Note 10 at 2 Cor. 5:18: Every change that has taken place in our spirits (see note 9 at v. 17) was God's doing. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." (Eph. 2:10). There is no sin or corruption in the born-again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) spirit.

Note 11 at 2 Cor. 5:18: The key term in this passage is "reconciliation." The dictionary states that to reconcile means "to re-establish friendship between; to settle or resolve, as a dispute" (American Heritage). The key to reconciliation is effectively dealing with the enmity, ill will, hatred, or hostility that has caused the dispute, etc.

There are several approaches to reconciliation that may be applied. For instance, If we've offended someone by an unkind word that we've spoken, we can apologize. If we owe money to someone, we can pay the debt. If we've done something to someone we can make the necessary restitution. But in every case, reconciliation lies in dealing effectively with the root cause of the enmity.

The enmity between man and God was sin. God took the initiative to remove this barrier through the means and agency of Jesus Christ, thus leaving man and God as friends once again.

"In justification there is the picture of the criminal before his judge, with the judge pronouncing a sentence of acquittal; so in reconciliation there is the picture of the once-estranged child before his father, with the alienation now replaced by peace. God. . .due to his constant love, takes the initiative, breaks into man's hostility, and throws down every barrier to an enduring and marvelous relationship. God takes the initiative; man merely responds. God is the subject of reconciliation; man is the object of reconciliation. God does the reconciling, and man is the one who is reconciled; it is the latter whose attitude is basically changed" (Doctrines of the Christian Religion by William W. Stevens [DOTCR], pp.239-241).

William F. Beck translates this verse in the following way: "But God has done it all. When we were His enemies, through Christ He made us His friends and gave us the work of making friends of enemies."

Note 12 at 2 Cor. 5:18: Notice that we have received the ministry of reconciliation. That means that we are in the ministry of reconciling people to God (see note 11 at this verse). Much of what people call the gospel today is actually alienating man from God. True, we need to show people their need for God to get them to receive His forgiveness and reconciliation, but the anger and bitterness with which many confront the sinner is not correct.

In the next verse, Paul says that the way God used Jesus to reconcile the world unto Himself was by not imputing their sins unto them (see note 13 at v. 19). That's the way we should minister. We should not major on the problem of sin, but on the answer of God's grace (Rom. 5:20).