Friday, August 2, 2019

Married to Christ (Part 4 of 7)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV)



I think one of the most amazing grace salvation passages in Scripture is this: in Christ, God is reconciling the world to Himself, NOT counting their trespasses against them (2 Cor 5:19)!

Along with passages like Romans 8:38-39 (nothing can separate us from the love of Christ), 1 John 2:2 (He is the propitiation for the sins of the world), and Ephesians 2:8-9 (by grace you have been saved through faith...) it contributes to the foundation of our understanding just how permanent and real salvation is.

There is nothing 'right' for us to accomplish. It's not about working hard at being good enough. It's about trusting Christ did the right thing for us. In salvation, we learn to trust in His obedience to His Father, now our Father. It's about relying on His work as the only work that could ever secure our salvation.

It's like spreading out your arms on a warm fall day and falling backwards into a hammock where our only response is refreshing gladness and true rest.

Salvation is by grace. It is a gift from God. It is not of our effort. None of it. No one, therefore, has anything to boast about. Certainly, there are no grounds upon which anyone can stand to judge others. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Reconciliation with God is purely on His terms. I've learned the secret to contentment is to accept His terms. Now I make my marriage to Christ my priority. How can I help but love Someone who loves me so much He would sacrifice everything for me, even His life, and then never let me go?

I'm happily married now, but I've been married and divorced before. I've been in and out of relationships that were supposed to mean something. I had issues, baggage, etc. In fact, I still use "had" lightly.

Remember the other day when I admitted I made and make mistakes? Only a few were private. I've hurt people, some deeply. I'm so sorry. I've apologized to some, and don't know where to start with others. Reconciliation seems impossible.

But, God took the initiative toward reconciliation with me, and with you. Could we have imagined having our many mistakes, or even blatant disregard for God, not count against us? How could this be? Isn't it all based on our behavior?

Thanks be to God we don't have to prequalify! He did the work us. All He asks is that we believe in His solution for our reconciliation; the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He put forth as a propitiation for us and for our salvation.

In Him, there is no condemnation, at all!

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