While the former impacts my life here on earth, the later impacts my eternity. More important than human reconciliation is in the reconciliation between God and humanity. And even if it does not work out, I should continue to do my best to live at peace with them. But, for my part, I should make the attempt. I have no control over how the other person might respond. What is my responsibility when I have a damaged relationship with another person? I need to forgive them whatever offense is between us. First, go and be reconciled to them then come and offer your gift.” Broken relationships with people can impact my relationship with God, hindering my prayer. He says to us that “if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus also gives instructions concerning the need for reconciliation. Paul tells us that “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” I should strive for reconciliation.

While Romans 12:18 does not use the word “reconciliation,” I believe it does give us explicit instructions about the need for reconciliation. In the midst of their executions, both prayed for the forgiveness of those killing them. The examples of Jesus ( Luke 23:34) and Stephen ( Acts 7:60) both demonstrate forgiveness, even when the wrong is occurring. But the Scripture puts no such limit on forgiveness. They are willing to forgive only when the one who has wronged them repents and seeks forgiveness. One problem that many have with forgiveness is that they envision it as a two-way street. If we are unwilling to forgive others, we have no reason to expect that God will forgive us ( Matthew 6:14-15). But the follow-up to the model prayer ( the Lord’s Prayer) in Matthew 6:9-13 is clear. Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Human Relationshipsįorgiveness is hard. But reconciliation will not be possible if the other party is not willing to participate. It is always possible, and expected, for me to forgive. But reconciliation requires both parties to be willing to participate in restoring the relationship. Reconciliation, however, restores the relationship.įorgiveness may be one-sided. It may well be that even after I have forgiven someone that we remain estranged. When I forgive someone, there is no guarantee that we will have a restored relationship. What’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Something has happened that has caused two parties to become estranged. Reconciliation assumes a broken relationship. Reconciliation is the Greek word katallagē, meaning “an exchange reconciliation, restoration to favor.” And generally, at least in the Scripture, it deals with the relationship between God and humanity. The word “reconciliation” is less commonly used. Instead, we treat it as if it had not occurred. We do not hold onto that offense, harboring it in our hearts. Forgive is the Greek word aphiēmi, meaning “to send away, dismiss, suffer to depart to emit, send forth.” In relation to an offense against us, it means that we dismiss it, or send it away. It was an explicit part of Jesus’ model prayer in Matthew 6:7-15. We are instructed a number of times in the Bible to forgive others.

Reconciliation definition