The Doctrine of Reconciliation
Wu Sihan Annetta
THEO104: Introduction to Theology Survey (D32)
August 12, 2025
The biblical image of reconciliation in the context of salvation is scripture based,
emphasizing on restoring the relationship that was destroyed by sin between us and God. God
is the initiator who shows us His love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so our
sins can be washed clean. Because He forgave our sins, we can be in communion with Him. This
unity happens because He loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. And this is beyond
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individual relationships, the love of God overflows from one person to the whole community,
which helps to cultivate peace and unity, building camaraderie within the community of
believers.
By sending His son, Jesus Christ, “God Himself entered into the world to offer His own
life as a payment for the sin caused by mankind’s choice to disobey God at the beginning of
creation.”1 His resurrection proves that God has the power to forgive us and wash away our
sins, so we can reconcile with Him. As believers, it is crucial to “continue to trust in Jesus
through faith,”2after receiving the salvation, that brings reconciliation. Scripture says, “All this is
from
God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And
he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV).
Reconciliation is a key aspect of the reason why Jesus came to the world. In the medieval times,
reconciliation was connected to the sacramental life of the Church. It was described as an
“intermediate reality to the external sacramental sign and divine grace.”3Theologian Henri
deLubac came to the conclusion that reconciliation “deepens man’s union with Christ”4 because
it “deepens his union with the Christian community.”5 The doctrine of reconciliation became a
foundation for Protestant theology after Martin Luther and John Calvin reformed it as
justification by faith itself. The emphasis is placed on the grace of God, other than human
works. As we move to the 20th century, it can be seen that the concept of reconciliation has
1 Ben Gutierrez, Theology Applied: A Living Faith (Virginia, B&H Academic, 2012), 11.
2 Gabriel Etzel, Everyday Theology: Exploring the Christian Faith (Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Academic,
2016), 193.
3 Benjamin J. Hubbard, “St. Augustine’s Notion of Penance and Reconciliation with the Church” (Partial
thesis, Marquette University, 1967), 19.
4 Ibid., 20.
5 Ibid.
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become increasingly inclusive, supporting racial reconciliation, ecological change, and social
development.
Sin is any actions, words, or thoughts that is against the will of God. It fractures the
intended relationship between us and God, causing a separation. The poison—sin, seeps from
an individual to the whole creation, causing an urgency for spiritual healing and restoration.
Reconciliation is the process to which humanity’s relationship with God is restored through
Jesus Christ. His sacrifice is the atonement for sin, which enables us to unite with God as He
originally designed. Only when one believes by grace through faith that Jesus’ death has
cleansed them from sin, repentance, and commitment to live according to God’s will will occur,
which is when reconciliation takes place. It should be the journey of a lifetime. As believers are
called to keep a close relationship with God, to always seek His forgiveness and live under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. Reconciliation with God should be influential, bringing peace and
unity to communities and the whole creation. This reflects God’s original intention for us—to
live in peace, harmony, and unity.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process because humans sin. Sin separates us from God
because He is holy and good and sin is evil. However, God is a forgiving, merciful, patient,
gentle, loving, kind, understanding, compassionate, and caring God who gives believers “grace
upon grace” (John 1:16 ESV). So, our sins and trespasses can be forgiven after repentance to be
close to Him again. We are called to see ourselves as news creations. This should change the
way we treat others as we reflect God’s grace for us when we choose to forgive others.
Reconciliation should not only happen with God, because being close to God should make one's
calling apparent, which is to seek peace and strive to love as the love of God overflows from
one person to another. Scripture says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the
sons of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). This will bring unity to the Christian community as
reconciliation with God encourages reconciliation with others by bringing the focus back to
Jesus. I am called to use music as a tool to share God’s love with unbelievers. It is crucial for me
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to constantly check my heart, thoughts, actions to reconcile with God for the music I make to be
used by Him. Because being close to God allows my heart to heal, stay pure, to hear His quiet
and still voice when I make art. So, I am not lost in my own world making music but to abide in
His presence whenever and wherever. This way, God can use me as a vessel to reach people,
whether it is in music or not.
The doctrine of reconciliation is an inherent part of the Christian walk. To walk with God
means to trust Him, follow and keep His commandments, turn to Him in every situation, abide
in His presence, be committed and stay devoted, and most importantly love Him “with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 ESV). It is the practice of a
lifetime. Reconciliation with God happens out of love and we love because He loved us first (1
John 4:19). The life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God was more than salvation,
it reconciled humanity’s relationship with God. There is hope and restoration.
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Bibliography
Etzel, Gabriel. “Everyday Theology: Exploring the Christian Faith.” B&H Academic, Nashville,
Tennessee, 2016. Accessed July 5, 2025.ISBN: 978-1-4627-4075-8
Gutierrez, Ben. “Theology Applied: A Living Faith.” B&H Academic, Virginia, 2012. Accessed July 4,
2025. Resource ID: LLS:WS_15BF52D8087C41108E19553D93AFD6F9.
Hubbard, Benjamin. “St. Augustine’s Notion of Penance and Reconciliation with the Church.”
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1967. Accessed August 11, 2025.
https://www.marquette.edu/library/theses/already_uploaded_to_IR/hubba_b_1967.pdf
