2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Transformation into new persons is God’s initiation. At the heart of this is relationship. Paul brings up an important theological word in this verse that will focus his thinking for the next few verses. It also hints at the heart of his theology: deep and intimate relationship with Christ. Everything flows out of this.
Our big problem is that we are enemies with God. We have rebelled against God’s laws and God’s guidance through the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our consciences (Romans 1:18-2:29). The relationship with our creator has been broken and needs restored. The basic idea of reconciliation is “the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship.” It is to make friends who were once enemies. It is to restore people into a loving relationship.
In order for this to happen, the problem of sin and our separation from God’s glory and holiness must be resolved and removed. The only way this could happen is through the payment of a life, since the penalty for sin is death (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). Jesus’ own death removed this penalty while also showing us the extent of God’s love for us (Romans 5:8). God is the initiator of this whole process because we are dead in our sins and unable to return to God on our own power. But God does not force this reconciliation upon us but asks for our response of faith. Paul will get to that idea in 6:1-2.
Our faith in Christ and response should be shown by becoming ministers of reconciliation. We share with others what we have experienced ourselves. We realize that those around us are in the same situation we once were. They need the hope we have. They may not hear of this message or understand it unless someone tells it to them. Paul writes of this idea in Romans 10:14-17. This was Paul’s mission, and he urges the Corinthians to be part of the “we” of these verses.
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