Why do we need salvation? Pt 7: Reconciliation
Romans 5:10 10For 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!
Ephesians 2:13 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:21-23a 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
Isaiah 1:18 18“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Once God’s enemies,
To really grasp the beauty of reconciliation, we need to start by admitting something uncomfortable: We were not neutral toward God before Christ saved us. Paul says it plainly in Romans 5:10—“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!” Being called an “enemy of God” can sound extreme, but it describes the truth of our condition outside of Christ. You see, sin isn’t just about breaking rules. It’s relational. Every act of rebellion against God’s will is essentially saying, “I know better than You.” It’s a declaration of independence. That’s why Paul speaks about being enemies—it’s not necessarily about conscious hatred but about the posture of the heart. Romans 8:7 explains it: “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
Think about human relationships. When there’s betrayal, trust is broken. Even if the offended party still loves, the relationship is damaged. That’s how it was with God and us. Humanity didn’t just wander off; we resisted Him. In Isaiah’s words, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way” (Isaiah 53:6).
Why does Paul stress this so strongly? Because if we downplay the estrangement, we’ll downplay the reconciliation. If you think you just had a few misunderstandings with God, reconciliation won’t seem all that marvelous. But if you realize you were actually at war with Him, then reconciliation becomes staggering. And here’s where grace shines: Reconciliation wasn’t our idea. God took the first step. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We didn’t climb our way back into His favor. He moved toward us while we were still running away.
This truth humbles us. It strips away pride. It also comforts us, because if reconciliation depends on God’s grace rather than our performance, then it’s secure.
We have now been brought near
If Romans shows us our former hostility, Ephesians shows us our former distance. Paul tells the Gentile believers: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). The language here paints a vivid picture. Imagine standing outside a walled city, cut off from its protection and blessings. That’s where we were before Christ—on the outside.
Paul describes this further in the previous verses: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Being far away wasn’t just about geography—it was about exclusion. To be distant from God is to be without hope. But notice the good news: “But now.” That little phrase changes everything. Through the blood of Christ, we’ve been brought near. No longer excluded, no longer strangers—we’re citizens, members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19).
This nearness isn’t abstract; it’s personal. We can now approach God directly. The temple veil, once a barrier, has been torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). That means intimacy. Prayer is not shouting across a chasm but speaking to a Father who is near. Hebrews 10:19–22 puts it beautifully: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
Practically, this means reconciliation with God brings us into relationship, not just forgiveness. Too many believers think of salvation as merely a legal transaction. It is that, but it’s more. It’s an invitation to fellowship. Being brought near means we can live in God’s presence daily. It changes how we pray, how we worship, how we walk through trials. We are never truly alone.
And because reconciliation brings us near to God, it also brings us near to each other. In Ephesians 2, Paul isn’t just talking about individuals—he’s talking about Jews and Gentiles being reconciled into one body. So reconciliation with God breaks down human barriers as well. If we are all brought near by the same blood, there is no room for pride, prejudice, or division.
And been made holy
Paul takes reconciliation even further in Colossians 1:21–22: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Notice the movement: from alienation to holiness. Reconciliation doesn’t just mean God stops being angry with us. It means He transforms us. Holiness is not an optional add-on, it’s the goal. God doesn’t reconcile us to leave us as we are; He reconciles us to present us holy.
Think of the Old Testament sacrifices. Only unblemished animals could be offered to God (Leviticus 22:21). That imagery is now applied to us. Because of Christ, we are seen as “without blemish.” This isn’t because we suddenly became perfect in our behavior. It’s because Christ’s righteousness has been credited to us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
“Free from accusation” is courtroom language. The devil is called “the accuser of the brothers and sisters” in Revelation 12:10. He delights in pointing out our failures. But in Christ, no accusation can stick. Paul asks in Romans 8:33, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” The gavel has fallen, and the verdict is final: not guilty.
This truth has powerful implications for daily life. Many Christians struggle with guilt and shame. Even after being forgiven, we replay past sins in our minds. But reconciliation means we can silence those accusations. God doesn’t just forgive reluctantly; He declares us holy in His sight. That gives us the freedom to live joyfully, without being chained to the past. It also calls us to live differently. If God has made us holy, then we are to live holy lives. Paul urges believers in Ephesians 4:1 to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Reconciliation gives us both the new identity and the motivation to pursue holiness.
Because all of our sins have been washed away.
Isaiah 1:18 gives us one of the most beautiful promises of reconciliation: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Here, God Himself invites His people to reason with Him. He doesn’t dismiss sin as unimportant. He doesn’t tell us to hide it. Instead, He confronts it and then promises cleansing. The imagery is powerful: scarlet and crimson were deep, lasting dyes—difficult to remove. That’s what sin is like. It stains. It sticks. It ruins what was once pure.
But reconciliation means those stains are washed away. Not covered up, not minimized—removed. Psalm 51:7 says, “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” That’s not poetic exaggeration; it’s a promise rooted in God’s character. When He forgives, He forgives completely. Micah 7:19 puts it this way: “You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
This cleansing is what makes reconciliation possible. If sin still clung to us, we could never be brought near, never be made holy, never be at peace with God. But because of Christ’s blood, the record is wiped clean. 1 John 1:7 assures us: “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Not some sins. Not only the “small ones.” All sin. Practically, this truth sets us free from living in constant fear of condemnation. Some believers feel like God is always keeping score, ready to bring up their failures. But reconciliation means the ledger has been wiped clean. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That’s the joy of the gospel.
And because our sins are washed away, reconciliation also empowers us to forgive others. When we realize how much we’ve been forgiven, we can extend forgiveness even to those who have wronged us deeply. Paul ties these together in Colossians 3:13: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Reconciliation with God creates reconciliation with others.
What about me?
To say, “We have been reconciled with God” is to summarize the heart of the gospel. We were once God’s enemies, alienated and far away. But through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been brought near. We have been declared holy, free from accusation, because all our sins have been washed away.
Reconciliation isn’t just a change in our legal status—it’s the restoration of relationship, intimacy, and identity. It gives us peace with God (Romans 5:1). It gives us hope for eternity (Romans 5:2). It gives us purpose in the present (2 Corinthians 5:18–19). And it assures us that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38–39).
This reconciliation is not fragile or tentative. It is anchored in the finished work of Christ. Because of that, we can live with confidence, joy, and freedom. And we are called to share this message of reconciliation with others: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
The scarlet stains are gone. The distance has been closed. The hostility has been ended. We are reconciled—forever—because of Jesus.