Jesus came to reconcile mankind to God. As Christians, we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. We share the good news of Christ and carry the message of what He has done for us. This message extends beyond mere words; as believers in Christ, we also live in this same spirit. What spirit? It is the spirit of Christ, demonstrated by living in a way that showcases reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). This means our lives are guided by God’s will, and we do not allow earthly conflicts to dictate our actions. Instead, we are ready and willing to be reconciled.
Consider Matthew 5:23-24: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
As Christians, we recognize that the gospel is about reconciliation between God and mankind, and when we come to worship, this is what we celebrate. However, if we come to worship unwilling to reconcile, can we truly say we are celebrating? Have we genuinely understood the gospel? This process is part of our dying to self. When Jesus died for us, He did not wait for us to get our lives in order; He trusted the work of the Spirit to convict us of sin and righteousness (John 16:8). Jesus looked at the people who crucified Him and said to the Father, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they do.” Imagine if we adopted this same attitude. I propose that we would be living gospel-centered lives.
Does this mean we are called to be doormats? No. Scripture provides guidance for confronting sin, as seen in Matthew 18:15-20, but the goal of any confrontation should be reconciliation. We have been forgiven much; therefore, let us forgive and exercise patience, because God has been patient with us. To God be the glory!
I heard that the church is to be more like a Hospital and less like a
Hospice. A hospital is a place where people go for healing. A hospice is place where people go to die. I want healing so I can keep on living for Christ.
The understanding that everyone can be forgiven from sin and transformed through faith in Christ has changed how you may regard every other person on earth. The primary concern, now, is whether another person is in Christ or still in their sin? Are they reconciled to God through faith in Jesus or not? That being said this is not about deeming people “good” or “bad” on account of their faith. Rather, it reflects deep desire to see people saved through faith. Not Just About “Good” People.
The concept of discipleship extends to everyone, regardless of their perceived moral standing. The focus is on helping people to change and grow, not on judging them. This principle applies to all areas of life. Jesus encourages us to prioritize reconciliation and forgiveness in our relationships with others. Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Luke 17:3-4: “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times comes back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened, but rather choosing to release the offender from the debt they owe you and not holding their wrong against them. Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my dear ones, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord.” I think if I was that person , I would be more afraid of God’s “Vengeance” rather than my own. Moral is forgive and let God do the dirty heavy lifting.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Imagine standing in front of God and hearing Him say, “ Your sins are not forgiven, because you refused to forgive ______(insert person here). According to Matthew 6:14-15, this could happen to any of us. Think about the people in your life who have done you wrong. Have you truly forgiven them? Pride is a dangerous thing. They don’t deserve your forgiveness, but we don’t deserve God’s.