Tag: reconcile

More Than Sorry

The Profound Gift Of Propitiation

Brent Pollard

Consider a scenario in which you accidentally crash your friend’s car, causing him to become upset. You could apologize and offer him your vehicle to make things right, hoping to repair your friendship. This overture is similar to what the term “propitiation” means but on a much broader scale.

Imagine God as a close friend and ourselves as those who have made a mistake. Sometimes, we may do something wrong, which creates a gap between us and God, much like when friends become angry. However, what is remarkable is that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to solve this problem. He didn’t do this by giving something to God but by becoming the solution Himself (John 3.16; 1 John 4.10).

Jesus never committed any wrong, yet He willingly chose to take the punishment meant for us and expressed the most heartfelt apology for everything that anyone has done or will do. It was more than just saying sorry; it was about reconciling our relationship with God. This outcome is what we mean by “propitiation”: Jesus took our place to restore our relationship with God (Romans 3.23–25, 1 John 2.2).

Let’s go back to the car story. If you accidentally damaged your friend’s car, you could try to compensate for it by fixing or compensating him. But what if your friend said, “It’s alright, I forgive you, and let’s work together to repair the car”? This response is similar to what God did for us but on a much grander scale. God did not only forgive us, but He also made it possible for Jesus to reconcile us to Him. By doing this, He demonstrated His immense love for us, even though we continue to make mistakes (Romans 5.8).

Thanks to Jesus, God doesn’t hold our mistakes against us. He welcomes us with open arms as if nothing ever happened. This result is not because we fixed things ourselves but because Jesus did (Colossians 1.19–22). We can again be close to God and be His friends because Jesus has made things right between us and Him.

So, “propitiation” is a complex word that describes how Jesus helped restore our friendship with God by taking our place, even though He was innocent. It shows how much God loves us and wants us to return to Him despite our sins (Romans 5.10–11; 1 John 4.10). 

When we understand the concept of propitiation, we realize that Jesus willingly bore the weight of our sins on the cross. His sacrifice satisfied God’s righteous anger and justice, ensuring God’s reconciliation with us. Our past mistakes no longer define us, but by the grace and forgiveness God extends to us through Jesus. It is a testament to God’s boundless love for us, allowing us to turn away from our sins and forge a close relationship with him again.

From Hostility to Harmony:

Exploring the true meaning of “peace on earth”

Brent Pollard

During the holiday season, we often focus on the concept of peace. It’s an important theme in holiday music, especially in a world where conflict is all too common. Indeed, such songs oft remind us about Christ as the “Prince of Peace” and the promise of peace on earth (see Isaiah 9.6; Luke 2.8-14). However, Christ’s peace is more than just the absence of conflict. It is a complex concept with many facets deeply entwined with man’s greatest need: salvation from sin.

Christianity holds that real peace requires reconciliation with God through Christ. This true peace is the primary reason Christ put on the robes of flesh. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to achieve peace with God, according to Paul in Romans 5:1. As explained in Romans 5.8 and 5.10, this peace aids in the resolution of the inner conflict of guilt caused by sin. Humanity became estranged from God in the Garden of Eden, but we can return to divine harmony through Christ’s incarnation. Upon Christ’s birth, the angels declared to mankind that He was extending an olive branch to humanity. Note: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2,14 KJV).

Beyond reconciling with God, Christ’s peace, once received, permeates our inner being. In Philippians 4.6-7, Paul describes this peace as “beyond all understanding,” a calm that guards our hearts and minds regardless of life’s ups and downs. This inner peace is more than just a temporary state of calm; it is a profound sense of stability and contentment that stems from a close relationship with God. To achieve this peace, we must engage in consistent prayer and gratitude and live according to Christ’s teachings and examples.

As we embody Christ’s teachings, our relationship with others will change. Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5.43–48) and to live by the Golden Rule (Luke 6.31). These teachings challenge us to work for peace in our communities by actively showing love and empathy to others, not just tolerating them. His teachings remind us to live peaceably among men (Romans 12.18). Although the world is far from perfect, Christians can help to create a more peaceful society by living these principles. The message is clear: peace between men starts with each of us.

Christ is the source of the all-encompassing peace that Isaiah foretold, which the New Testament made manifest. It encompasses achieving a state of reconciliation with God, experiencing inner serenity, and fostering harmonious relationships within society. As followers of the Prince of Peace, let us embrace and share this multi-faceted peace this holiday season and beyond.