Today, we’re continuing our study of our identity in Christ.
As a quick review, we saw in lesson ten that God deeply loves us and that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, all who believe are new creations in Christ. We understood that as new creations in Christ, we are not to live for ourselves, but instead, we are to live for Jesus Who died for us. And as we live for Jesus, we will respond to our spouse's sins against us in a gospel way instead of according to our fears and feelings.
As we begin today, let’s start by reading 2 Corinthians 5:18-21:
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 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. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Reconciliation is such a beautiful word. It means “the restoration of friendly relations.” And this is what God has done for us through Jesus!
Sin came into the world and separated us from God, making us His enemies (Romans 5:10). But in His vast mercy and love, God has reconciled us to Himself through the cross of Jesus Christ! Through Jesus’ death on the cross, He removed the sin barrier that prevented us from having a relationship with Him. Now, we “rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). The cross has made enemies into friends.
Oh, friend, our identity is not found in our past or present circumstances! If we have put our faith in Jesus, we are those who are in Christ reconciled to God at the cross.
As a believer in Jesus, you now have God as your Friend—the best Friend ever! He knows you fully and loves you deeply. He never wearies of your voice or ignores your call. He never sleeps, is never too busy, and the words He speaks to you will always be perfect.
Question 2. What does it mean that you have been reconciled to God? Please share your thoughts.
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Question 3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, when God reconciled you to Himself through Jesus, He also gave you a ministry. What is this ministry?