Practicing Reconciliation

Last week we learned that we’ve been reconciled to God by the atoning death of Christ in our place. In reconciling us to Himself, God overcame that which alienated us from Him, namely sin. And though God has done this definitively in the cross, sin continues have this affect upon our relationship with God and others. As we sin and fail to deal with that sin properly, we experience a sense of alienation from God and others. As a result our relationship with God and our neighbor is disturbed. The way to rectify these relationships with Him is by repentance: confessing our sins to God and one another and endeavoring to walk in new obedience. And of course the liturgy affords us this opportunity every Lord’s Day as we corporately and individually confess our sins, receive His pardoning grace, and are sent out to walk in new obedience. But this weekly pattern needs to be followed and worked out the rest of the week as you sin against God and one another. The practice of corporate confession is intended to form us as humble people who take sin seriously; a people always ready to confess our sins to God and one another. This practice should also form you to be a people always ready to extend forgiveness to others when you are wronged. For as Jesus said, “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Thus you must be people that are ready to be reconciled to one another; people who are ready to seek out your brother or your sister when you’ve wronged, or been wronged by them. Paul tells us that we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. So if you’ve wronged a brother or sister here, confess your sins now and seek them out to be reconciled to them. Otherwise how can you pass the peace, if conflict characterizes your relationships?