CHANGE - 20 Amazing Bible Words To Know: (KATALLASSO) - Part 2

CHANGE - 20 Amazing Bible Words To Know: (KATALLASSO) - Part 2

To the writers of the New Testament, change is the whole point of our relationship with God. But change isn’t something we do or say, it is something God does in us. He changes us. Paul tells us that Christ’s work on the cross accomplished “katallasso” - reconciliation.

Katallasso means peace with God to Paul. He writes about mankind bring restored to God. We who were estranged from Him have now been brought close. We have been changed into new persons, putting aside our old life of sin and death.

Romans 5:11

“…we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

This idea led Paul to write these verses:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

“God … reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Reconciliation and restoration are what Christ’s life, death and resurrection were all about. Those things “change” us. This happens by exchanging Christ’s life for ours, giving us a new life - His life. We become new creatures, friends with God with whom we were once enemies.

Isn’t that an awesome picture of God’s grace and love? He came down not to condemn us or to shame us but to save us, to make us new and whole again. That’s what “allasso” means to you and me.

2 Corinthians 5:21

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”