Commentaries:
"that is, that God was in Christ" - There are two possible meanings of the word "in." The primary usage indicates "by means of": "God was, by means of Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." It is true that the world is becoming reconciled to God by means of Christ because He is the payment for sin.
The secondary use, if intended at all, would mean "in union with": "God was, in union with Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." Whenever this little word "in" comes up, one must consider its application, not assuming we know what it means.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Image and Likeness of God (Part 4)
The Father, working in Christ, is reconciling the world to Him, and there is no mention of the Holy Spirit as a personality playing a part in this work. The key is "as a personality." Personalities are named frequently—the Father and the Son—but the Holy Spirit is never mentioned as a personality.
The Holy Spirit does play a part in the reconciliation of the world to God and to Christ—as a power used to energize us and change our minds. But not as a personality!
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy Spirit
Part of the responsibility of the church of God in preaching the gospel around the world is to inform mankind how they can be reconciled to God. In many cases, people do not even know they are separated from God. However, all have been separated from Him, and all need to be reconciled to God through the redemption offered in Christ's payment for sin. To do this, we must also proclaim what sin is, as many are equally ignorant of what constitutes sin. Doing this enables them to judge their need for reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
Preaching the gospel is not just about the Kingdom of God but includes many attendant features that flesh out understanding necessary for establishing communion with God.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Six): The Sin Offering
We play a part in making peace with God by choosing to be reconciled to Him. This is perhaps the first step in becoming a peacemaker.
Paul essentially refers to himself as the one to whom the word and ministry of reconciliation have been given as a portion of his function as an apostle of Jesus Christ. However, the thought does not end there because we are also being prepared to assist in causing the reconciliation of the world to God. This is a second major, time-consuming step toward being a peacemaker. The sanctification process of a Christian's conversion creates within us the ability to be a peacemaker in the godly mold.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beatitudes, Part 7: Blessed Are the Peacemakers
In verse 18, Paul explains that he, and by implication other Christians, have a "ministry of reconciliation" to serve as "ambassadors for Christ" (verse 20). It is, the apostle continues in verse 20, as if God is "pleading through us" to "be reconciled to God." Jesus Christ brings this reconciliation about, and the new man is the result.
Charles Whitaker
Choosing the New Man (Part Two)
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Colossians 2:13-14
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