Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to teh will of God, and not to the will of hte devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in an through the grace of God that ye are saved.
I dwelt somewhat on the word "reconcile." Here's the definition from dictionary.com:
- to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired: He was reconciled to his fate.
- to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable: to reconcile hostile persons.
- to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).
- to bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or consistent: to reconcile differing statements; to reconcile accounts.
- to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, cemetery, etc.).
- to restore (an excommunicate or penitent) to communion in a church.
Definitions 3-6 seem to be the most applicable here. In implies bringing into harmony. Note that we are supposed to reconcile ourselves to God, not the other way around; we are the ones that need to become compatible or consistent, to reconsecrate ourselves and to restore ourselves to communion (i.e. oneness, communication) with God. Then even when we are reconciled, we must rely on His grace and continue this process until the end in order to become like He is.
