Tuesday, 8 October 2024
MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Human nature loves the message of condemnation because it recognizes its imperfections. For example, when you preach and tell people, "We’re all sinners; no one is righteous except God”; the natural response from many would be, “Yes; it’s true.” Such folks get jittery when you excitedly talk about the soon return of the Lord because they’re not sure of their salvation. They’ve been placed in doldrums and incertitude.
But read Paul’s submission in the opening scripture. It says, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Observe that it says God has committed unto us “The ministry of reconciliation,” not the ministry of condemnation. This ministry testifies that God was in Christ in His redemptive work, not counting men’s sins against them; rather, He laid all their sins on Jesus. Jesus bore the sins of the whole world. When He died, everyone died in Him. He paid the full penalty for sin for the whole world. Therefore, in the mind of justice, we all died. This is the reason God isn’t counting the sins of men against them.
So, when the devil tries to deceive you and stir thoughts of condemnation in you, tell him that God has reconciled the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them, and anyone who believes is no longer condemned but made the righteousness of God in Christ: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This is the message He wants us to tell everybody: righteousness has been made available in Christ Jesus because He (God) Himself paid for man’s sins in Christ Jesus. That’s what we read in our opening scripture: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
Notice the term "imputing"; it’s a legal term, meaning "to charge with." God is not charging people with their trespasses. That’s why it’s called “Good News.” You’re an ambassador of the message of reconciliation; you have the ministry of reconciliation, not condemnation. Hallelujah!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the privilege to be the bearer of your message of reconciliation. As an ambassador of the Kingdom, I spread faith, hope and love, boldly declaring the Word of salvation that catapults sinners from the domain of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:8-10; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 1:24-2:1-5 & Isaiah 46-47
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 2:10-18 & Lamentations 4-5