Reconciliation

This is entirely one-sided in Scripture, never meaning that God has need to be reconciled to us, but we to God (Rom. 5 and 2 Cor. 5). And it is not only that we are reconciled to God, but that this is the active work of God Himself (2 Cor. 5:1919To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)). Reconciliation was effected at the cross of Christ, and is received personally on believing (Rom. 5:1111And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11), lit.). It is a restoration of the creature into the favor and presence of God, and that in righteousness, from which sin had excluded him.