Be Reconciled with God

Be Reconciled with God

First: The Main Idea of the Lecture

The lecture revolves around a clear divine call for the human being to be reconciled with God, because sin is not merely a passing mistake, but rather hostility and enmity that separate the human from his Creator. God in His love reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, but it remains for the human being to accept this reconciliation through repentance and returning to Him.

Second: Sin as a Barrier and Enmity

Man was created in fellowship and peace with God, but through the fall enmity began. Sin causes a person to lose his fellowship with God and separates him from Him, for there is no fellowship between light and darkness. The more a person persists in sin, the more it turns into open enmity, grieving the Holy Spirit and extinguishing the heat of grace in the heart. Therefore, in the Old Testament sin was represented by a barrier preventing entry into the Holy of Holies.

Third: The Danger of Continuing in Distance

Continuing in sin means rejecting God and forsaking the fountain of living water. It may even reach the point where prayer is not answered and sacrifices are not accepted. Sin is rebellion, disobedience, and lack of love; it is boldness in disrespecting God who sees everything. Therefore, a person must realize the seriousness of his position if he remains بعيدًا.

Fourth: The Meaning of Reconciliation with God

Reconciliation with God means sincere repentance, leaving the old life, and returning to a relationship of love and obedience. Therefore, the Church begins with the Prayer of Reconciliation before approaching the Holy Mysteries, affirming that reconciliation is the entrance to the life of grace.

Fifth: The Fruits of Reconciliation

Whoever is reconciled with God receives blessing, strength, and support in all the days of his life. He lives in reassurance, because the Lord is with him and delivers him from evil. Reconciliation also leads to growth in faith and love, and makes the person a witness who calls others also to be reconciled with God.

Sixth: A Continuous Divine Call

God is the One who initiates reconciliation; He stretches out His hand and calls the human being without ceasing. But the human must not harden his heart; rather, he should hasten to repentance, because delay may increase the distance. Reconciliation begins with accepting God’s voice and continues with a life of obedience and grace.

“For better translation support, please contact the center.”