Reinstatement

Restoration to a previous state or position. It is demonstrated in human relationships and also by God in his love and grace restoring fallen humanity and lifting up his people to their former place within his service.

The basis of reinstatement

God does not remember sin

God's unfailing love

Psalm 89:28; Lamentations 3:22; Hosea 11:8

God's reinstatement of fallen humanity

Humanity's unique calling

Hebrews 2:6–8 See also Psalm 8:4–6; Genesis 1:26–27; Isaiah 43:7

But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

Humanity's fall and reinstatement

Romans 3:23–24; 2 Thessalonians 2:14 See also Romans 5:15–19, Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:12; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:1

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's reinstatement of Israel

The promise of reinstatement

Micah 4:8 See also Isaiah 1:26, Isaiah 60:10; Haggai 2:9; Zechariah 1:17, Zechariah 10:6–8

And you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion — the former dominion will be restored to you; sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”

Reinstatement as God's people

Hosea 2:23 See also Romans 9:25; 1 Peter 2:10

And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

Reinstatement as God's bride

Isaiah 54:5–8 See also Jeremiah 3:12–14; Hosea 2:14–20

For your husband is your Maker — the LORD of Hosts is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God. “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.

Reinstatement in the land

Jeremiah 33:10–16 See also 2 Chronicles 30:9; Jeremiah 31:16–17; Hosea 11:10–11

This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted — inhabited by neither man nor beast — there will be heard again the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. In the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev, in the land of Benjamin and the cities surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise that I have spoken to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

God's reinstatement of his servants

Judges 16:22 Samson's hair begins to grow again, indicating his renewed call to serve God; Jeremiah 15:19 God will continue to speak through a repentant Jeremiah; Daniel 4:34–36 Nebuchadnezzar's sanity and kingdom is restored; Jonah 3:1–2 God renews Jonah's commission; John 21:15–17 Jesus Christ reinstates Peter after his denial.

Further examples of reinstatement

Genesis 40:13 Pharaoh's cupbearer reinstated; 1 Samuel 19:6–7 David reinstated by Saul; 2 Samuel 9:7 Mephibosheth reinstated by David; 2 Samuel 14:33 Absalom reinstated by David; Daniel 3:30 Nebuchadnezzar reinstates Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Hosea 3:2–3 Gomer reinstated as Hosea's wife; Luke 15:22–24 the prodigal reinstated by his father; Philemon 1:10 Paul asks Philemon to reinstate his slave Onesimus; Philemon 1:24 John Mark, formerly rejected, has here been reinstated as Paul's companion.