Michael continues: The fusion reaction of salvation is in our reconciliation through Jesus Christ’s payment for sin on our behalf: Romans 5:10-11 says: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” The word atonement can also be translated “at-one-ment”. This is the word for reconciliation which means to bring together that which has been separated. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice is the nuclear fusion reaction that fuses our hearts back together with God’s heart.
What is the tie that binds our hearts together and reconciles us back together with God?
Colossians 3:12-15 says: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be thankful.”
The tie that binds is “charity”, the love of God, God’s agape unconditional love. The love of God through Jesus Christ fuses our hearts back together with God’s heart. Then the peace of God is the result of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. The result of fusing our hearts with God’s heart through Jesus Christ is the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Unity is the theme of Ephesians 4:1-5, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
In conclusion, the result of the fusion reaction set off by Jesus’ death and resurrection is Unity: the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. As Psalm 133:1 says, “how good and pleasant it is that the brethren dwell together in unity”. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Unity is why God has fitted us together in one body, for the church is the body of Christ. According to Ephesians 4:16, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. God has set us in the body of Christ as individual fittings, fit to serve one another in love in the unity of the spirit.”
We’re each living epistles, God’s love letters known and read of all men and women. As the poem by Edgar A. Guest says, “One good person teaches many, people believe what they behold; One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. Who stands with men and women of honor learns to hold their honor dear, for right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear. Though an able speaker charms me with their eloquence, I say, I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.’
We were reconciled to God through Jesus’ sacrifice for sin on our behalf, so that we could live in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Why did Jesus redeem us and purchase us with the price of His sinless innocent blood? According to a poem by my sister-in-Christ Helen Porter, “He died, arose, and ascended so our lives could all be blended in one family rejoicing with our God that in the unity of the Spirit, we may together live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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