Renewed, Rejoined, Restored, Rejoice

“Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:16-20 ESV)

When we embrace Christ as our Savior, a profound transformation takes place. Paul reminds us that we are no longer the same but a new creation. This is a testament to the power of faith. Christ, once seen as a troublemaker and blasphemer, was rejected by the Pharisees and Sadducees. They failed to recognize Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, despite the signs He performed. However, Paul reveals the truth-Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the world for those who believe in Him. Through faith, we are not only restored but also united with God.

Paul reminds us that our union with Christ summarizes our redemption experience. We know believers are elected, justified, sanctified, and finally glorified. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul focuses on the significance of the believer’s union with Christ.

Christ is the second Adam, the last Adam, and it is through Christ that the new and final creation is brought forth. Believers in Christ are a new creation, yes, but we are also a part of it. We exist in a new age of messianic blessings. Paul also reminds us that all of this new creation comes from God. It is God’s plan and comes from God, through God, and for God’s glory.

Isaiah's words in chapter 59:2 perfectly capture the consequences of our sin: 'But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.' Our reconciliation with God is made possible through the divine intervention of Christ. Without His sacrifice, sin would forever be imputed to the sinner, leading to eternal separation from God. Christ’s sacrifice is not just a historical event but a life-altering act that offers us hope and the possibility of a restored relationship with God.

Paul reminds us that our faith allows a reconciliation or restoration of this loving fellowship with God. While we cannot lose our salvation, we restore our relationship with God every day when we repent our sins. I still hear people who claim to be Christians claim to live a sinless life. They are blind. Brothers and Sisters, there is no doctrine of sinless perfection. There never has been nor will there ever be on this earth. However, through Christ’s sacrifice, our sin was charged to Him, and, in turn, God imputed Christ's righteousness to us, meaning God counted it as belonging to us (Phil 3:8-9). Each Christian possesses, legally, the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed from God and received through faith and grace.

Christ died so that we would not be punished for our sins, an act of penal substitution. We are rejoined to God, having been made righteous before God through faith in Christ and God’s grace. I hope you are broken by the sacrifice of our Lord for you; I know I am every time I think of that sacrifice for sinners who did not even exist at the time of the crucifixion.

Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Peace and Grace!