Reconciled Enemies

Colossians 1:20-23, 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. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The word “reconcile” is one of five key words in the NT to describe salvation in Jesus Christ- Justification, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, and reconciliation. 

John MacArthur says,

In Justification- the sinner stands before God Guilty and condemned, but is declared righteous.

In Redemption- the sinner stands before God enslaved, but is granted freedom.

In Forgiveness- the sinner stands before God as a debtor, but the debt is paid and forgiven.

In Adoption- the sinner stands before God as a stranger, but is made a Son.

In Reconciliation- the sinner stands before God as an enemy, but becomes His friend.

It is this word “reconcile” that the passage talks about. The word means “change” or “exchange.”

Romans 5:10, For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  (19) That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. (20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."

When the Bible speaks of reconciliation, it speaks of people being changed from enemies of God to at peace with God. The sinner is completely and totally reconciled to God. We are reconciled enemies!