The ministry of reconciliation is the God-given responsibility of every reconciled believer to tell others that God has done everything needed to reconcile them to Himself through the work of the cross.
Scripture says God "hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" after He reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). Les Feldick teaches that when God saves a person, He also gives that believer a ministry to tell others who are still at odds with God that the work of the cross has already done everything necessary for reconciliation. This ministry belongs to believers living as ambassadors in a world that has not yet been reconciled in experience.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 — These verses define the ministry of reconciliation and the reconciling work of God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — This verse explains the believer's role as an ambassador carrying the word of reconciliation.
Second Corinthians 5:18 says, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." The next verse adds, "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 20 continues, "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." Together these verses show that God performed the reconciling work through Christ and then gave the message of that reconciliation to His people to share with the world.
Les Feldick explains that reconciliation means taking two parties that have been alienated and bringing them back into fellowship. He says it is a next of kin to redemption because redemption is the process of buying something back with a price, and that is what God did for the human race through the cross. When God reconciled believers to Himself through Jesus Christ, He did not stop there—He also gave every believer a ministry of reconciliation. Les says that as God gives opportunity, believers must be ready to tell a person who is still wrapped in Satan's web that God has done everything needed to set them free and reconcile them to Himself. He emphasizes that the work of the cross reconciled the whole world, not just a few believers, because Christ tasted death for every man, yet this does not mean everyone is automatically saved.
Les Feldick teaches that reconciliation and redemption are next of kin. Redemption means losing control of something and having to buy it back with a price, while reconciliation means bringing two estranged parties back together into fellowship. In the cross, God did both: He paid the price for sin and brought the world back to a place where it can be reconciled to Him. Scripture says God "hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ," showing that this work was accomplished through Christ's payment.
Every believer who has been reconciled to God has also been given the ministry of reconciliation. Les says God gave us a ministry when He gave us salvation, and He expects all of us to participate. This is not about knocking on doors or grabbing people by the shirt collar; instead, as God gives opportunity, believers should be ready to tell the person who is at odds with God that God has already done everything needed to reconcile them to Himself.
Scripture says God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. Les emphasizes that the work of the cross reconciled the whole world, not just a handful of believers. He points out that Christ tasted death for every man. However, Les is careful to say that this does not mean everyone will be saved; it means God has done everything possible on His part, and individuals respond by faith.
Because God has committed the word of reconciliation to believers, they are ambassadors for Christ. Les says that while we are citizens of heaven living on earth, we are in foreign territory and are to carry out God's bidding. Being an ambassador means representing Christ and sharing the message that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the cross.
How Are We Reconciled to God? 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Explained
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now that's a blanket statement, you can't overcome it any other way but by believing the Gospel. Now verse 24, being justified freely by His grace, not by anything we do, but by God's grace we are justified through the redemption, or that process of paying the price and buying something back that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a pr…
Reconciliation Defined as Being Bought Back
Les ties reconciliation to redemption, explaining that God reconciled believers to Himself through the cross and then gave them a ministry.
The Believer's Role in Reconciliation
When God gives opportunity, a reconciled believer is to tell someone trapped in Satan's web that God has already done everything needed to reconcile them to Himself.
The Ministry Given to the Gentiles
Les shows that the ministry of reconciliation is given to believers, quoting 2 Corinthians 5:18.
Reconciliation Defined
Les defines reconciliation as bringing two alienated parties back into fellowship and says God has done everything possible to reconcile the world to Himself.
Reconciliation and Redemption Compared
Les explains that reconciliation and redemption are similar because both involve being brought back and paid for with a price.
Heavenly Citizens as Ministers of Reconciliation
Les emphasizes that once God reconciles a person, He turns around and gives that person the ministry of reconciliation.
The Cross Reconciled the Whole World
Les says the work of the cross reconciled the whole world and Christ tasted death for every man, and believers are ambassadors carrying the word of reconciliation.
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.
This verse shows that the reconciled believer is a new creation, which is the basis for receiving the ministry of reconciliation.
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;
This is the primary verse that names the ministry of reconciliation and connects it to God's reconciling work.
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.
This verse explains what God accomplished in Christ and why the word of reconciliation is committed to believers.
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.
This verse shows that the ministry of reconciliation is carried out by believers acting as Christ's ambassadors.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that when God reconciles a person to Himself, He also gives that person a ministry. Every believer has been given the ministry of reconciliation and is to use it as God gives opportunity (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Reconciliation is bringing two parties that have been alienated back into fellowship. In the Bible, God reconciles the world to Himself through Christ, not imputing their trespasses to them (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Scripture says God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and Les says Christ tasted death for every man. However, this does not mean everyone is automatically saved; it means God has done everything needed to reconcile those who believe.
Watch the Teaching: How Are We Reconciled to God? 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Explained