If you’ve ever had a falling out with someone, you probably remember the disconnected, alienated feeling you were left with, and the joy you felt when reconciliation took place. It’s the same way with God. The sin that took place in the garden of Eden cut us off from God and made us strangers to Him. Getting born again changes all that.
To reconcile with someone is to reunite with them, to restore peace between the two parties, or to set aside a former disagreement. Accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior makes us new creatures; old things have passed away, and all things become new. Through Christ, we’re reconciled to God and received back into His favor. This justification by faith gives us peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Being in God’s favor also brings the permanent blessing of righteousness without works. We become righteous when we’re born again, which means that the promise “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” now applies to us. Even when we do unrighteous things, God now imputes righteousness, not sin, to us. Curses have been replaced by blessings, and those blessings can’t be reversed.
This knowledge makes it very difficult for the enemy to trap us in guilt and sin-consciousness. The devil tells us that we are what we do, and that we should be ashamed of ourselves. The truth is that we are who God says we are—His beloved, righteous, forgiven children. God is merciful to our unrighteousness, and remembers our sins and iniquities no more.
Our faith in the grace God’s extends allows us to be the righteousness of God, even when we do unrighteous things. All is forgiven. Our heavenly Father is waiting for us with open arms.
Prayer:
Lord, You give everyone the opportunity to be reconciled to You by being born again. You love us enough to forgive us and forget the past, and You welcome us back into Your presence. We’re thankful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 5:18, AMPC
Romans 5:1
Romans 4:8
Numbers 23:20
Hebrews 8:12