I am reconciled to God...
II Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...
“Imagine two friends who have a fight or argument. The good relationship they once enjoyed is strained to the point of breaking. They cease speaking to each other; communication is deemed too awkward. The friends gradually become strangers. Such estrangement can only be reversed by reconciliation. To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship or harmony. When old friends resolve their differences and restore their relationship, reconciliation has occurred. Second Corinthians 5:18-19 declares, ‘All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.’
“The Bible says that Christ reconciled
us to God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20-21). The fact that
we needed reconciliation means that our relationship with God was broken. Since
God is holy, we were the ones to blame. Our sin alienated us from Him. Romans
5:10 says that we were enemies of God: ‘For if, when we were God’s enemies, we
were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!’
“When Christ died on the cross, He satisfied
God’s judgment and made it possible for God’s enemies, us, to find peace with
Him. Our ‘reconciliation’ to God, then, involves the exercise of His grace and
the forgiveness of our sin. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is that our
relationship has changed from enmity to friendship. ‘I no longer call you
servants … Instead, I have called you friends’ (John 15:15). Christian
reconciliation is a glorious truth! We were God’s enemies, but are now His
friends. We were in a state of condemnation because of our sins, but we are now
forgiven. We were at war with God, but now have the peace that transcends all
understanding (Philippians 4:7)!”
Isn’t it awesome to know that we are no longer enemies of
God? What a RELIEF! We are God’s friend – fully restored to Him
because of Jesus. That breach in
fellowship that occurred in the Garden of Eden has been repaired – and just as
Adam and Eve could walk with God with no worries or concerns – so can we walk
with Him in peace, not fearing His anger or judgment! You ARE reconciled to God – and you’ve been
given the ministry of reconciliation. Go
and tell others what God has done for them – live your life in a such a way
that they see the truth of reconciliation in your life! Sharon
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