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Reconciling the world
Many people have been told that they stand under God’s
utter condemnation, and that the only way God will change his mind about
them, forgive them and begin loving them, is if they repent of their sins
and accept Jesus.
But the gospel does not tell us that we must do
something in order for God to extend his grace to us. The gospel tells us
that in Jesus Christ, God the Father has already reconciled to himself all
things, including all humans.
Notice the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians
1:19-20:
“God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in
[Jesus Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed
on the cross.”
And in 1 John 2:2, we read this, speaking of Jesus:
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also
for the sins of the whole world.”
Jesus has already reconciled everyone to the Father,
already done everything necessary for human salvation, before and apart from
any profession of faith on our part.
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While
we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Paul wrote in Romans 5:10.
God does not forgive us in exchange for our
repentance and belief, like some kind of business transaction. God loved us
and made us his own long before we were born. Salvation is a gift, free and
unconditional, entirely of grace and not of works.
And because God loves us so much, the Holy Spirit never
ceases to work in our hearts, prompting and urging us to receive, accept,
and embrace that gift – to respond to the Father’s love by trusting his word
and giving our lives and allegiance to Jesus Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, Paul writes:
"We are
therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through
us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him
who had no sin to be sin for us."
This appeal to be reconciled is not an appeal to do
something that would bring about reconciliation; rather it is
an appeal to accept and experience the reconciliation that exists for you already, by turning to God in faith.
God wants all people to believe this good news,
to receive his reconciliation and enter into the joy of new life in Christ
through the Spirit, participating with Jesus in his eternal relationship
with the Father.
The gospel is good news. It’s good news for everyone,
and it’s good news for you.
I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.
Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I
am?" We have a free booklet, A Brief Introduction to Trinitarian Theology,
to help you answer that question. In the United States, to request your free
copy, see www.wcg.org/lit Or call us
toll-free at 1-800-423-4444.
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