By Nab B.
September 5, 2022
Updated Oct 2025
"I was dead, and behold I am living to the ages of the ages"
(Revelation 1:18 BLB)
We read of reconciliation and salvation—a lot! But what exactly do they mean? Can it be made clear and simple?
To do that, let's first define what these two words mean, which I think will provide better insight.
But before I begin...
Although this is a big topic, and volumes can be written about it, I have purposely written a very short article (a little over 1000 words) as a challenge to first prove that there's no need to complicate things even for serious subjects. Second, to let the spirit reveal to you a further understanding!
The Greek word for reconciliation is katallássō, a compound of two words: katá means down, and allássō means to change. It simply means “an exchange”.
In the NT, 'reconciliation' describes the change from a state of enmity to a state of friendship. For a long time, God and humans have been in a state of enmity due to man's sin. This was expressed often in the scriptures:
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Rom 8:7)
Then, God made peace with us through His Son:
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ...that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18-19)
Remember, we did not reconcile ourselves to God; He already did that! We went from being enemies to being at peace through Christ. It is then fitting for all to humbly accept God’s generous peace offering. The offer of reconciliation—this exchange—is the best deal humans can ever get!
The meaning of this word gets muddled sometimes. Salvation, to most, has a religious undertone. While it could be that, it’s not limited to it.
Greek word study shows the word sṓzō means to "deliver out of danger and into safety." Salvation simply means ‘RESCUE’. A saviour is simply a rescuer. By keeping this in mind, one can appreciate its deeper meaning when read!
“For if, when we were enemies, ① we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, ② we shall be saved by his life (resurrection)” (Rom 5:10)
Accordingly, salvation is then a two-step process:
① Christ’s death brings reconciliation.
② Christ’s resurrection brings salvation.
"Reconciliation" was already obtained for all humans (automatically, sort of) through Christ’s death.
But "Salvation" is not so automatic! "Salvation" can not be obtained by human work. "Faith," from the heart, God's marvellous work through Jesus Christ, is the only "prerequisite" to complete the two-step.
Admittedly, this is not as easy as you think! Often, pride and unbelief, and many other obstacles, will stand in the way of receiving God's gracious free gift. And even though it is free and guaranteed by God Himself, notice how it is perceived by more than a few:
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18)
“That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing (not counting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:19)
Technically, the world is now reconciled to God. Peace with Him is available and obtainable. Not wanting an everlasting death for anyone, God has been extremely patient for almost 2000 years just to get the attention of as many as possible to have life.
"Not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Rom 2:4 ESV)
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...but is long-suffering, not willing for any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9)
Pay attention to the passage below in Romans chapter 8. It outlines the amazing accomplishment God has made for all humans through the death and resurrection of His Son:
“For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
"For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you too, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:5-11 ESV)
What is offered is nothing short of sublime! Those who choose to believe and to spiritually die to self obtain a spiritual "First Resurrection" with Christ. Note how this was also expressed in Revelation 20, which depicts the church age throughout the last age (almost 2000 years):
"Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded (symbolically) for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark...This is the first resurrection." (Rev 20:4-5)
This "first resurrection" is a spiritual resurrection where a believer is set free from sin before God. His sinful nature is deemed to have completely died with Christ on the cross—it no longer exists!
But just as Christ lives His new life to God, a true believer ought to live his new spiritual life to God in oneness with Christ. You can see this in the words of Jesus:
"This is life eternal (aionios zōe), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)
Notice how translators have translated "aiōnios zōe" as "eternal life," rather than "age-long life," which is the "life of God." Jesus was not only speaking of a future life; he said this life—life of God—begins NOW if we choose to know God and Christ. This is tremendous in terms of not needing to wait for future blessings. It begins no sooner than believing.
Eternal life (John 17:3) does not describe a faraway future life, but rather it describes the quality of life of this "age" in which God offers a one-of-a-kind salvation through a one-of-a-kind Son. It is final, never to be repeated.
The life of God "aionios zoé" is yours when you are reconciled and saved. We do it by figuratively dying and rising with Christ. Do it now, in this age. No need to wait.