Faith without religion.
Reconciliation and Transformation in Christ
In a recent teaching, we delved into 2nd Corinthians 5:18-21, exploring the profound message of reconciliation that Paul shares. Last week, we discussed the transformative power of being in Christ, where old things pass away and all things become new. This week, we focused on understanding the source of these new things, which Paul attributes to God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
Paul emphasizes that the “us” in this passage refers specifically to himself and the apostles, who were given the ministry of reconciliation. This ministry involves spreading the message that God, through Christ, reconciled the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them. Paul describes himself and the apostles as ambassadors for Christ, urging believers to be reconciled to God.
The teaching highlighted the universal reconciliation achieved through Christ’s death, which removed the sin that separated humanity from God. However, Paul makes a distinction between being reconciled and being saved by Christ’s life. While all are reconciled, salvation and becoming children of God require a personal response to this reconciliation.
The message underscores the importance of seeing the Bible and the world with new eyes, a transformation that occurs when one is in Christ. It challenges us to embrace the righteousness of God, made available through Jesus, and to live in His resurrection. This teaching invites us to reflect on our relationship with God and to actively reconcile ourselves to Him, allowing His life to flow through us.
