The Ministry of Reconciliation
What Is the Ministry of Reconciliation?
When we ask the question, what is the Ministry of Reconciliation we should start by looking at what the word reconciliation means? Most people see reconciliation as something that is done by Christ on behalf of the Church. While this is true, most people do not understand that the reconciliation process starts with you. The idea of reconciliation acknowledges the fact that there is a separation between two or more parties and God has declared that our sins have separated us from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2), so we need to be reconciled back to God.
59 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11
Reconciliation is not a New Testament Concept
Many people believe that Reconciliation is a New Testament concept, however reconciliation was always the duty of Christ. The atonement process was different in that the process during the Old Testament era was done using the blood of animals whereas the shedding of the blood of Christ took the place of the animal sacrifices. Let us not forget that Christ was there in the beginning, creating all things both visible as well as invisible (Colossians 1:16). Therefore, even before he walked on earth, reconciliation was done through him.
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.- 2 Corinthians 5:18-21New International Version (NIV)
The Process of Being Reconciled
Since we must be reconciled because we are separated by sin, it should go without saying that knowing and keeping the Law is 
mandatory. How do we know sin unless the Law told us what we should and should not do? It is through the Law that we know what pleases the Father. It is only by the Law that we accept Christ (Deut 18:15-18). In order to have reconciliation, we must accept Christ and all of his teachings and repent from our sins. We cannot repent unless we are taught the Law, therefore, only those that are in the true Church can be reconciled.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Teaching the Law through Reconciliation
We must learn to teach the Law through the process of reconciliation (repentance) to those non-believers who reject the Law. We must continue to remind them that the Law does not save us and it never did, but it was and still is used to show us our sins so that we can be made right with the Father. When we recognize that what we are doing is wrong according to the Law of God, only then can we repent and be reconciled with the Father.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 2:9
Repent!
God wants us to be humble enough to acknowledge when we are in the wrong, rather than trying to cover it up. When we come to Him with honesty it shows integrity. When we are honest about our shortcomings, and repent fully, it releases God’s grace in our lives. This grace only comes after we do what is right according to the Law. Therefore, the Law and Grace work hand in hand.
