2 corinthians 5:19 - namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
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What does "2 corinthians 5:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Corinthians 5:19 is a central statement about the core of Christian theology. Let's break it down:
"namely, that God was in Christ..." This is the foundation. It asserts that God's presence and action were uniquely manifested in Jesus Christ. It's not just that Jesus represented God, but that God was in Christ, working through him.
"...reconciling the world to himself..." This explains the purpose of God's presence in Christ: reconciliation. Humanity was separated from God due to sin (trespasses, as mentioned later). Reconciliation is the process of restoring a broken relationship, bringing two parties back into harmony and fellowship. God, through Christ, was actively working to mend the broken relationship between himself and the entire world. The scope is "the world," suggesting that God's offer of reconciliation is universally available.
"...not reckoning to them their trespasses..." This highlights the means of reconciliation. "Trespasses" refers to sins or wrongdoings. "Not reckoning" means not counting or holding people accountable for their sins. This emphasizes God's forgiveness. He is choosing not to impute or hold the world's sins against them. This does not mean that sin is ignored or doesn't matter, but rather that God is offering a way to have sins forgiven and not be the barrier to a restored relationship.
"...and having committed to us the word of reconciliation." This shifts the focus to the responsibility of believers. God has entrusted believers with the "word of reconciliation" - the message or gospel of reconciliation. This means they have been given the responsibility to share the good news of God's offer of forgiveness and restored relationship with the world. Christians are to be ambassadors of this message, inviting others to be reconciled to God through Christ.
In summary, the verse means:
God, in the person of Jesus Christ, was working to restore the broken relationship between himself and the world. He was doing this by offering forgiveness for sins, choosing not to hold people accountable for their wrongdoings. God has then entrusted believers with the message of this reconciliation, calling them to share it with others so they too can be reconciled to God.
Key implications:
God's Initiative: Reconciliation is God's idea and initiative, not humanity's. God took the first step to bridge the gap.
The Centrality of Christ: Jesus Christ is the unique and essential mediator of reconciliation.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness is crucial to reconciliation. God's offer of forgiveness is a core element of the gospel.
Believer's Role: Christians have a vital role to play in sharing the message of reconciliation with the world.
Universal Offer: While reconciliation is offered to the world, it requires a response of faith and acceptance. The offer is universal, but not all will accept it.
2 corinthians 5:19 - namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
What does "2 corinthians 5:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Corinthians 5:19 is a central statement about the core of Christian theology. Let's break it down:
"namely, that God was in Christ..." This is the foundation. It asserts that God's presence and action were uniquely manifested in Jesus Christ. It's not just that Jesus represented God, but that God was in Christ, working through him.
"...reconciling the world to himself..." This explains the purpose of God's presence in Christ: reconciliation. Humanity was separated from God due to sin (trespasses, as mentioned later). Reconciliation is the process of restoring a broken relationship, bringing two parties back into harmony and fellowship. God, through Christ, was actively working to mend the broken relationship between himself and the entire world. The scope is "the world," suggesting that God's offer of reconciliation is universally available.
"...not reckoning to them their trespasses..." This highlights the means of reconciliation. "Trespasses" refers to sins or wrongdoings. "Not reckoning" means not counting or holding people accountable for their sins. This emphasizes God's forgiveness. He is choosing not to impute or hold the world's sins against them. This does not mean that sin is ignored or doesn't matter, but rather that God is offering a way to have sins forgiven and not be the barrier to a restored relationship.
"...and having committed to us the word of reconciliation." This shifts the focus to the responsibility of believers. God has entrusted believers with the "word of reconciliation" - the message or gospel of reconciliation. This means they have been given the responsibility to share the good news of God's offer of forgiveness and restored relationship with the world. Christians are to be ambassadors of this message, inviting others to be reconciled to God through Christ.
In summary, the verse means:
God, in the person of Jesus Christ, was working to restore the broken relationship between himself and the world. He was doing this by offering forgiveness for sins, choosing not to hold people accountable for their wrongdoings. God has then entrusted believers with the message of this reconciliation, calling them to share it with others so they too can be reconciled to God.
Key implications:
God's Initiative: Reconciliation is God's idea and initiative, not humanity's. God took the first step to bridge the gap.
The Centrality of Christ: Jesus Christ is the unique and essential mediator of reconciliation.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness is crucial to reconciliation. God's offer of forgiveness is a core element of the gospel.
Believer's Role: Christians have a vital role to play in sharing the message of reconciliation with the world.
Universal Offer: While reconciliation is offered to the world, it requires a response of faith and acceptance. The offer is universal, but not all will accept it.