“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” (Romans 5:10 ESV).
When conversing with others, we might attempt to clarify a point by saying, “Let me explain.” Paul the Apostle adopted a similar approach in seeking to illustrate his earlier teachings here in Romans 5:10. But like many of the concepts we have already explored in our study of Romans, this passage conveys a truth that many find hard to accept: “We were God’s enemies…” (GNT).
While we might readily associate “God’s enemies” with murderers, tyrants, dictators, or other purveyors of evil, the reality is that sinful behavior has made everyone God’s enemy. As the New Testament epistle of James reminds us, “…the person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is” (James 2:10 TLB).
But now, “…Christ [has] reconciled us to God by dying for us” (Phillips). Much like an intercessor who works to establish peace between two opposing factions, Christ has mediated our reconciliation to God. Paul elaborated on this idea in his epistle to the church at Colossae: “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:21-22).
We should also note that God takes the initiative in this reconciliation process. Unlike two individuals who meet to negotiate a peace treaty on equal terms, God acts unilaterally in reconciling human beings to Himself. Through the redemptive work of His Son, God has undertaken the mission of reconciling those who have offended and rejected Him.
So, humanity does not initiate the process of making things right with God. Instead, God has moved to make things right with us. The following source adds some additional insight regarding this idea…
“In pagan rituals, sacrifices were made by people trying to placate God. In Christianity, it is never humans who take the initiative or make the sacrifice. It is God himself who, out of his great love for sinners, provides the way by which his wrath against sin may be averted. In Jesus, God placates his own wrath against sin so that his love may go out to save sinners.” (1)
We’ll explore these related themes of reconciliation and meditation in greater depth next.
(1) Boice, J. M. (2005). Romans: Justification by Faith (Romans 1-4). Baker Books. [p.375]