To me, reconciliation is an operative word in the Christian faith. It’s about restoration of a relationship. The story of salvation…the story of redemption…is a story of reconciliation. God reconciled us humans to Himself.
He wasn’t content to simply forgive us. Forgiveness is only half of the equation. You can forgive someone, and never make any attempt to reconcile with them. Forgiveness is the win, but reconciliation is the win too. Reconciliation is the win in our relationship with God, and reconciliation is the win in our relationships with each other.
God wasn’t content to simply forgive us; His forgiveness was a means to an end. He forgave us to remove an obstacle to relationship with Him…He forgave us to remove an obstacle to reconciliation with Him. That obstacle is sin.
But the end…the win…is reconciliation. A re-assembled relationship with God.
