Reconciliation

To be saved one must have belief and acceptance of Jesus to rule your life. You are justified by your faith in Christ: you're declared free of blame because Christ suffered for you. “Justification” is the key concept in Christianity for without justification no one would be “good”enough to be rewarded with heaven. At the same time we are justified we are also reconciled: we have brought ourselves into close relationship with Christ and accept Him as our Savior. However, reconciliation doesn't stop there! Although you're justifiedand reconciled, one time is not the end; reconciliation is an ongoing process. We are to live a consistent life, actually in harmony with Christ. It's not a condition of salvation, it's the assurance of salvation.
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Many who're saved don't have evidence of it. They don't have the assurance of their salvation because reconciliation has been one-sided. Here's an example of the many places we are told of reconciliation:

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Colossians (KJV) 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
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These verses show that at salvation Jesus reconciles you (brings you into a close relationship: you become his son or daughter and part of his bride, the church). Reconciliation at salvation is a gift of God! You are rewarded for your faith. Jesus wipes your slate clean. You were wicked and alienated from Him. Now you start afresh. Jesus has no requirement that you become “good” to be saved, but because you're saved you will want to do good!

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2 Corinthians (KJV) 5:17 ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To 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.”

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2 Corinthians corroborates Colossians plus ads “and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”! Reconciliation is what you do: “given to us the ministry of reconciliation”. That's as Paul Harvey would say is “Page 2”. Just as Jesus has put us in harmony with Himself, we are to put ourselves in harmony with Jesus. Much like the older covenants with God, this is also a two-party covenant. At salvation we don't become robots who walk as a “Stepford Wife”: obedient, perfect, personable, agreeable and reliable; we still have that human nature to sin; but we must exercise self-control and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Each time we sin we make a decision: “I will pursue my own gratification or I will be obedient to God.” Unfortunately, you as well as I, often put our own pleasure first.

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1 Thessalonians (KJV) 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Sanctification is a work of God allowing you to seek and obey the truth. You're set apart from the world because you're to be Christlike (which the world is not). In effect you move from a “babe in Christ” having little knowledge of the truth, and grow in obedience (and love) as you seek the truth through the call of the Spirit. 1 Peter 1:16 says “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” That's what Christians are called to be. It implies effort on your part! You don't go immediately from falling to the deception of sin to perfection. You grow in sanctification! You will never be perfect because you're not Jesus, but that's not to stop you from obedience and love! However, someday you will be entirely sanctified:

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1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

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Jesus' second appearance will finish your sanctification! When He appears you will be holy just as Jesus is holy! It will be the finis certiminis, the end of the struggle! Your war with principalities will be over! I can hardly wait until that “War of the World” is finished. Guilt will be gone because sin won't exist in my life. Love will be easy and plentiful. God will reign in my life ALL THE TIME! Amen!