Justification and Reconciliation Freely Given

By David R. Ferguson 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 [MEV])     I’ve always heard it preached and taught that justification and reconciliation both occurred at the point of salvation, and for many years I believed this was true. But as the Apostle Paul says, “Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 [MEV]). Upon some further studying of my own, I have arrived at a different conclusion. Just as the grace of God is given to everyone unconditionally, so, too, it seems that justification and reconciliation are given to everyone unconditionally. But that doesn't mean that everyone is saved. We confuse grace with mercy all too often. Mercy is conditioned upon our willingness to come to God on His terms. Grace, however, is unconditional, and this can be seen in the following verse, as well as in Ephesians 2:8-9. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 [MEV]).     Just as God's grace and gift of His Son were given to us unconditionally while we were yet sinners, we also are justified and reconciled because of this gift. This seems to be brought out by Paul in the next verses. 9 How much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. 11 Furthermore, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:9-11 [MEV])     Paul says outright that we were reconciled by the death of Jesus Christ, and this occurred while we were still enemies of God. It was when Jesus shed His blood that Paul says we were justified. We shall be saved (future tense) by His life. We only put on Christ at baptism (Galatians 3:27), and it’s at this point that we receive the mercy of God, something that is conditional, and the forgiveness of sins. I know first-hand that these are difficult concepts for members of the church of Christ to grasp, but I believe they are true, nonetheless. God said it, I believe it, and that settles it. And this is something for which all of us who have been born again in Christ should be grateful, not only in this life, but throughout eternity as well! May God bless you and your family!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com