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JE said,
First, you say the whole world is reconciled to God without any biblical support?

Speratus answers,
"reconciling the world unto himself"II Cor. 5:19
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JE said,
Second, if the world is reconciled to God (which are the first words of your LCMS Brief Statement, “of Faith in Christ”) then what need is there of personal reconciliation, so yes it is poorly written?

Speratus answers,
"hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" II Cor. 5:19
As common with your quotes you take them out of their proper context and offer no biblical understanding of them. Lets look at this one briefly “in context:”

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2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man [any man where?] be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, 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. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Now, if you will look at this “in context” you will see that first of all Paul was speaking of Christians being reconciled and then reconciling others to Christ by the word of reconciliation, though the ministry and the reconciliation originate with God (as seen in the Greek construction of the verse). Of course, if the world was “already” reconciled (as in the doctrinal statement you are supporting) then there would be no further reconciling efforts needed, now would there? If the whole world was reconciled then even the Devil, the prince of this world, and all his would be reconciled as well….. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drop.gif" alt="" /> Thus, the context of the 2 Cor 5:19 does not allow anyone to understand the meaning of the term, world to be synonymous with "all mankind without exception," etc. If Christ reconciled ALL, then all men of necessity must be saved. Thus, you must answer the question of who the world is from Scripture.

Since the object of God’s reconciliation is not limited to us or we (Paul and his company, etc.) but others that are or will be saved Paul uses the term the world and their in a limited way. The Pauline use of the term world is even supported by John saying; “with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev 5:9),” or “from every nation, tribe, people and language (Rev 7:9), or “from every people, tribe, language and nation” (Rev 11:9), or “tribe, people, language and nation” (Rev 13:7), “he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth–to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Rev 14:6), etc.