What does 'be reconciled to God' mean in a Christian context?

'Be reconciled to God' is an invitation for believers to acknowledge the reality of their reconciled status due to the completed work of Christ; it is not a call to initiate reconciliation but to embrace it. Paul’s exhortation implies a passive understanding, where believers recognize the reconciliation made by God through Jesus. This phrase, found in 2 Corinthians 5:20, highlights the essence of faith, which is to trust in what God has done rather than in one's own actions. As believers accept this truth, they can experience rest in their relationship with God, ceasing efforts to attain favor through their deeds and instead submitting to the grace already provided.