Discussing the Ministry of Reconciliation: 2 Cor. 5:18
Ministry of Reconciliation
Is the ministry of reconciliation about being reconciled to God alone or is there something broader than how I understood the meaning of that phrase?
That was the question I had to ask myself after recording the latest episode of HER Podcast, How to Stop People-Pleasing | Set Healthy Boundaries and Please God with Christian Communicator and Boundaries Coach Tannera Lindvall. During our conversation, Tannera shared how God had spoken to her through His Word about being given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). She shared how she had only ever heard it preached from the standpoint of man being reconciled to God, and that God had used that verse to clarify her own calling to help others be reconciled to one another.
For the sake of us being on the same page as we walk through this topic, I suggest you take a moment to read, 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 which is where we find that we have been “given the ministry of reconciliation.”
As a longtime Bible student, an ex-seminary student, and someone who has sat under several serious Bible teachers and scholars, I needed to better understand the message of reconciliation God has given us. So, I took the journey into God’s Word to study it more deeply.
“…we have now received the reconciliation.”
Romans 5:11
If you found yourself reading this post, I expect it wasn’t by accident. You either already follow my ministry or you’re specifically searching to understand this topic more fully yourself. I say that because both reconcile and reconciliation aren’t common words in our culture today. While I wouldn’t classify them as “Christianese,” they are more likely to be heard in Christian circles than used in the common daily language of our secular world.
Basic Biblical “Reconcile” Information
Since these aren’t common words used in today’s culture, I would like to lay out some basic information that will help us clarify exactly what we are talking about in this topic.
First, let me give you a concise definition for reconciliation I found in one of my study Bible’s notes.
reconcile and reconciliation — the restoration of a fractured relationship.
As I thought about the meaning of these words, it came to mind that their antonyms, divided and division, are much more common in our culture today. Therefore, initially we might do better at understanding division. However, I ask you to hold on to that thought and we will come back to it. For now I want to address the two kinds of reconciliation my Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible gives.
Reconciliation with God through Christ (Luke 15:20; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Peter 3:18)
Reconciliation with men (Matthew 5:24; 18:15; Luke 12:58)
Deeper Lessons From Bible Verses About Reconciliation
Ephesians 2:14-16 says that Christ broke down the dividing wall that once separated Jew and Gentile and created “in Himself one new man from the two; thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” This shows us that God’s reconciliation of people to Himself also impacts divided human relationships.
Then Colossians 1:20 says that “by Him”—by Christ, He reconciled “to Himself all things” on earth and in heaven, that peace was made through His blood sacrifice on the cross.
Division began in the garden as a result of the Fall. All things on earth and in heaven were affected by the result of human sinfulness. All things are now radically affected by the result of Christ’s death on the cross. The question that came to my mind as I read Colossians 1:20 is, “Were heaven and earth initially created and intended to be one?” The little blip of time we get to see after creation and before the Fall suggests the answer is “Yes.” First, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in the garden. Second, the serpent, identified as Satan in Revelation, interacted with them. This also seems to reveal that the natural and spiritual were not divided.
Luke 12:58 is Jesus’ instruction to make every effort to settle with your adversary. Luke 15:20 pictures the beautiful moment when the prodigal son and his father reconciled. All of these Scripture verses point out that the ministry of reconciliation speaks to the human relationship with God and beyond to other relationships.
The Direct Context and Meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:18
I totally get that the context of 2 Corinthians 5:18 is fully grounded in us being reconciled with God and then us being the conduit for others’ reconciliation with God. When we focus our attention on Jesus making us right with God so that we could have a relationship with Him, Hebrews 2:17 shows us Jesus’ sympathetic nature and understanding of the human experience of being separated from God.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:17
Jesus had to experience the division between Him and His Father to sympathize with where our existence is without His intervention. Therefore, Jesus did what He did.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18
So, an absolute “Yes!” to the direct context of the ministry of reconciliation used in 2 Corinthians 5:18. It is one hundred percent about man being reconciled to God. Then we use that gift we receive to bring others the word of reconciliation so they experience the same restored relationship with God. However, as I studied this, I could not deny that based on the whole counsel of Scripture the implication is broader than that clear-cut stance.
God’s Heart for Our Relationship with One Another
Beyond that direct context, but still within the framework of our topic, we can so clearly see God isn’t only interested in our vertical relationship with Him, but also with one another. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus addressed murder and anger with our brother. Right in the heart of that, Jesus said:
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
In other words, God cares so much about our relationships with one another, He would rather see us reconciled with one another before coming to Him in an act of worship. Then Jesus gave us practical instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 on how to deal with a “brother” hurting us in the context of church. The heart of His message is that we do what we can to bring restoration to our broken relationships with one another. And I love that He gives His audience and us a picture of why this is so important. Unity and agreement benefit us by making us much more powerful and effective for God’s kingdom.
Again I say to you that if two or three of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Matthew 18:19-20
Let’s wrap up with two verses addressing one believer being restored by another believer—Galatians 6:1 and James 5:19-20. Both verses speak about someone straying from the truth and becoming entrapped by sin, and both show believers participating in the work of restoration for one another.
My Conclusion:
God has given believers the gift, the privilege, and the responsibility of participating in the ministry of reconciliation. First, as Christ’s ambassadors, we carry the gospel message to share with others that they too can be reconciled to God. And second, we pursue reconciliation with one another in and as the body of Christ.
If you need biblical and practical advice about communicating better in your relationships, listen to the latest podcast with Tannera Lindvall:
🎧 Listen to the HER Podcast: How to Stop People-Pleasing | Set Healthy Boundaries and Please God
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ministry of Reconciliation
What is the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18?
The ministry of reconciliation begins with what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. God reconciles sinful humanity to Himself through Christ and then entrusts believers with the message of reconciliation so that others can also be restored to relationship with Him.
What does reconciliation mean in the Bible?
Reconciliation means the restoration of a fractured relationship. Biblically, we first see this in our relationship with God. Sin separated humanity from God, but through Christ’s death on the cross, we can be reconciled to Him.
Is the ministry of reconciliation only about evangelism?
The direct context of 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 is absolutely about people being reconciled to God through Christ and believers carrying that message to others. However, the whole counsel of Scripture also shows that God cares deeply about reconciliation between people, especially within the body of Christ.
What does the Bible say about reconciliation in broken relationships?
Jesus repeatedly taught His followers to pursue restoration in broken relationships. In Matthew 5:23–24, He instructed a person who remembered that a brother had something against him to seek reconciliation. Matthew 18:15–17 also gives practical instruction for addressing sin and broken relationships among believers.
Does reconciliation with God affect our relationships with other people?
Yes. Ephesians 2:14–16 shows that the work of Christ not only reconciles people to God but also breaks down divisions between people. Being reconciled to God should affect the way we love, forgive, communicate with, and pursue peace with one another.
Are Christians responsible for reconciling every broken relationship?
Believers are responsible for pursuing reconciliation and doing what they can to bring restoration. But reconciliation cannot always be accomplished by one person alone. We can faithfully obey God in how we respond, communicate, forgive, and pursue peace even when another person is unwilling to participate in restoring the relationship.
Why is reconciliation important in the body of Christ?
God desires His people to live in unity. Reconciliation helps restore relationships damaged by sin, offense, anger, and division. When believers pursue peace and restoration with one another, the body of Christ is strengthened and better able to reflect Jesus to the world.
What is our role as Christ’s ambassadors in reconciliation?
Second Corinthians 5:20 calls believers ambassadors for Christ. We carry the gospel message that reconciliation with God is available through Jesus Christ. And as people who have received that reconciliation ourselves, we should also reflect God’s heart for restoration in our relationships with others.
