Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)
We are all born broken, wayward souls desirous of our own ways – alienated from God and enemies in our minds because of our evil behavior. All of us needy. All of us wanting. Many do not like to think of themselves of being in this way but that does not change the fact that we all once were or still are. Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Not one of us is perfect - not.even.one. Helpless and hopeless to save ourselves. And then we were graced by God through the perfect blood of His Son. Only those in Christ – all who believe in His Name for salvation – are saved. Saved from condemnation, saved from Hell; saved for Heaven and eternal bliss and all that that entails – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” He desires none to perish but all to come to repentance. That means a turning from our ways to His. And while salvation is a onetime event in the life of the believer, our souls need daily forgiveness and cleansing, Amen? Remember, it is only Jesus Who makes us whiter than snow. It is not our works. It is not our money. It is not our worldly popularity or power or prestige. Our works merely demonstrate that we belong to Him. And those who belong to Him will never be snatched from His Hand. The Cross of Christ epitomizes the love of God. Our salvation came with a great cost – the life of His Son. The Savior was sinless and He took on Himself all the sins of the world – past, present, and future - crucifying them on the cross. Now, when God looks down upon the believer in sweet Jesus, He sees a perfect life because all those who believe in His Name are wrapped in His robe of righteousness. The sins of the world were placed on Him so that in turn His righteousness could be bestowed on all who would trust in Him. This reconciliation is necessary because all of us were once estranged and cut off from God – His enemies. Sin begins in our hearts and manifests in our deeds. We are inwardly hostile to God before Christ enters our hearts. Therefore, the demonstration of God’s love for us was the cross of Christ at the cost of His Son. Forgiven and justified through His blood for all who would believe. What a Savior! What a Friend!
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)