ, your sanctification is a heavenly calling. Of course, while in these bodies we walk out God’s Word so others in this life might receive salvation and be reconciled to God.
We will discuss our heavenly calling in more depth in our next post.
Grace and peace
Amen!
This kind of teaching the church need today. It will unveils the truth of the Gospel of Grace for believers who were tied with mix gospels. Well-done Sir Rick Combs.