Alienated from God, but Reconciled

Col 1:21,22
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

It is only through the blood of Christ, the blood that was shed on the cross that we can stand before a holy God and be presented unblameable. We are all born in sin and the works of the flesh are seen in our lives at an early age. The tendency is to put self first. Many times the good work we do is done to compensate for the selfish things that we do. Balance out the bad by doing good. The works of the flesh alienate us from God, and we believe that if we do things that are kind and helpful that we can in some way get God’s approval. Works not done by faith or love for God, or anything done without the Holy Spirit is a “work of the flesh.”  The teaching that humanity is basically good, and only needs to be trained and put in the right environment to do what is right is inaccurate. We do see moments during natural disasters of people coming together to help each other. This is a natural desire of survival and a God given desire to reach out to humanity, but such actions do not negate the fact that man is basically self-centered and seeks to please and satisfy himself, disregarding God's desire. Wicked works cause a separation between God and us. Yet now, we are part of the body of Christ and no longer do the works of the flesh. We align ourselves with the works of the Spirit, and manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. This is the natural desire for the person who is sanctified and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live unblamable in this present world.

Reconcilation

 Romans 5:10
 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Basic Bible doctrine of the purpose of Jesus coming to earth, Why the Son of God was sent to walk the dusty roads of His own creation. Man’s disobedience caused him to fall away from a holy relationship with his Creator. All humans born into this world are born with the nature of sin in their heart, yet God left within man a desire to have fellowship with his creator. This is the struggle of good and evil. There is no amount of good that man can do to erase the evil (Sin) in the heart of man. To regain our relationship with our Creator and be reconciled, Christ had to die, pay the supreme sacrifice. We are made clean through the shed blood of Christ and now can come boldly to the throne of God. Reconciliation did not stop with his death, Jesus rose again from the grave that we could be saved by His life. Because He lives, we also can live a life that is holy and blameless without sin. I write nothing profound, I write the truth of God’s word, and I choose to believe it. Thanks be to God!

Reconciled to Your Brother

 Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer you a gift.
We cannot have a right relationship with God, if there are hard feelings between you and someone else. As Christians, Jesus wants us to have a heart of forgiveness and forbearance. We may not always see eye to eye with everyone, but Christ made it possible for us to show compassion and understanding. It is not easy to always put aside things that others have done or said to us, and act like nothing ever happened or was said, but Jesus made His teaching clear, “…be reconciled to your brother”. Your relationship may never be the same, but God is able to heal and make it possible to continue working for the Kingdom side by side without strife and bitterness.

We Are Reconciled

2 Corinth 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
There was a day when my life was separated from God. I acknowledge Him as the creator of the earth and some cosmic power out there in the vast universe. I even attempted to win His favor by being a good human being and attending the means of grace by going to church and saying ritual prayers that had very little meaning to me. I did not know that there was a God who desired to dwell within me. But there was this gulf between us that kept us apart. Sin separates us from being fit to be in His presence. The plan of God was to bridge the gap between God and man. Because Christ, the God man, came to earth to take our sin upon Himself, we can now be reconciled, and be made right to have fellowship with God. We now see the world through different eyes, our life now has a new purpose and meaning. We are reconciled, all is now right.

The Suffering Savior

Isaiah 53: 1-12

God, who loved this world, was willing to let His son come to earth and take on the form of man. Knowing that His son would suffer a cruel death on a rugged cross, God the Father released His son into the hands of cruel and hateful men. In spite of their hatred, Christ laid His life down to suffer and die for sinful man. The Suffering Christ made it possible for you and me to be reconciled and redeemed. It was through his suffering that we our made whole, whereby we cry “Abba Father”

Report of a Savior- Who hath believed our report

• By Faith they looked for the day to come
• That God would send His son to take away our sins

Reaching Arms of God- arm of the Lord revealed

• He will make Himself know to those who believe
• God’s arm will reach around the world- Salvation for all

Root in the desert- root out of dry land

• Royal line of David was buried
• His physical appearance was common
• His beauty was within- tender plant

Rejected & Despised of Men – He was despised and rejected

• He was hated of men and dismissed as a mere carpenter
• A man who identified with suffering
• Who is will to take up his cross and follow?

Redeemed Through His Blood with His strips we our healed

• Wounded for our committed sins
• Bruised for our sin nature- we were born in iniquity

• God laid on Him all of our sin(s)

Repudiated by His Own – He was afflicted, lamb to slaughter

• They led Him to the cross, as lamb is led for sacrifice
• He laid down His life willing
• Forsaken by all- cut off from the living

Righteous Servant-righteous servant justify many

• Fulfilled the will of Jehovah
• He who knew no sin, became sin for us
• More than just physical suffering

Risk All for the World- he bares the sin of many

• Poured out his soul unto death

• Numbered with the transgressors
• Interceded for sinful man