Lord's Day Devotion - Reconciled and Made Righteous

 "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV).

God really wants us to be righteous people especially when we belong to Him.  He went all out for us so this can be possible.  God made His son Jesus who was absolutely sinless, "to be sin" in our place.  This assuaged God's wrath and punishment upon us, so that He could then make those who accept this gift, righteous in His sight.

When we think of every type of sin there is and that every single person in the world who has ever lived, except for Jesus, has committed a variety of those sins, what is to be done with us?  Thank God that through Christ Jesus we can be reconciled and made righteous in God's sight.

"God, ... through Christ reconciled us to Himself ... that is, in Christ God was reconciling  the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them ..." (1 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV).

The apostle Paul then wrote out of his deep care for the Corinthians,

"we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God ..." (vs 20).

The word 'implore' is one of intensity. 

He, and God for that matter, and most importantly, deeply wants our reconciliation!

In light of addictive behavior we, as God's children, may be indulging in, God implores us to be reconciled to Him.  Realize your wrong doing, confess it and repent of it.  Get help from a trusted friend and even professional counselors to overcome.

God wants you to be reconciled to Him.  Through salvation and justification and then the progressive sanctification process.  Jesus paid the price for this.  He became sin for you, so that we might become the righteousness of God!    Give Him glory with your life.

What mercy!  What grace of God!  It is being extended to you, here and now!  Be reconciled to God!

He then entrusts this message of reconciliation to us, to pass it on.  He did this for my sake and for yours.  Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, be reconciled to God and then proclaim His message of reconciliation and righteousness to others.  He makes all things beautiful in His time.

This Lord's Day, as you gather together as a family of God around the table of the King to remember what Jesus has done and accomplished for us, reach out for that broken bread, partake.  Then sip of that cup of wine remembering the cost it was for Him to be made sin for you, as an individual and then for all the "whosoever" who have come to Christ and been given the righteousness of God.

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Lord Jesus, thank You for that price you paid in order to reconcile us to God.  In order that we might "become the righteousness of God".  We humbly and gratefully give you our thanks.  May we each now go forth with this message of reconciliation to all those who need this same righteousness.  Thank You for the bread and wine which help us to remember Your love, mercy and grace, and above all, Your invitation of reconciliation and righteousness.  We come to You O Lamb of God.  In Your name we give our grateful thanks.  Amen.

                                                          ~ ERC  March 2025 ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 5:8 ESV.

Sing, In Christ Alone, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty and City Alight.