What was God doing in Christ on the cross?
God was in Christ on the cross reconciling the whole world unto Himself—not a few only—and not imputing their trespasses unto them. The work of the cross was the reconciling of the whole world, taking parties alienated and at odds and bringing them back into fellowship.
Les explains that reconciliation means taking two parties that have been alienated and are at odds with one another and bringing them back into fellowship. The world is set aside from God, at odds with Him, and enemies of God, yet God has done everything possible to reconcile them to Himself. Les points out that God was in Christ when He hung on that cross, reconciling the whole world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and committing unto us this word of reconciliation. As such, we are ambassadors to carry out God's bidding while in foreign territory. Les emphasizes that the work of the cross was the reconciling of the whole world; Christ tasted death for every man, not just the few believers, but for the whole human race.
To 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.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;