He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.
Colossians 1:22 (NASB)
Series Focus: “Through His Eyes”
Opposing sides. At war with each other. Irreconcilable differences. Crossed the line too far. Enemies. Perhaps, frenemies. Most of us have experienced a strained relationship. Hopefully, the events, emotions, and outcomes have caused us to learn about ourselves. However, our experiences do not determine our identity.
Sometimes we lean into defining ourselves by what has happened to us. And, sometimes we approach our relationship with God from the lens of our human experiences. But, God is sovereign; He is not a man; and His ways are so much higher than our own. Our true identity is rooted in the heart of our Creator, and we discover who we are as we study His word.
Nonetheless, because we have made mistakes, let people down, and perhaps been “at war” with others, we may believe that, just as our human relationships are deemed irreconcilable, so is our relationship with God. …Not True!
God knew we would be imperfect vessels, in need of a Savior. While we were yet in sin, the plan for our redemption, salvation, and reconciliation was already provided through Jesus. Paul wrote in Romans 5:8-11 (NASB):
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
We were all enemies to God. But never irreconcilable. Not because of anything we could do, but because of everything God is and all He has done for us. The gift of His Son, Jesus, was not “just” for our salvation—but that would be enough! As Paul wrote throughout his letters, we are saved, justified, redeemed, rescued, and reconciled through our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we study God’s word to learn our true identity, we have to start with this word “reconciled.” It means to come together into agreement or harmony; to put warring parties back together in peace; to win over friendliness and cause to be amicable.
Sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, which caused separation of man from God. Jesus, through His life, blood, death, and resurrection, brought us back into a right relationship with our Father in Heaven. We have been reconciled to Him—no longer enemies of God in sin, but friends of God in righteousness.
See yourself through our Father’s eyes. You are not an enemy of God. Your mistakes are never more than what Jesus’ blood accomplished for you. You are loved by God so very much that He has made the way to restore His relationship with you. You are redeemed. You are saved. You are reconciled to God forever.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scriptures: John 10:9; Acts 4:12; Romans 5, 10:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:16-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:22
