Martin Chemnitz, a chief author of the Formula of Concord, pointed out that justifying faith rests in the good news that the world has been reconciled to God:
… in 2 Cor. 5:18-19 Paul says that God who "reconciled the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them," gave to the apostles the message of reconciliation, likewise that He entrusted to them the message of reconciliation.
Examination of the Council of Trent, I:9.2.9
Examination of the Council of Trent, I:9.2.9
That Chemnitz accurately summarized the passage is seen in its parallel structure and the connection between verses 18 and 19 with the words "that is" (ESV):
| The good news | Proclaiming the good news | |
| 2 Cor. 5:18 | "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ," | "and has given us the ministry of reconciliation," |
| 2 Cor. 5:19 | "that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them," | "and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." |
As that parallel structure makes clear, Paul took confidence in his own reconciliation with God because he believed the good news that the world to which he belonged was reconciled to God. Chemnitz, citing Rom. 4:25 and 1 Cor. 15:17, recognized that the work of God in Christ to reconcile the world to himself included his resurrection as well as his atoning death:
And this whole action of the Mediator turns on this, whether the Father would accept that satisfaction and obedience of the Son for the whole world. But this the Father showed especially in this, that He did not leave in death, the Son, whom He had smitten for the sins of the people, but raised Him from the dead and set Him at the right hand of His majesty.
Examination of the Council of Trent, I:8.4.13
Examination of the Council of Trent, I:8.4.13
Seeing that the world has been reconciled to God, justified by Christ’s resurrection, why is anyone finally condemned? The Fourth Gospel is very relevant to that question, attributing damnation to stubborn disbelief in the Son (John 3:18-20; 9:39-41; 16:9), as explored in "The Third Use of the Law: Resolving the Tension" (PDF). Accordingly, the Beloved Disciple taught that the damned refused to believe God’s promise that they had been forgiven through his Son (John 3:33-36; 1 John 1:10; 5:10-12).