Month: July 2024

Repentance, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation

Repentance, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation are often confused and conflated. Here’s a brief description of them all.

Repentance

Repentance is choosing a different path. It is not “making space” for God to check our actions; He does not need our help in that area of our lives, mind, will, or emotions.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, not the offender. It liberates us from the burden of being offended and holding onto grudges. It allows us to release those who have hurt us deeply, even after they have passed away.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is where some sort (any sort) of remuneration is made on behalf of the offended by the offender. In reconciliation, the offended has the right to define the terms of the relationship moving forward. It might be fully restored, but it might not. Boundaries are a thing in reconciliation.

Ministers of Reconciliation

When we understand the totality of our Messiah’s work while grasping the difference between repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation, we better understand why we are called “ministers of reconciliation” and not “ministers of God’s forgiveness.” (2 Cor.5:18)