Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Reconciled To God.


1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81) Watchman, What of the Night.

p 5 -- THE GOSPEL IN THE LIGHT OF THE ATONEMENT -- Now having talked about the Atonement - God's atonement with man, and man's atonement with God - what is the Gospel, the good news about our redemption?

In the KJV of the New Testament, the word, atonement, is used only once. In Romans 5:11, it reads - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

The word translated - "atonement" - is the Greek word katallage (katallagh), which means reconciliation. This word is used only by Paul in the New Testament; and by Paul only in Romans, and his letters to the Corinthians.

In II Cor. 5:18-20, Paul sets forth this reconciliation - this atonement and indicates that God has committed to us "the ministry of reconciliation." The message to be given is - "Be ye reconciled to God."

2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 
2Co 5:19  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. 
2Co 5:20  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. 

God by the Cross has been reconciled to man, but now man must be reconciled to God. The good news is that God can still be just; and yet the justifier of those who believe on Jesus. The story of that reconciliation and how it is to be attained on the part of man, and how it will be achieved is to be found in the message of the Sanctuary for the way of God is in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)

This, too, is good news - the Gospel. To mitigate it, to deny it, is to preach an incomplete and partial gospel - another gospel.


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