Prodigal Humanity

Recently somebody on Facebook posted this question:

Hi Steve. What is your 'breakdown' of the word Reconciliation? When we were reconciled to the Father, what did that encompass?

I guess what I'm asking is; what words (do you believe) are included under the Reconciliation banner? (e.g. forgiveness, redemption, salvation, righteousness etc.).

Thanks Steve. I appreciate you.

My response:

 Good question, Grant. Maybe this illustration will provide the best answer I know how to give: When the prodigal son (Luke 15) was in the far country, who had the problem? It wasn't his father. It was him. He needed to be reconciled to his father. The father's heart toward him had never changed at all but he *believed* his father's heart had changed. In fact, one might say that he was "alienated in (his) mind" (Col 1:21).

When was he reconciled to his father? The Bible says that he came home to his father with a prepared speech about how he badly he had sinned and that, if his father would just accept him, he would become his lifelong servant. (See Luke 15:18-19)

But when he actually got there, the father wouldn't even listen to the speech. Instead, he fell on his son, hugging him. Was the son reconciled to his father then? YES! Did he know it? No, because he still tried to give his silly, "I'm sorry. I'll do better" speech.

His father would *not* let the boy give that speech. He shouted over his son's attempt, 'Bring out new shoes! Put a ring on his finger! Prepare the steaks for a big barbeque! We're gonna party like it's 99!"

So the boy was reconciled to his father, but he hadn't yet accepted it, so he benefited nothing at this point. Despite the fact that it was "finished" as far as the father was concerned, the son had to accept/believe/receive in what his father had done. Namely, forgiven him, embraced him, and totally accepted him.

Because we know how the story progresses, we understand that there did come a moment when the son *did* accept his father's acceptance. He gave up the silly notion that he had to do something to get back into his father's favor. He finally simply *melted in his father's love and accepted his (the father's) acceptance.*

The Bible says that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not counting their trespasses against them" Was He simply making it possible for the world to be reconciled or was He actually *reconciling* the world to Himself? Of course, it's the latter.

We have all been reconciled to the Father by the finished work of Christ. We are "in the hug" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

However, nobody can personally experience/enjoy that reconciliation without believing/receiving it. That's why the Bible goes on to say (after telling us that God was reconciling us all in Christ) that we are to appeal to people to "be reconciled to God!" In other words, stop resisting your Father's hug and stop trying to impress Him with promises about how you're going to do better. Just stop and melt in His loving embrace! Accept His acceptance! THAT is when reconciliation is what our God intends for it to be.

There's nothing left for Him to do. He HAS reconciled us all to Himself. Now we appeal to unbelievers to "be reconciled" to Him by simply accepting the truth about the matter, namely that we are all "accepted in the Beloved" (Jesus).

What comes with reconciliation? The same thing that came to that younger son in Luke 15. The whole farm. But, as the older brother showed us, it means nothing unless you know it's yours, stop struggling to prove something or earn something and just enjoy what has been yours all along.