9 - Reconciliation and Hope | Uniting Heaven and Earth

Reconciliation takes place in Christ himself. In him, God unites heaven and earth – far more than mere forgiveness or restitution. Originally, humanity lived in perfect unity with God. Their identity was clear: “I am a creature of God.” Through this truth in their hearts, they were automatically and unconsciously bound to God by trust and faith – an immutable spiritual law. As long as this bond existed, he could not help but live in perfect harmony with God and in the awareness of freedom.

The rupture came through self-deception. The “cable” to God was severed. Since then, humanity has been unconsciously bound to other people rather than to God – also automatically and without choice. Their thoughts are no longer free, they no longer live in harmony with God. This gives rise to a deep disunity. From this false identity (“I am God”), man cannot do anything right – even if self-deception constantly leads him to believe he has a choice between good and evil. This choice has never existed. Religions often attempt to do “the good” precisely out of this error. Yet as long as the false identity prevails, all action is in vain and ultimately leads to self-destruction. That is why we need a Savior.

In Jesus Christ, God has created this Savior: the second Adam, the New Creation, the firstborn Son of God, and eternal life. Through His death and resurrection, Christ Himself is the reconciliation. In Him, God and humanity are once again perfectly united – not merely through the Spirit as before the Fall, but personally in one Person: Jesus Christ.

Each individual must now enter into this new life through faith. In doing so, a perfect unity is formed: God’s will with our will, God’s heart with our heart. From this also springs perfect health according to the Gospel. How does Christ become my Savior? Through grace, we have the choice to become one with Him and to be born of Him – His life becomes our life. This takes place in the mind, where our will unites with God’s will and we embrace saving faith – in close cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Important: Trying to do God’s will against one’s own will does not work. It must be a genuine union of wills. This and more will be explored in depth in the ninth part of the series “Uniting Heaven and Earth.”