"But can you embrace a cetnik?" "No, I cannot - but as a follower of Christ I think I should be able to".

“In the experience of reconciliation to God through Christ is to be found the principle and touchstone of all genuine Christian doctrine: whatever can be derived from this experience and is consistent with it is true and necessary; whatever is incompatible with it lacks the essential Christian character.” James Denney

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us…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 5.8,10)

Love – “poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Sinners – “rebels with weapons in our hands” Reconciled – passive of divine initiative Saved by his life – “I am crucified with Christ….” “He died that those who live…”

For he is our peace who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility…that he might create in himself one new humanity so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. (Eph 2.14,16)

He is our Peace – “something there is that doesn’t love a wall, that wants it down. One new humanity – so making peace Reconcile us both to God - One Body through the cross Bringing hostility to an end – separated, alienated, strangers, no hope, without God V11 – “But now…”

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross. (Col. 1.19-20)

“God is Christ-like, and in him is no un-Christlikeness at all “God is Christ-like, and in him is no un-Christlikeness at all.” (J V Taylor) Reconcile to himself – divine initiative All things – “to himself” renewed creation Making peace – by the blood of the cross “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

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 Cor. 5.18-19) 

Reconciled reconcilers – the ministry of reconciliation God was in Christ – Christ-like God Not holding their sins against them Reconciliation – embodied message committed messengers

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5.20-21)

Ambassadors for Christ – the embodied presence of Christ the reconciler “acting in Christ’s name and place…” God making his appeal through us Becoming the righteousness of God – justice, peace, love. Community committed to reconciliation

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

“…to reconcile to himself all things, whether in heaven or on earth, making peace by the blood of his cross….