Reconciled To God

 

 

II Corinthians 5:18-21 (NKJV)

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

Corinthians tells us that God reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and then gave us the ministry of reconciliation. God is not out to condemn you. God is not the one who is telling you you are worthless. It is the devil who is telling you those lies. God knows what and who you are and where you have been, but God's desire and purpose is to reconcile you to himself. The light of God, your conscience (the voice of your spirit), is there to let you know when things are wrong. The Gospel is not designed to beat you down and make you feel like a "good-for-nothing" worm. God is in the business of reconciling. And the message of the Church should be a message of love and grace, not a message of condemnation. We need to tell sinners the good news. Man has been reconciled to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. God has sent Jesus to make you a brand-new person, if you will only receive the paid-for redemption. Yet, the will only know this if we tell them.