At One with God

“Hang him.” That’s the pressure General Douglas MacArthur faced from Washington over what to do with Japan’s Emperor Hirohito for war crimes committed during World War II. But when MacArthur saw the total collapse of a nation that revered its divine leader, he concluded that revenge was not justice. Instead, he used his power of influence to walk down the path of reconciliation. History affirms that the rebuilding of this war-torn nation was a triumph.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God had every right to let them die, but instead He took the initiative to reconcile the world to Himself. The Lord did not walk away from Adam and Eve, but actually pursued them in the garden (Genesis 3:9). Sinners are reconciled to God, not God to sinners.

The plan to lead people back to God came through Jesus Christ. “If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). The word “atonement” captures this coming together and means to be “at one” in a relationship that has been estranged.

Christ’s gift to us goes beyond paying the penalty for our sins. Jesus certainly died as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The sanctuary service affirms the necessity of killing a sacrificial lamb. But it also reveals the intercessory ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, where the benefits of His perfect sacrifice deepen our reconciliation with God.

Jesus’ atonement was not only carried out for us, but transforms us from within to make us new in Christ. Reconciliation is not just a way to escape punishment, but to rebuild our lives into the image of our Creator. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Apply It:

Are you estranged from someone to whom you need to be reconciled? Pray for God’s power to lead the way to peace.

Dig Deeper:

Leviticus 4:26; Ephesians 1:19–23; Hebrews 9:22

Key Bible Texts

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. (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV)