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I. WHAT RECONCILIATION IS.

1. It implies that there was a former friendship. There were once good terms between God and man.

2. It implies an enmity on one or both sides. On man's part this enmity is by sin; on the part of God —

(1) From the righteousness of His nature (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:5, 6).

(2) From the righteousness of His law made against sin, whereby He cannot but according to His veracity punish it.

3. It implies that God is the prime Author of this reconciliation, yet no man is actually reconciled to God till he complies with those conditions whereupon God offers it. "God was in Christ" when He was "reconciling the world"; we must be in Christ if we be reconciled to God. We must distinguish between reconciliation designed by God, obtained by Christ, offered by the gospel, received by the soul.

4. This reconciliation is —

(1) Very congruous for the honour of God.

(a) For the honour of this wisdom. Had not a mediator been appointed, mankind had been destroyed at the beginning, and God had lost the glory of His present works.

(b) For the honour of His truth and justice.

(2) Necessary for us.

II. GOD THE FATHER MUST NEEDS BE, AND IS, THE AUTHOR OF THIS RECONCILIATION. If God be the first cause in all things, He is the first cause in the highest of His works. No creature could originate this work.

1. All human nature could not. Man was so depraved that he knew not how to desire it, and had no mind to cherish any thoughts of it (Romans 1:29, 30; 1 Corinthians 1:21).

2. Nor the unblemished wisdom of angels (1 Peter 1:12).

III. WHEREIN THE AGENCY OF THE FATHER IN THIS AFFAIR DOTH APPEAR. "God was in Christ reconciling the world."

1. As choosing and appointing Christ (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 43:10; Hebrews 3:2).

(1) He was appointed by the Father to this end (Psalm 40:6, 7; Romans 3:25).

(2) God appointed Him to every office in order to this: as a priest, to offer sacrifices; a prophet, to declare His mercy; a king, to bring men to the terms of reconciliation.

(3) God chose Him to this work with a high delight, as one fully fit for the work, in whom He could confide.

2. God the Father solemnly called Him (John 10:36).

3. God gave Him a particular command concerning our reconciliation (John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Romans 5:19).

4. The Father did fit Christ for this great undertaking.

(1) He is fitted with a body.

(a) This was necessary. Man, as constituted of soul and body, had violated the articles of the first covenant; therefore man, as constituted of soul and body, must answer the violations of it. It was also necessary that He might be nearly related to us in all things (sin excepted), and redeem us by His passion. Yet He was to have a whole body, free from any taint of moral imperfection, fit for the service He was devoted to, for which the least speck upon His humanity had rendered Him unfit.

(b) Therefore the Holy Ghost frames the body of Christ of this seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), and makes the union between the Divine and human nature (Luke 1:35).

(2). He is filled with His Spirit by the Father, i.e., with all the gifts and graces of the Spirit necessary to this work (John 3:34).

(a)  Habitual holiness. This was necessary. It became Him and us, as our High Priest, to be undefiled (Hebrews 7:26).

(b)  Wisdom and knowledge (Isaiah 11:2-4).

(c)  Tenderness to man.

(d)  Mighty power to go through this undertaking. He had a "spirit of might" (Acts 10:38).

5. God commissioned Christ to this work of reconciliation. He gave Him a fulness of authority as well as a fulness of ability. He is therefore said to be sealed, as having His commission under the great seal of heaven (John 6:27). The end of this commission was the reconciliation and redemption of man.

(1)  Satisfaction for our sins (Galatians 1:4).

(2)  Testification of the love of God (Isaiah 43:10, 11).

(3)  Final and perfect salvation (Galatians 1:4)

(S. Charnock, B. D.)

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KJV: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

WEB: But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;