This ongoing tension reflects a larger cosmic process—where all creation is gradually being brought under Christ’s lordship and authority (1 Corinthians 15:24–28; Philippians 2:9–11). The divine plan involves a progressive unfolding of God's sovereignty, where each step forward brings about greater harmony and order. The final consummation will occur when Christ returns in glory, and divine order is fully restored in the new heaven and new earth (Colossians 1:19–20). Until that time, believers live in the tension of already having received salvation and yet eagerly awaiting its full realization—a tension that fuels hope, perseverance, and faith. Despite the completeness of Christ’s work in reconciling humanity—uniting Jews and Gentiles into one new humanity (Ephesians 2:14–16)—we observe that conflict and division persist among us. These ongoing struggles are not failures of Christ’s redemptive work but are instead reflections of the “already-but-not-yet” aspect of salvation. The cross has decisively defeated enmity and established a new spiritual reality: a new humanity founded upon Christ’s body (Markus Barth, Ephesians, 1974; Peter T. O'Brien, Ephesians, 1999). However, the full realization of this unity remains to be consummated in the future. The present state of division and discord among nations, communities, and individuals serve as signs that the kingdom of God has been inaugurated but not yet fully consummated. Salvation is confidently assured because Christ’s victory and redemptive work are certain, but its complete realization is still future, awaiting the final act of divine revelation. Importantly, this act of “reckoning” does not create or bring about the union between Christ and the believer—that union is established by Christ Himself through His death and resurrection—but it makes that union effective and operative in our daily experience. It acts as a spiritual and mental bridge that helps close the gap between the divine truth proclaimed by God and the believer’s subjective, lived assurance. In this way, faith functions as the vital link that transforms divine promises into personal certainty, anchoring us firmly in the finished work of Christ. Faith, therefore, is not merely a passive belief but an active trust that makes divine realities a present and experiential reality in our lives. In essence, the divine act of reconciliation is a profound mystery—an interplay of divine sovereignty and human response—that continually unfolds across history and eternity. Although Christ’s work has decisively defeated enmity, division, and chaos in the objective realm, the ongoing presence of conflict among humans serves as a reminder of the incomplete yet certain nature of salvation. Our assurance rests not only on the objective reality of Christ’s atonement but also on our active participation through faith, confession, and trust. As we confess Christ and participate in His divine narrative, we deepen our experiential knowledge of reconciliation, moving toward its ultimate fulfillment in the eschaton when God's eternal purpose is fully realized and all creation is restored in perfect harmony. Until that glorious day, we live in a dynamic tension—confessing, experiencing, and longing—confident that God's promises are sure, and that in Christ, the fullness of salvation is secure, awaiting its final consummation in the glorious return of our Lord. Within this divine mystery, the apparent discord and chaos—such as ongoing human conflict—give way to divine coherence and purpose. The believer can rest confidently in the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, trusting that His work is complete and all-encompassing. This assurance is not static; it is a progressive experience, a journey of confessing and experiencing Christ’s reconciliation more fully day by day. Ultimately, in God's perfect timing, all divine promises and purposes will be revealed in their fullness at the eschaton—the final culmination of history—when divine will is fully manifested, and creation is restored to its intended glory.