FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
"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." Rom. 5:10
If I were to ask you what the ongoing theme of the Bible is, what would be your answer? Since I can’t hear your answer, I’ll give you mine. From the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, the overall and on going theme of the Bible is providing a way for man to be "reconciled" back to God. What we’re about to study together for a few minutes is that "reconciliation." Or, the process of our being "reconciled" to God.
Well, I’ll admit that the word is certainly a "jaw breaker" as the old-timers used to say, but, when we take the time to break it down, it’s not so imposing of a word. First off, when you see the letters RE at the front end of a word it simply means "again." Like we see in words such as "reorder" or "reinstate." We even say that something is "recurring" when it happens "again."
Alright then, let’s go to the rest of the word: "concile" or "conciliate." That’s a word meaning "to unite" or "bring together." We could even say causing something to "be in accord." Having dissected the word, we can see what Paul was talking about in our preamble passage from Rom. 5:10.
This how it applies to its usage in various passages in the Bible. Man was once "in accord" with God, wasn’t he? Man was created perfect by God and placed in a paradise but, man sinned by violating the one and only law he was given. In other words, by his transgression, he left, went away from God. From that moment on, God has been setting up a way for man to come back to Him. For man to be back in a "conciliated" state with God.
Perhaps if we look at this from the opposite side we can better understand it. If we are NOT "in accord" with God, we’ve become "alienated" from Him. An "alien" is one who is a non-citizen. A foreign subject, if you will. A great scriptural proof of what I’m saying here is found in Col. 1:21-22 where we read: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." Sorta wraps it all up right there.
Because of God’s grace, He’s provided a way in which we can be back "in accord" with Him. He’s told us where His grace is and how we can get to it. How that we can take advantage of His saving grace. Remember, at the beginning we were in the grace of God, but He didn’t remove it from us - we left it. But, he left it there for us to make our way back to it. If that doesn’t prove that God loves us, I don’t know what else do it better.
Let’s discuss the "way" He’s set up whereby we can get back in His "good graces." Whereby we can once more "be in accord" with Him. This "way" of "reconciliation" is nothing complicated. Actually it’s very simple. You don’t have to be highly educated or be a "rocket scientist" to understand it and use it.
This "way" has a name. It’s His Son, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6 Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me." That eliminates any other "way" that man has devised as a "way" of "reconciliation." Think about it - how arrogant and disrespectful is anyone who thinks that they have the authority to set conditions for becoming "reconciled" to God. It’s like saying to God that "I’m coming back to your grace in the manner that I want to and you’ll just have to let me back in."
No, that won’t work for man to "be in accord" with God’s grace. Here is what will. Here is the "way" God said do it. First, believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God AND Savior of mankind. Secondly, repent of you sinful life, which in effect is recognizing that you’re a "alien" and are outside the kingdom, thus NOT "in accord" with The King.
Next comes a "confession" of your belief whereby you make it known to others you’re "faith" is in Christ as the Savior of man. And then, upon being "baptized" (an act of that faith) you’ll be "reconciled" to God. That’s it! The only way to be "reconciled." To be back to the "conciled" state "of accord" with God that man was created in.
Uh-oh. Everything was going fine until that last condition, "baptism." Bro. Covey, did you say that a person has to be "baptized" in order to be "reconciled?" Well, as a matter of fact, I did. But, lest you brand me as an innovator, let me assure you that I’m not the first one to say that. Isn’t it funny how that simple little demonstration of faith hangs a lot of people up? Yep, the water is a big hang-up for many in the religious world.
I think that one of the problems people have with "baptism," with "immersion" in water is - it’s too simple. Further, they believe that they are already "saved" prior to being "baptized" and if they do actually immerse a person, it’s only for them to be "joined" to that denomination. Not to be "added" to the "kingdom" of Christ’s Church.
Remember I said that I wasn’t the first to say that "baptism" was required in order to be "reconciled?" Well, look at something Peter had to say on the subject. In 1 Peter the 3rd chapter, in verse 20, Peter references Noah and his family and says "eight souls were saved by water." Then look at the next verse (21) and the words therein: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
We don’t have to rely on just one example of "water baptism" as there are others just as qualified to show us the necessity of it. When the children of Israel were leaving their state of bondage, Egypt, what stood between them and freedom? Did you say "water?" That’s the right answer. 1Cor. 10:2 tells us that they were "baptized" in the Red Sea "unto Moses" (his leadership) and by that act of faith in passing through the Sea, Exo. 14:13 says that they received "salvation of the Lord."
We could look a several more examples proving that "baptism" is the final, essential ingredient in the "reconciliation" process. Examples such as Naaman in 2 Kings 5 or the blind man in John the 9th chapter. Both shows that "water" was necessary for their healing.
Just so that you don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here, the water, in and of itself, has no inherent ability to "reconcile" anyone to God. It’s God that does the "reconciling." It’s God that does the "saving." And that only comes by obeying all the elements of the "way" set up by God for that "reconciliation."
You’ve no doubt figured out by now that "reconciliation" and "salvation" are synonymous. The only avenue, the only "way" one can reach the state of being "reconciled back to God" is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-5 reads: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (ESV)
Please take the time to read the 5th and 6th chapters of Romans as you’ll find much there that pertains to our subject today that I just don’t have the space here to cover it. One last thought - the passage we read in Colossians tells us that if we are NOT "reconciled to God" he considers us to be His "enemy." I don’t think I like having that title after my name.
Ron Covey
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