Promoting Reconciliation in the Church
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Corinthians 5:18
As believers, we are called to promote reconciliation in the church. This means seeking to restore broken relationships with one another, just as God restored our relationship with Him through Christ. Reconciliation is not just a nice thing to do, it is an essential part of our faith and our witness to the world.
In the Bible, we see examples of reconciliation among believers. In the book of Philemon, we read about Paul’s letter to Philemon, a slave owner, and Onesimus, a runaway slave. Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. Paul demonstrated that true reconciliation is not simply a matter of forgiving and forgetting, but of acknowledging past wrongs and seeking to make things right.
We also see this in the example of the prodigal son in Luke 15. After squandering his inheritance and living a life of sin, the prodigal son returns to his father seeking forgiveness. The father welcomes him back with open arms and celebrates his return. This is a picture of God’s grace and forgiveness, and it also demonstrates the power of reconciliation.
As a church, we must be committed to promoting reconciliation. This means being willing to admit our own faults and seeking forgiveness when we have wronged others. It also means being willing to forgive those who have wronged us and seeking to restore broken relationships. This can be a difficult and uncomfortable process, but it is essential if we are to be a true witness to the world.
In promoting reconciliation, we are following in the footsteps of Christ, who came to reconcile us to God. He demonstrated the ultimate act of reconciliation by giving His life on the cross so that we might be reconciled to God. Let us, therefore, be committed to promoting reconciliation in our church and in our relationships with one another.
In conclusion, let us remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:18, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." As believers, we are called to be agents of reconciliation in a broken and divided world. Let us be faithful to this calling and seek to promote reconciliation in our church and in our relationships with one another.
As believers, we are called to promote reconciliation in the church. This means seeking to restore broken relationships with one another, just as God restored our relationship with Him through Christ. Reconciliation is not just a nice thing to do, it is an essential part of our faith and our witness to the world.
In the Bible, we see examples of reconciliation among believers. In the book of Philemon, we read about Paul’s letter to Philemon, a slave owner, and Onesimus, a runaway slave. Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. Paul demonstrated that true reconciliation is not simply a matter of forgiving and forgetting, but of acknowledging past wrongs and seeking to make things right.
We also see this in the example of the prodigal son in Luke 15. After squandering his inheritance and living a life of sin, the prodigal son returns to his father seeking forgiveness. The father welcomes him back with open arms and celebrates his return. This is a picture of God’s grace and forgiveness, and it also demonstrates the power of reconciliation.
As a church, we must be committed to promoting reconciliation. This means being willing to admit our own faults and seeking forgiveness when we have wronged others. It also means being willing to forgive those who have wronged us and seeking to restore broken relationships. This can be a difficult and uncomfortable process, but it is essential if we are to be a true witness to the world.
In promoting reconciliation, we are following in the footsteps of Christ, who came to reconcile us to God. He demonstrated the ultimate act of reconciliation by giving His life on the cross so that we might be reconciled to God. Let us, therefore, be committed to promoting reconciliation in our church and in our relationships with one another.
In conclusion, let us remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:18, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." As believers, we are called to be agents of reconciliation in a broken and divided world. Let us be faithful to this calling and seek to promote reconciliation in our church and in our relationships with one another.
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1 Comment
I agree that forgiveness is required as a Christ follower. Out of obedience to Christ for his sacrifice on the cross to forgive our sins. However I have studied that reconciliation is not always possible and to maintain peace it is sometimes better to walk away from unhealthy relationships. Forgiveness is a must , but reconciliation is a choice.