Original Words
Gr. Allasso – Change or make different, exchange one thing for another (Strong’s 236)
Gr. Diallasso – To change the mind of or renew a friendship – Matthew 5:24. (Dia – through or by way of, a channel)
Gr. Sunallasso – Gather together, assemble, drive together in peace – Acts 7:26. (Sun – with, together, denoting union)
Gr. Katallasso – to exchange as coins of equal value or mutually, to return to favor with (Kata – down from, according to). The idea being that some that was altered is to be changed according to or down from whence it was altered – Romans 5:10. To reconcile, reconciling, reconciled – verb form.
Gr. Katallage – exchanging equivalent values, adjustment of a difference, restoration to – Romans 5:11. Reconciliation – noun form.
Preliminary affirmations about how God uses the word
Reconciliation is the restoration of an estranged relationship. It is the changing from a hostile association to a peaceful one. The reconciliation of man and God is accomplished through the death of Christ. Peace among men is also accomplished through the blood of Jesus uniting all the brethren in Christ, whether Jew or Greek. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant. That is to say, that He has intervened to make a treaty possible between sinful man and the Righteous God. The gospel message, the ministry of the apostles and the business of the church is one of reconciliation. God is drawing men to Himself, or reconciling them to Himself, through Christ.
ATONEMENT AND RECONCILIATION
In the New American Standard Bible the word reconciliation is not found until Matthew’s gospel. In the KJV it is found as early as Leviticus 6:30 where it reads “And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.” In the ASV, NASB, DRB, LITV, YLT the word for “reconcile” in this verse reads “make atonement.” We will also see this similarity in the New Testament Scriptures. In Romans 5:11 the KJV reads, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Whereas, the NASB reads, “And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” The reason for saying all this is to show the parallel in the use of the two words and their doctrines. While atonement focuses on the satisfying of wrath due to payment, reconciliation focuses on the restoration of the relationship as a result of that payment. Without atonement, reconciliation is not possible. Without reconciliation, atonement is pointless. Atonement between men may simply be a confession and apology, or may require restitution. Atonement between God and man required the sacrifice of the spotless Lamb of God. Because atonement was made for us by Jesus, we are reconciled to God.
As used in the Old Covenant Scriptures
Mediation. Moses was born an Israelite in a time when Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives to put to death any male children born to Hebrew women. When he was born his mother hid him for three months and then put him in a basket and placed it in the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter would eventually receive and raise the young boy as her own.
“Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, ‘Why are you striking your companion?’ But he said, ‘Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and said, ‘Surely the matter has become known.’” (Exodus 2:11-14)
Acts 7:26 tells of when Moses found these two Israelites fighting each other and records that he “tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’” Moses was attempting to act as a judge or mediator to bring about peace among brethren. While this certainly isn’t the point of the story, it helps us understand the doctrine of reconciliation. Oftentimes, there needs to be a third party to either encourage or cause the reconciliation. In the New Covenant it is Christ who reconciles us to God.
“‘Mediation’ in its broadest sense may be defined as the act of intervening between parties at variance for the purpose of reconciling them, or between parties not necessarily hostile for the purpose of leading them into an agreement or covenant.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) Moses often served as a mediator between Israel and God as seen on his dealings with God at Sinai and even pleading with God for the lives of the congregation. And with boldness, Paul proclaims to Timothy concerning the New Covenant “for there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
As used during the time of Christ
Making peace. Jesus said, “be reconciled to your brother” before you present an offering (Matthew 5:23-24). He was saying to do this if your brother “has something against you.” This means that the relationship that you once enjoyed and had in peace has been altered. One of the saddest things in the church is brothers having something against one another. Jesus said to be reconciled. Reconciliation involves taking a hostile relationship and making peace out of it. Brothers in Christ have no reason to not have peace. When Jesus appeared on this earth the heavenly host praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). There is peace among men whom God accepts. Those in Christ have peace with one another because they are made brothers through the blood of Christ.
As used in the New Covenant Scriptures
ALIENATION OPPOSED
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). God is opposed at hostility and estrangement. He is opposed to division and separation. He desires unity. Those who are opposed to peace and unity are opposed to God Himself and have set their desires against His. After all, He is the “God of Peace” (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20).
Irreconcilable. As miserable as it is, the people of God were promised of a time, that now is, when men will be “lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; AVOID SUCH MEN AS THESE” (2 Timothy 3:2-5). Some people are irreconcilable, that is, peace cannot be made with them. They are to be avoided. The word there literally means “without covenant.” They cannot be persuaded to enter into covenant (Thayer). They are “truce-breakers” as read in the KJV. These people do not have the Spirit of God in them regardless of what they profess.
God is not pleased with those who are irreconcilable just as He is not pleased with divorce. He said, “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16). Look at what the Holy Spirit says through Paul to the church, “But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). It is not in God’s plan for a married couple to divorce, and neither it is in God’s plan for brothers and sisters in Christ to “divorce” and neither is it in God’s plan for Him and His bride (the Church) to “divorce.” He desires reconciliation on all of the above accounts.
One body coming to Christ. It is clear that God not only wants to reconcile man to Himself but also to reconcile man to man in Christ Jesus, as it is written, “through Him to reconcile all things to Himself” (Colossians 1:20). There was an enormous wall between Jew and Gentile that kept the two from coming together. Paul announces that in Christ, that barrier has been broken down and both groups are now one new man coming to God.
“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. and He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” (Ephesians 2:14-19)
Jesus brought peace between Jew and Gentile as well as man and God. Both of which were accomplished through the cross.
RECONCILED TO GOD
Those outside of Christ are dead in trespasses and sins. Those not in covenant with God through Christ are “separate” and “strangers” and have “no hope” and are “without God” (Ephesians 2:12). “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). We must see how our sin separated us from God, before we will realize our need for reconciliation. And our sin had the penalty of death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, the wrath of God was abiding on us (John 3:36). Atonement had to be made in order for reconciliation to be made possible. Through the cross of Christ, atonement was made and reconciliation was made available.
Reconciliation through the cross. We have been brought near to God “by the blood of Christ.” “We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). It was the sacrifice of Jesus that reconciled us to God. Individually speaking it is our faith in and obedience to the gospel that reconciles us to God. But the reconciliation is made possible through His death. Romans 5:11 says, if we have been reconciled through His death, “much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” And so the focus or means through which we are reconciled is the “death of His Son.”
“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach – if indeed you continue in faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” (Colossians 1:19-23)
Isaiah even prophesied about reconciliation through the suffering “servant.” He said, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Through His suffering we are pardoned. Through His death we are reconciled. He goes on, “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand” (53:10). Through the cross of Christ many alienated sinners “to whom the stroke was due” can now draw close to God in full assurance of faith. His offspring are reconciled. In talking about His death, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). “Much fruit” will inherit the kingdom of God because Jesus died. In fact, no one can come without His death. Through His death we are reconciled.
The ministry of reconciliation. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians records one of the clearest and simplest explanations of what God is doing. He is bringing the world to Himself through Christ. Hebrews says that Christ is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10) Peter says, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Consider the text:
“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 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. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
He reconciled us through Christ; gave us the ministry of reconciliation; gave the apostles the word of reconciliation and through that word is calling men to Himself. Through His death we can be reconciled. Therefore the ministry of the church is the ministry of reconciliation. What God is doing ought to be exactly what we are involved in. We participate in preaching the apostle’s doctrine for one. They were given the “word of reconciliation” and we have that word. In fact, we are to be steadfast in it. The apostles were engaged in this ministry and considered themselves ambassadors. They carried the word of the King. The church today is like the ambassadors of the ambassadors. We too have the word of reconciliation as we received it from the apostles and prophets. In short, the message is “be reconciled to God.” Through the preaching of this message men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation will be saved, for the gospel message is the “power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The word of reconciliation is the call of God to man. Those who believe and obey are reconciled to God.
"But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. If was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)