Reading: The Cross of Christ, pg. 189-199
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. Romans 5.9-11
It is significant that in Romans 5.9-11, which is one of the four great passages on reconciliation in the New Testament, to be reconciled and to be justified are parallels. ‘Since we have now been justified by his blood’ is balanced by ‘if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son.’ The two states, though both affected by the cross, are not identical, however. Justification is our legal standing before our judge in the court; reconciliation is our personal relationship with our Father in the home. Indeed, the latter is the sequel and fruit of the former. It is only when we have been justified by faith that we have peace with God, which is reconciliation.
Two other New Testament terms confirm this emphasis that reconciliation means peace with God, namely adoption and access. With regard to the former, it was Jesus himself who always addressed God intimately as “Abba, Father,” who gave us permission to do the same, approaching him as “our Father in heaven.” The apostles enlarged on it. John who attributes our being children of God to our being born of God, expresses his sense of wonder that the Father should have loved us enough to call us, and indeed make us, his children (Jn 1.12-13; 1 Jn 3.1-10) | Stott, pg. 191
Oftentimes we rightfully stand in awe of God’s justifying us sinners, but how should it change our lives and the way that we live, to hold fast to our adoption as his children?
My God is reconciled,
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child,
I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba, Father cry
-Charles Wesley