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2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (KJV)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  [18]  And all things are of God, who hath RECONCILED us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of RECONCILIATION;  [19]  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.  [20]  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye RECONCILED to God.  [21]  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

One of the most important doctrines in the Bible is the Doctrine of Reconciliation. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “Reconciliation” as “The state of being reconciled”. Thanks – that really didn’t help. So I looked up “Reconciled” and found the following definitions:

“To restore to friendship or harmony”

We Are Not All Children Of God

It is common to hear people say “We are all God’s children”, but that statement is not Biblically true. Jesus told the Pharisees “If God were your Father you would love Me … you are of your father the devil.” (John 8:42-44). It IS true that all people are God’s creation:

Colossians 1:16 (KJV)  For by (God) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

It IS true that all souls – the part of you that gives you life – belong to God:

Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV)  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

But it is NOT true to say that “we are all God’s Children”. Those without Christ as Lord and Savior are never referred to in Scripture as God’s Children. It IS true to say that God would have all people to be His Children. God loves everyone regardless as to race or position in life. But not all are born into this world as God’s Children.

We are born into this world sinners.
When we receive Christ we are born again to be God’s Children.

The Bible teaches that humans in their natural or unsaved state walk in opposition to God. In the Book of Romans the Apostle said:

Romans 5:6-11 (KJV)  For when we were yet without strength¹, in due time Christ died for the ungodly².  [7]  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  [8]  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners³, Christ died for us.  [9]  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  [10]  For if, when we were enemies⁴, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  [11]  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Before God reached out to us in Christ we were “without strength”¹, totally unable to turn to God. We did not turn to God because we did not WANT to turn to God. We were “ungodly”², the opposite of godly. We opposed God by our actions and our lives. We were “sinners”³, doing the things that God asked us not to do. God hates sin. God hates sin because it is against His nature:

Psalms 5:4-5 (KJV)  For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.  [5]  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou HATEST ALL WORKERS OF INIQUITY.

God is holy, righteous, and just. His actions all are without blemish.

Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) … Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Psalms 92:15 (KJV) … the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Theologian Charles Ryrie wrote: “The Bible presents God’s attitude toward sin with strong feelings of hostility, disgust, and utter dislike. For example, sin is described as PUTREFYING SORES (Isaiah 1:6), a HEAVY BURDEN (Psalm 38:4), DEFILING FILTH (Titus 1:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1), a BINDING DEBT (Matthew 6:12-15), DARKNESS (1 John 1:6) and a SCARLET STAIN (Isaiah 1:18).”

Sin causes us to be the enemy of God. It separates us from our Creator. The Bible says:

Isaiah 59:2 (KJV)  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Jeremiah 5:24-25 (KJV)  Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.  [25]  Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

Sin is a wall between us and God.
Sin makes us the enemies of God⁴.
Sin makes us disagree with God.

Sin is to like the things that God dislikes, and to dislike the things that God likes. Sin is to be in opposition to God.

Romans 3:10-18 (KJV)  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  [11]  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  [12]  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  [13]  Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:  [14]  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  [15]  Their feet are swift to shed blood:  [16]  Destruction and misery are in their ways:  [17]  And the way of peace have they not known:  [18]  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Every Human Has The Potential To Be A Child Of God

God is righteous – but NONE are righteous. God knows – but NONE understand. God offers life and light, but all turn from it. Before God intervened on our behalf we were His enemies. We were not good people who needed to do a little better, but we were universally and absolutely sinners. But while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. While we were the enemies of God, God reached out in love to save whosoever will.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (KJV)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  [18]  And all things are of God, who hath RECONCILED us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of RECONCILIATION;

Outside of Christ we are old creatures, sinners without regard for God. But “in Christ” – believing in Him, trusting Him, committing yourself to Him – we are “new creatures”. Our first birth into this world brought us physical life but spiritual death.

You must be BORN AGAIN.
You were born a sinner.
You must be BORN AGAIN a son.

You were not born the first time by your own power. Your parents in love created you, and you were born into this world without your effort or knowledge. The New Birth is likewise something that God brings to you because of what Jesus did on Calvary. When Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary He did so willingly and deliberately for every person. The Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV) 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.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to make payment for the sins of all the world. When John the Baptist saw Him he declared:

John 1:29 (KJV)… Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the WORLD.

The late Adrian Rogers wrote in Jesus – Our Redemption Provided: “Can you imagine John the Baptist standing there on the banks of Jordan saying ‘Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the elect’? No, the sins of the world.”

The writer Hal Lindsey stated in his book The Gospel of John: “The Israelites thought (Jesus) came to take away the sin of Israel. He says that He came to take away the sin of the world.”

William MacDonald wrote in the Believer’s Bible Commentary ^{page 2295}: ““…by His death on the cross, the Lord bought the world and all who are in it. But He did not redeem the whole world. While His work was sufficient for the redemption of all mankind, it is only effective for those who repent, believe, and accept Him.”

Our Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that “you must be born again”. How was Nicodemus to be “born again”? Jesus said it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that a person is “born again”:

John 3:3-7 (KJV)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  [4]  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  [5]  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  [6]  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  [7]  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

What makes the New Birth possible? Jesus was very clear on this. He told Nicodemus – and us – that:

John 3:16-17 (KJV)  For God so loved THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  [17]  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.

It is very clear that Christ came to give Himself for the world, not just for an elect few. Every person has the possibility of being reconciled to God. The Samaritans that Christ witnessed to testified …

John 4:42 (KJV) … this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Jesus said: John 6:32-33 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.  [33]  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life UNTO THE WORLD.”.

John 6:51 (KJV)  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if ANY man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD.

John 12:46-47 (KJV)  I am come a light INTO THE WORLD, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.  [47]  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but TO SAVE THE WORLD.

The Apostle wrote: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (KJV)  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that IF ONE DIED FOR ALL, then were all dead:  [15]  And that HE DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (KJV)  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  [6]  WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.

1 John 2:1-2 (KJV)  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  [2]  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

Mankind stood in a state of war with God. When Christ went to Calvary the sins of the WORLD were placed on Him and judged. He paid the penalty for the sins of all. He RECONCILED us to God by His action. When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior what Christ did is placed on our account.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (KJV) 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.  [20]  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye RECONCILED to God.  [21]  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Reconciliation means that when we give ourselves to Christ that the Father does not count our trespasses against God against us. Jesus paid for our sins, so when we receive Him HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS is imputed or placed on our account. As Christians the message we have been given to share will all is that Christ died for all so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. The reason the word MIGHT is placed in the text is because YOU MUST CHOOSE CHRIST. If you choose Christ, believing He gave Himself for you, then you are reconciled to God. If you choose to remain in Adam or your natural state then you are NOT reconciled to God. Christian scholars have called Reconciliation “The Great Exchange”.

In Adam I have death.
In Christ I have life.
In Adam I am a sinner with the world.
In Christ I am a son of God apart from the world.
In Adam I have condemnation.
In Christ I have justification and consolation.
In Adam I am in bondage to the world.
In Christ I am set free to live for God.

What is the message that God has given us His Church? It is a simple message.

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (KJV) 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.  [20]  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye RECONCILED to God. 

We pray for you. We pray that God’s Holy Spirit will open your eyes to Christ. We pray that you understand that Christ died for you, and God loves you. We pray that you will be obedient to God, and call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus so that you can be saved.

Romans 10:9-13 (KJV)  That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  [10]  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  [11]  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  [12]  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  [13]  For whosoever shall CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.

Christ died for all – and that includes you. Call on Him. Believe Him. Receive Him as Savior and Lord. May God touch your hearts with His Word.