PREACHER:REV. SETH KISSI
We look at reconciliation as an ingredient used to help
maintain unity of the spirit. Paul
recounted how sacrifices were done; a lamb or a pigeon was used depending on one’s
economic class. The priest usually examined them to see if they were fitting
for the sacrifice. If they were, they sacrificed them and plead on your behalf
for the forgiveness and restoration of fellowship with him.
Before Christ’s coming, the responsibility of making peace
with God rested somehow with the sinner. S/He was supposed to provide for the
victim of the sacrifice and have the sacrifice performed on his behalf so that
God will forgive his sins on the basis of the offering .In our world today we
follow a similar pattern of forgiveness. A case between some people of the same
family, community, et.c. After settling the case, the guilty would be asked to
plead for forgiveness to pacify the brother s/he has offended. Paul was the
only apostle that used the Greek word translated as reconciliation in the
bible. God reconciled us to himself. Though we might have offended him, he does
not wait for us to take the initiative or provide but initiates the process and
makes available the victim of the sacrifice ensuring, sinful humanity is
reconciled to him. (v.18)God made Jesus the sacrifice of sin though he knew no
sin.(v.21, MHB 115:2)
John calls Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of
the world. He bore the cost and provided the priceless sacrifice to those that
had offended him. God uses us as Ambassadors and appeals to us the offended
party, as such a unique paradigm that our world has not known (v.20). The
responsibility to make peace which is something divine is placed on the less
matured/spiritual person, a sign of weakness in our paradigm. in this instance,
God paid the price for sinful humanity to be restored to him.
If we realize we also offend people, we would see much more
sense in this type of reconciliation and we would work towards it. If we want
to maintain the unity of the spirit, let us follow in the footsteps of God and
not wait for offenders to come but taking the right steps to ensure peace.
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