Romans 5: 1-11 in the ESV Bible, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Dear brothers and sister, peace be to everyone. I am happy to meet everyone again! Today, we discuss about the Gospel of reconciliation. While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ came to the world and is the conduit for reconciliation. Through his death, we trust in him and are reconciled to God. This is grace! Therefore, God has revealed his love to us – he loves us not because we are good, righteous and full of kindness. Even though we are sinners, he still loves us.

One day, if you see a dog outside which is neither a strong nor a beautiful and adorable dog but a dog that is furless and sickly, would you bring it home to adopt it? I dare to say no. Why? It is because you don’t really love dogs. A person, who truly loves dogs, would want to save it and adopt it when he sees such a pathetic dog. Today, some people like dogs from the beginning so they adopt them. However, when the dog grows older and sheds its fur every day, they will abandon them. Such people do not love dogs at all.

While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ came to the world and died for our sins as he loved sinners. Such love is absolute, real and perfect. We thank God for his love that leads to the Gospel of reconciliation. As I have sinned against God and there is a breakdown in my relationship with him, I need to return to his presence and be reconciled with him. In my childhood days, two groups of people existed in my village (the Hokkien and Foochow gangs). At times, they would fight. After that, a peace maker would emerge. He would approach the guys who were in the wrong, to pay for his wrongdoing. He had to invite everyone to eat at a few tables in the restaurant and apologize. After the compensation, peace was restored. In other words, the party, who was in the wrong, had to compensate while the other party, who was in the right, must be willing to accept the restitution. Therefore, peace was established. Similarly, we should pay for our wrongdoing when we sin against God but we cannot afford the price for it as we are sinners. The wages of sin is death. I can only compensate with my life. However, as Jesus loved us, he had sacrificed himself to pay the price for our sins. Truly, God has demonstrated his love to us through this selfless act. Thus, we are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ.

In these Bible passages, verses 1, 9 and 10 clearly tell us how we can be reconciled to God. Verse 1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are made righteous through faith. Verse 9 mentions “we have now been justified by his blood…” From here, it is revealed to us that it is by his blood. Verse 10 emphasizes “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Thus, we are saved through his life, not by our own effort. We are reconciled to God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for us. Therefore, we are made righteous through faith in him and accepting him into our lives. We thank God that he has opened this way for us. He has built the bridge of reconciliation with God for us.

Restoration of peace in interpersonal relationships

The Gospel of reconciliation has restored peace in our relationship with God. It also has taken a step further to restore other areas in our lives. For example, it includes firstly, what is stated in Ephesians 2:14, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us (that is, the Jews and the Gentiles) both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” The Jews and the Gentiles were separated by the wall between them but it had been torn down in our Lord Jesus Christ so people of these two nationalities (the Jews and the Gentiles) can unite as one in him. In Greek, ‘one’ here is a neutral word. It means that “Jesus was already dead so these two opposing nationalities of people can unite as one.” The uniqueness of these two nationalities has not changed and their blood is also not mixed but they can unite together as one. They have accepted one another and possess equal rights and status before the presence of God. This is the meaning of ‘being united’.

In the past, there was a dividing wall between the Jews and the Gentiles. If you have been to the holy temple in Jerusalem, you would see a wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles in the holy place so they cannot communicate with one another. The Jews has written the words “Gentiles are prohibited. Transgressors will be executed.” in Hebrew and Greek around the wall. When Paul was writing Ephesians, such prohibition still existed. Thus, Paul used such analogies to depict the enmity and hatred between the Jews and the Gentiles. However, Jesus’ death has united people of these two nationalities who were enmity against one another.

In the same way, today, we have put our trust in Jesus Christ and are transformed by the Gospel. We are a new creation in Jesus so we should live in harmony with our family members, colleagues, neighbours and people of other ethnic groups. This is the power of the Gospel of reconciliation. If the religion brings about hatred, killing of people through bombing and coercing others to believe in their faith, it will result in lots of issues as it has lost its fundamental meaning and values as a religion.

The Bible clearly tells us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of reconciliation. It not only brings about reconciliation in our relationship with God, it also restores peace in our interpersonal relationships. Therefore, do you truly have peace with your family members? Do you have harmonious relationships with your father, mother, children, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, classmates, colleagues, neighbours and others? When I say that I have peace with God but have tensions in my relationships with others and even filled with hatred and bitterness towards them, it is wrong. It should not be so. Thus, we need to return to God’s presence and pray to him, asking him to bless us with his strength.

Once, a sister-in-Christ in my church heard the pastor preach “You must be filial to your parents.” Her response was, being filial to her mother was not an issue as her mother had treated her well but it was impossible to be filial to her father because he was not a decent guy. He had not provided for the family and had another woman. Her family was very poor. Being the eldest in the family, she had to leave school and earn money for her siblings’ education. They did not have a television and a refrigerator at home. She would strive for a living and work on shifts so that her siblings could have education. Once, her supervisor asked, “Why do I always see you on shifts? Don’t you need to rest?” It was because she had to earn a living for her family! At one time, she earned sufficient money to purchase a small refrigerator. However, her father took it away and gave it to his another woman. How could she accept such a terrible father? He did not bring money home and yet moved their things away. This was ridiculous! The Bible tells us again “You must be filial to your parents.” This is unconditional. How could she be filial to such a father? She started to pray about it seriously and God’s love filled her life. One day, she bought her first gift for her father’s birthday. This touched her father’s heart. When her father fell ill, she took care of him. Her father finally believed in God in his old age. What kind of love is this? It is the love of Jesus! The love of reconciliation. God’s divine love is in our lives. Therefore, today, we need such love to influence others and bring peace to our families.

Restore the relationship between humans and the earth

The Bible tells us that we not only need to reconcile to God, we also need to have peace with people. Colossians 1:20 says, “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” God has reconciled all things to him through Jesus. Here, ‘all things’ refer to the created world. It even includes the universe, humans and all created beings which are saved and have peace in him. Such redemption enables us to be restored to him as one. We do not harm one another. Such perfection, harmony and peace eventually culminates in the new heaven and new earth. Presently, as redeemed people, we must be in harmony with the earth. We must do our part in recycling. As Christians, we must not waste resources or pollute the earth. If you own a factory, you must have a system to treat the polluted water and emission of polluted gases so that the earth is clean. We need to fulfill our responsibilities as Christians. We must be in harmony with the earth and do not cut down trees unnecessarily. We mustn’t be like the people in this world who develop the land unceasingly and exploit the natural resources. If not, humans and the earth will be enmity against one another. One day, the earth will turn around and wreak vengeance. Then, there will be no peace for us.

The Bible gives us a glimpse of the future scenario. Today, let us progress towards it. All of us should play our part in having peace with the earth and all that are in heaven and on the earth. The future scenario is described in Isaiah 11:6-9 in the ESV Bible, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

We thank God that we are a community of believers who are filled with hope. We know God so we should live out the message of reconciliation in our daily lives. Let us have peace with people and all beings in order to see the reality of new heaven and new earth.

Finally, I would like to say that God’s image is oriented towards relationships. It means that when we are reconciled to God, his image will be reflected in our lives so he is revealed in us. Therefore, in the same way, we also have peace with our family members, friends, colleagues and others. As a result, the world will be more wonderful with your existence.

Let us pray together.

Dear Lord, we are thankful for your Gospel of reconciliation which is the basis for our relationships so that we always have peace with you, with oneself and with others. Our reconciliation to you forms the basis of peace in all our relationships. O God! May you always have compassion on us and help us. May we fear you and return to you to receive your forgiveness by your grace. May we once again receive from you the strength to live out especially the Gospel of reconciliation in our daily lives. We look to you as we pray that our family will have more peace and our lives will be more harmonious. In the holy name of Jesus we pray, Amen!