Reconciliation is, to use familiar language, making all straight. The term is used, I believe, in money-changing as that which makes the sum even so that there is satisfaction of the parties in the matter. Then it also has the sense of making all smooth between alienated parties, and reconciling one who is alienated or at enmity. But it is not simply the change of mind from the enmity, though that be included; nor is it justification. It is the bringing back to unity, peace, and fellowship what was divided and alienated. There is some confusion in the King James Version between the terms "reconciliation" and "atonement" or "propitiation." In Heb. 2:17, "to make reconciliation for the sins of the people" should read "to make propitiation" or "to make atonement." On the other hand, in Rom. 5:11 it should read, "Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation," rather than "received the atonement."

In 1 Cor. 7:11, "Let her … be reconciled to her husband," it is not merely her mind being restored to affection and good feeling, but matters made straight between them_the relationship made good. So it is between us and God; but the alienation was on our part. It was not alienation on God’s part, but righteous judgment against sin in His creature in order to bring back the alienated creature into relationship with Himself. Only now it is much more than bringing back because of the purposes of God in Christ and the infinite value of the work by which we are brought back to God.

Reconciling God to us is quite unscriptural in expression and thought. Reconciliation is the full establishment of all creation in relationship with God according to His nature and according to the nature of that which is reconciled. There is now redemption, a new nature, and a new state of things, so that reconciliation is more than reestablishment. It is reestablishment inasmuch as the old relationship was broken and forfeited, but it is not returning to the old relationship but the establishing of a new one which has the stability of redemption and is the accomplishment of the purpose of God. Still it is a bringing back into the enjoyment of divine favor those who had lost it.

This reconciliation is twofold in Scripture_that is, a reconciliation of the state of things, and of sinners. Thus in Col. 1:20-22 we read:"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. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." This speaks of the bringing of the whole created scene of heaven and earth into its true order and right relationship with God.

A major passage referring to reconciliation is 2 Cor. 5:18-20, particularly verse 19:"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." The passage states that the apostolic ministry had taken the place of Christ’s personal ministry, founded on the blessed Lord having been made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It is the aspect of Christ’s ministry down here; God was in Him reconciling the world, although man would not have Him. He was proposing to the world a return to God in order and blessing, not imputing their trespasses to them. Lawlessness and ease had both proved men to be sinners. But God was in Christ saying,I am not come to judge:return, and I will forgive; return to God and nothing will be imputed.
In Col. 1, already quoted, we find that it is the purpose of God to bring all things in heaven and earth into the order and condition of right relationship with God. All things were created by the Son and for Him, and all the fulness of the Godhead which dwelt in Him will bring all of creation into a normal state of relationship with Himself. But in addition to this, we are reconciled, Christ being our righteousness and we the righteousness of God in Him. We are, as regards the very nature of God, in our normal place with God according to the efficacy of Christ’s work. Since we are moral beings, a new mind is needed for this, and Christ is our life, perfect according to what He was for God. The believer is reconciled in the body of Christ’s flesh through death (Col. 1:21,22). We are before God with our old rebellious nature entirely put away from His sight. Nothing is wanting to our place and standing in Christ. Our old state is gone; the old man is put off and the new man put on; we are quickened together with Him; we are in Christ before God according to the efficacy of His propitiation and work. Thus is it possible for us to be presented "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col. 1:22).

In Rom. 5:10 reconciliation is attributed to Christ’s death, not to a change of mind in us:"If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son." Note here that the Christian is spoken of as being reconciled. Now it is quite true this does not and cannot take place without a work in man by which peace_that made by Christ_is appropriated, and it cannot take place without faith. The Spirit of Christ works in quickening power in us, makes us know our state, gives new desires, makes us judge our old state, and finally shows us the value of Christ’s death and our standing in Him. It is not that God is changed, but propitiation has been made, and hence, according to righteousness and abounding in love, He can bring back the sinner to Himself. Propitiation is the foundation of reconciliation of the sinner and, in due time, the universe. Therefore the gospel beseeches men to be reconciled to God, to return to Him, in true relationship in Christ who has been made sin for us.

Being reconciled is more than being justified_that is, being authoritatively pronounced righteous by God. It is more than the restoring of the heart to God. It is being with God in joyful and settled relationship with Himself, all being in order between as. There is not an expression more full or more complete, connected with our restoration, than that of our reconciliation with God. It supposes God revealed in all that He is, and man in a perfect place and standing with Him according to this revelation_reconciled to God.

(From Collected Writings, Vol. 10.)