Yes, reconciliation is necessary because sin has separated humanity from God, and only through Christ's finished work can that separation be bridged.
Les Feldick teaches that the world is at odds with God and enemies of Him due to sin. God, being holy and righteous, cannot ignore sin, so He took the initiative through the cross to reconcile fallen humanity back to Himself. This reconciliation was accomplished for everyone, but it must be believed to be personally effective.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 — These verses directly state that God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
The Bible teaches that sin has separated humanity from God, and that God has acted to remove that separation. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Paul writes, 'And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.' This shows that God initiated reconciliation through Christ, and it is offered to the whole world. Furthermore, Romans 5 teaches that through one man's sin, death and condemnation came upon all, but through Christ's righteousness, the free gift of justification comes to all. The passage explains that even as sin reigned unto death, grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:18-19). This underscores the necessity of reconciliation because all are under condemnation due to Adam's sin.
Les Feldick emphasizes that reconciliation is necessary because mankind is fallen and at enmity with God. He explains that from the beginning, God created man to love and respond to His love, but man became a rebel and created a catastrophe on the planet. Consequently, the world is set aside from God, at odds with Him, and enemies of Him. Les teaches that God, being holy and righteous, cannot go against His own principles; therefore, He had to do something to reconcile fallen man back to Himself. That something was the finished work of the cross. God did not spare His Son so that He could purchase mankind back to Himself. All of God's actions on our behalf are based on that finished work. Crucially, Les stresses that reconciliation was accomplished for every human being who has ever lived. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. God has done everything possible to make it simple for lost humanity to come back to Him. Reconciliation is already accomplished; all a person has to do is believe it and appropriate it. God will have every right to pour out His wrath on those who reject this provided reconciliation.
According to Les Feldick, God did everything necessary to bring fallen men back to Himself. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the whole world. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:19. This was not limited to a few believers but was for everyone. God paid the sin debt for every human being that has ever lived, so that no one can say that God did not supply their need.
Les Feldick explains that reconciliation and redemption are similar. Redemption involves buying back something over which you have lost control. Reconciliation involves bringing two parties who have been alienated and at odds back into fellowship. Both were accomplished by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Les Feldick teaches that since God has done everything possible to make reconciliation available, He will have every right to judge the world. Those who do not believe and appropriate what God has done will face His wrath. Even religious people, like Saul of Tarsus, are sinners in need of reconciliation.
Reconciliation Accomplished for Every Person
Les explains that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and that reconciliation is a word describing our relationship with God as believers, accomplished by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Reconciliation Like Redemption
Les describes reconciliation as bringing alienated parties back into fellowship, similar to redemption, and emphasizes that God has already reconciled the whole human race.
God's Right to Judge
Les says that because God has done everything possible to reconcile lost humanity, He will have every right to pour out His wrath on those who do not believe.
World Alienated from God
Les defines reconciliation as taking two parties that are alienated and at odds and bringing them back into fellowship, noting that the world is set aside from God and enemies of Him.
God in Christ Reconciling the World
Les emphasizes that God was in Christ reconciling the world, not just believers, and that Christ paid the sin debt for every human being, so no one will be able to say God didn't supply their need.
God's Holy Nature Necessitated the Cross
Les explains that God, being holy and righteous, cannot go against His own principles, so He had to reconcile fallen man back to Himself through the finished work of the cross.
God's Purpose in Creation
Les says God created mankind to have someone He could love and who would respond to that love, and the cross was the ultimate expression of that love, reconciling humans to Himself.
Christ Superseded Adam's Condemnation
Les teaches that everything Adam did to bring condemnation, God through Christ has reconciled, paying the debt and doing everything possible to bring men back to Himself, always by faith.
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;
States that reconciliation is God's act through Christ and that believers have a ministry of reconciliation.
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.
Shows that God reconciled the whole world, not just believers, and does not count sins against them.
Romans 5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Explains that Adam's sin brought condemnation, but Christ's righteousness brings justification, highlighting the need for reconciliation.
Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Contrasts Adam's disobedience with Christ's obedience, showing how reconciliation is achieved.
Humans need to be reconciled because sin has separated them from God. Les Feldick teaches that the world is set aside from God and at odds with Him, making reconciliation necessary to restore fellowship.
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the whole world. Through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, God accomplished reconciliation for everyone, and He did not spare His Son to purchase mankind back to Himself.
No, reconciliation is accomplished for everyone, but it must be believed and appropriated. Les explains that all need to do is believe it to receive the benefit.
Watch the Teaching: How Are We Reconciled to God? 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Explained