Sin separates. Because we are born into sin, we begin this life in hostility toward God and inclined toward rebellion and sin. As soon as we are able to discern the difference between right and wrong, we head straight down the path to worship and please self, and we never look back! Sin separates us from our Creator, who has fashioned us in his image. We belong to God, and he will not allow our sinful, selfish, rebellious hearts to have the final say! Therefore, by divine grace God claims us for his own, works grace in our hearts, brings us to himself in repentance and faith in Christ, and thereby reconciles us to himself! It is then we realize how useless and vain was our previous life of sin!
Part of the joy of being reconciled to God is that he makes use of our reconciliation for his glory! One means that God uses to reconcile others to himself is our testimonies of reconciliation! We, who have been reconciled, now have a ministry of reconciliation. That is, we go about displaying a reconciled life and proclaiming God’s reconciliation through Christ to others. God uses our witness as a means to bring others to himself!
The question though is how God can perform reconciliation and remain holy and just and right. How can he receive sinners to himself and not count “their trespasses against them?” The answer is that the basis of reconciliation is found in the work of Christ on our behalf. 2 Cor 5:21 just may be the greatest verse in all Holy Writ! “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Our reconciliation with God is grounded in Christ. He took our sin and granted us his righteousness, and thereby opened the way for a holy, just God to reconcile us to himself!
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