To be reconciled to God means being brought out of the position of an enemy and into peace, fellowship, and sonship with God through the death of Jesus Christ.
Scripture shows that the unsaved person has a carnal mind that is enmity against God, but God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Les Feldick emphasizes that the work of the cross has already made reconciliation possible, and when a person believes it, God reckons them as reconciled. The enmity is gone, and the believer is no longer an outcast but a child of God.
Romans 5:10 — This verse directly states that enemies are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, making it the core answer to the question.
2 Corinthians 5:19 — This verse reveals the scope of reconciliation: God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
Romans 8:7 — It explains why reconciliation is necessary: the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to His law.
The Bible describes the unsaved person as an enemy of God. Paul writes in Romans 8:7, 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' Romans 5:10 then explains what reconciliation means: 'For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.' Second Corinthians 5 reveals both the scope and the result of reconciliation. Verse 19 says, '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.' Verse 17 says that the reconciled person is a new creation: 'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' Scripture also ties reconciliation to a commission: 'And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18), and Paul pleads, 'be ye reconciled to God' (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Les Feldick teaches that people do not realize they are enemies of God until they become believers. He points to Romans 8:7, where the carnal mind of the unsaved, unregenerate person is called enmity against God and is not subject to His law. Reconciliation, he explains, is taking two parties that have been alienated and at odds and bringing them back into fellowship. He compares it to redemption, since both involve bringing someone back to God at a price. Les emphasizes that God was in Christ reconciling the world, not just a few believers. Christ died and paid the sin debt for every human being, so no one will ever be able to say God did not supply their need. Because the work of the cross is finished, believers can tell a lost world, 'be ye reconciled to God.' The world has already been reconciled; the individual must believe it so God will reckon them as reconciled. At the moment of salvation, Les says, the sinner makes peace with God. The enmity is gone, he is no longer an outcast, and he becomes God's child. But reconciliation does not stop with salvation: God gives every believer the ministry of reconciliation.
Yes. Romans 8:7 says, 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' Romans 5:10 also speaks of 'when we were enemies' and says we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. This is why reconciliation is necessary: the unsaved person is not neutral toward God, but is at enmity with Him.
Les Feldick explains that reconciliation is taking two parties who have been alienated and at odds with one another and bringing them back into fellowship. He compares it to redemption: redemption is buying back something you have lost control of, and reconciliation is bringing estranged parties back together. This is what God wants to do with the whole human race.
Les Feldick stresses the language of 2 Corinthians 5:19: 'God was in Christ reconciling the world.' He says God was not reconciling just the few believers, but the world. He maintains that when Christ died, He paid the sin debt for every human being that has ever lived, so no one can say that God did not supply their need.
Les teaches that when Christ died, reconciliation was made possible. The ministry of reconciliation tells a lost world, 'be ye reconciled to God.' The work is already accomplished; the response is to believe it, and God will reckon you as reconciled. At that point the sinner makes peace with God, the enmity is gone, and he is no longer an outcast but a child of God.
According to Les Feldick, when God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, He did not stop there. He gave believers the ministry of reconciliation. Believers are to tell a lost world that they have already been reconciled by the work of the cross and that God is calling them to be reconciled to Him.
Les Feldick says that when you take God's offer of salvation, you make peace with God. That is reconciliation: the sinner who was separated from God is reconciled through the work of the cross, the enmity is removed, and he becomes His child. The 'peace of God' is a different experience that can fill the believer's heart in daily life, though it is not the same as the peace with God made at salvation.
The Unsaved Are Enemies of God
Les uses Romans 8:7 to show that the unsaved person's carnal mind is enmity against God, so until a person believes, they are on the enemy side.
Reconciliation Brings Estranged Parties Together
Les compares reconciliation to redemption and explains that God reconciled us through the work of the cross, then gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Reconciliation Is Like Redemption
Les describes reconciliation as bringing two separated parties back into full fellowship, which is what God desires for the whole human race.
God Reconciled the World
Les defines reconciliation as bringing alienated parties back into fellowship and stresses that God was in Christ reconciling the world, not a select few.
Christ Paid the Sin Debt for Every Human Being
Les maintains that God was in Christ reconciling the world and that Christ's death paid the sin debt for every person, so no one lacks God's provision.
Believe It and God Reckons You Reconciled
Les says Christ's death made reconciliation possible; believers can tell the lost world it is accomplished and that believing causes God to reckon them as reconciled.
Peace with God Begins at Reconciliation
Les explains that the moment a sinner is reconciled through the cross, they make peace with God, lose the enmity, and become His child.
New Creation and the Ministry of Reconciliation
Les connects being in Christ as a new creation with the fact that God reconciled us and then gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
This is the central verse showing that reconciliation turns enemies into saved people through Christ's death.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Sets up the contrast between the carnal mind and the spiritual mind that comes with reconciliation.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Explains why unsaved people are enemies of God and why reconciliation is necessary.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Describes the result of reconciliation: the believer is a new creation in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Shows that God is the source of reconciliation and that it comes with a ministry.
2 Corinthians 5:19: 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.
Reveals that God's reconciling work in Christ was directed at the whole world.
2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
The resulting plea to a lost world to receive the reconciliation Christ accomplished.
Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Distinguishes the peace of God experienced in daily life from the peace with God made at reconciliation.
Yes. Les Feldick points to Romans 8:7, which says the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law. Until a person believes, they are on the enemy side, even if they claim they have no problem with God.
Les teaches that God was in Christ reconciling the world, not just a few believers, and that Christ died for every human being. The work of reconciliation is already done; each person must believe it so God reckons them as reconciled.
The enmity is gone. Les says the person makes peace with God, is no longer an outcast, and becomes His child. God also gives that person the ministry of reconciliation.
After reconciling us, God gave believers the ministry of telling a lost world, 'be ye reconciled to God.' Les says believers can declare that the world has already been reconciled; the only remaining issue is belief.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Adam's Sin Affect All of Us? Romans 5:10-14