January
1, 2003
GOD,
RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF
"Now
all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through
Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation"
(2 Corinthians 5:18, NKJV).
It is
God's purpose to reconcile all things in heaven and on earth!
"It pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus] all the fullness
should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,--
whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace
through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:19, 20).
"He has made known to us His hidden purpose - such was
His will and pleasure determined beforehand in Christ - to
be put into effect when the time was ripe: namely, that the
universe, all in heaven and on earth, might be brought into
a unity in Christ" "For in Christ our release is
secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of
his blood. Therein lies the richness of God's free grace lavished
upon us, imparting full wisdom and insight" (Ephesians
1:9, 10, 7, 8 NEB).
God's
purpose is to save us from the false values of this world
and sophistries of Satan. God has shared Himself and His values
with us in the life of His Son, and in the lives and writings
of His prophets and messengers. He has reconciled us to Himself
through the life of Jesus and His death on the cross. We are
born under the condemnation of death. "The wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord." (Romans 6:23). However, God has provided for
us a transference from death to life, if we so choose. God
provided a "lamb" on which to transfer the sin of
this world, so that we may receive His adoption as His sons
and daughters. John the Baptist testified, "Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John
1:29). Paul tells us, "For [God] made [Jesus] to be sin
for us, that we might become righteous -- in Him" (2
Corinthians 5:21).
We have
the blessed opportunity to choose who we will follow and who's
values we accept. By accepting God's provision for us and
His values, we are "born again" so-to-speak, into
the family of heaven, His family. And God sends His Helper
who will "abide with you forever"
and "teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you"
(John 14:16, 26). His eternal purpose for us is love, peace,
safety, and so much more.
May our
Father of love and peace dwell in your heart and your thoughts
throughout this New Year!
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