I have been thinking about this term “reconciliation” quite a lot lately.  The dictionary defines it in several ways, depending upon the situation you are in.  For instance:
1 – the reestablishing of cordial relations – this can be in business, in the work environment or other areas of society

2 – Reconciliation in family law is the process by which parties who are separated resume their marital relationship and cohabitation. Reconciliation is changing for the better a relationship between two or more persons. – This can be in family, in church, in associations.

3 – Reconciliation, a theological term, is an element of salvation that refers to the result of atonement. Reconciliation as a theological concept describes the end of the estrangement, caused by sin, between God and humanity. … – This is what the Scripture admonishes us to do – be reconciled to God!

In the studying of this term and its implications, and as I have been thinking on it, I find that the most clear definition is this: a change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. God and man were “at enmity” with each other because of man’s disobedience. When Jesus Christ came on the scene He “reconciled” God and man.  This is something that has already been accomplished!  Paul puts it this way :

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,
though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood,
how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,
how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.” -Romans 5:6-11

So then, as far as God is concerned, we have already been reconciled!  We have already been given the forgiveness of our sins!  God made it happen!  What we must do now is simply receive it by faith! God has taken the first step.  He has made us right with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.  The problem we have is that many don’t see it.  The Greek word katallage means exchange – restoration to favour.  God desires all of humanity to be reconciled to Him 2 peter 3:9&version=NIV" target="_blank">(2 peter 3:9&version=NIV" target="_blank">2 Peter 3:92 peter 3:9&version=NIV" target="_blank">) and that is why He allowed Jesus to die on the cross.

We have been given the privilege of not only being reconciled to God, but of joining with Him in a ministry of reconciliation!  What an opportunity!  We can exercise the grace of God by forgiving the enmity and division that may have been thrust upon us and restoring the unity of Spirit and the joy and peace that comes from healing the division.  WOW!  If we can only grasp this concept as believers, what a real change we can make in this broken world we live in!  Think about it!