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Unity with Christ

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Submitted By ccoleman59
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Introduction
Reconciliation and Union with Christ are the two topics I will discuss in this paper. The Christian faith is built on reconciliation. We should be in unity with Christ as Christians, and if we have no reconciliation we have no union with Christ. I will explore the theological definition, Biblical foundation, and practical application of each.
Part I Reconciliation
The theological definition of reconciliation is, “ To make man who was once an enemy of God have peace through Christ’s atoning death. A change of relationship between God to man from hostility to harmony”. (Oppenheimer, 2009) Another definition from the Webster Dictionary describes reconciliation as “the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement”. (Webster, 2014) Reconciliation is required for our relationship with God, and it is also required for our relationships with others.
Reconciliation is a foundation for the Christian faith and is not just an act we do with others, it begins when we reconcile with our Creator. Reconciliation follows forgiveness, both of these acts God expects from us as his followers. Hebrews 12:14 states, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”. God wants us to live in an intimate relationship with Him, and He also wants us to live in peace with each other. Neither of these can be accomplished without reconciliation.
The world in which we live in is a sinful place and we are sinful beings. It is inevitable that we are going to sin and have anger towards one another. We fight God, we fight each other, and we fight in groups. Wars are fought and countries are divided because of irreconcilable reasons. However, God as given us the tools we need to reconcile. First, we must ask God for forgiveness of our sins and reconcile with our Creator. There is no such thing as forgiving yourself, like some would suggest. Second, God wants us to forgive others. It is not always easy to forgive, but at times it is even harder to reconcile. However, we must remember what has been given to us. Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins. In comparison to what Jesus has done for us how can we hold forgiveness and how can we hold reconciliation from others? The answer is simple, we cannot.
Part II Union with God The Webster dictionary describes a union as, “the act of joining two or more things together”. John Murray describes Union with God best when he stated, “Union with Christ is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation”. (Owens, 2014) When we think of union we often think of marriages. When we are in union with God it is similar to a marriage, we are committed. Union with Jesus Christ is our whole reason that we exist. Our Creator designed us to be in union and to worship Him. As I mentioned earlier we often think of marriage when we think of a union. On marriage Genesis 2:24 states, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh”. The union between a man and a woman is small refection of the greater union between Christ and the church.
From my own personal experience, I can say I am truly blessed. Jesus is my Savior. I strive to live in union with Him. He is first and foremost in every aspect of my life, as He should be. To be in union with Christ we must first be forgiven. The next step is to do God’s will. We must read His word and put His word into practice, and this is not always as easy as it may sound. We are human and because of this we will stumble and sin, but however, God loves us and he forgives us. It is through his love that we are able to be in a union with Him. An acronym for “growth” gives excellent advise on how to grow and be in union with God. (Steeper, 2014)
G -Go to God daily in prayer.
R -Read the Bible everyday.
O -Obey God moment by moment.
W -Worship in a local church regularly.
T -Tell others about Jesus Christ.
H -Holey Spirit- let Him direct your life.
Conclusion
I have really enjoyed Theology. It has given me different perspectives on certain topics such as reconciliation and unity with God. As mentioned earlier they are both foundational to the Christian faith. God desires a relationship with us through reconciliation, and furthermore he desires us to be in union with him. Reconciliation and unity are necessary for us to worship and serve our Creator. This process all begins when we open our hearts and our minds. We must surrender and accept Jesus as our personal Savior.

References
Owens, J. (2014, January 1). Union with Christ. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from www.philgons.com Oppenheimer, M. (2009, January 1). Let Us Reason. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from www.letusreason.org Reconciliation, union. 2014. In Merriam-Webster.com Retrieved August 18, 2014, from www.merriam-webster.com Steeper, P. (2014, January 1). How to Know Jesus. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from
Kalihiuion.org

Reflection Paper Grading Rubric
Select the entire rubric below; then, copy and paste it into the final section of your Reflection Papers (this must be the last page of your paper). Student: | Criteria | PointsPossible | PointsEarned | Instructor’s Comments | Content: Does the paper cover the subject as thoroughly as possible? Are 2 topics covered? Does it demonstrate a personal understanding of the subject? | 65 | | | Introduction: Is there a clear introductory paragraph including a thesis? | 10 | | | Structure: Are there headings provided for each section? | 10 | | | Conclusion: Is a concluding paragraph given? | 10 | | | Mechanics: Is paper free of glaring errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation and is it posted by the deadline? | 30 | | | Grading Rubric: Is this page provided as the last page of the paper? | 10 | | | Format: Is the paper formatted using current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program)? | 15 | | | Total | 150 | | |

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