Four Miracles of Christmas
Part Two: The Miracle of Reconciliation
Gtcotr/ss121006
Last week we discussed the first miracle of Christmas:
2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ …
We re-discovered The Miracle of Incarnation
The Word of God became flesh and lived among us. (John 1:14)
The Son of God and The Son of Man
23 Chromosomes of human genetic design
23 Chromosomes of divine genetic design
Combined to produce Jesus, the Messiah, born of a virgin, Son of God. The Miracle of Incarnation.
Imprinted with both the DNA of man and the DNA of God
But what did the miracle of incarnation accomplish?
Let’s read more of our:
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5: 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself …
The miracle of incarnation made way for the miracle of reconciliation.
Just as the birth of Jesus accomplished the miracle of incarnation
The death of Jesus brought about the miracle of reconciliation
The death of Jesus did not save every person, but did make salvation a possibility for every person. This is the miracle of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
From the preponderance of scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments, (Leviticus 16:20; 2 Chronicles 29:24; Ezekiel 45:15; Ephesians 2:16; Hebrews 2:17), it is clear that reconciliation does not mean salvation.
Reconciliation has little to do with winning the sinner back to love and loyalty to God.
Reconciliation speaks to the restoration of God’s forfeited favor and the removal of His merited wrath. God’s anger was appeased.
Sin demands death; Justice demands punishment; Reconciliation demands sacrifice. Jesus restored God’s opportunity to forgive.
Justice was satisfied, anger appeased, the wall of separation was abolished, all by the death of our Savior, God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah.
The miracle of reconciliation restored man to a place where God’s favor and grace could be accessed by sinners who were once disallowed appeal and pardon.
The death of Jesus satisfied justice and made God friendly toward sinners, at peace with mankind, no longer enemies and opened the door of salvation to all who would sincerely apply.
Reconciliation makes salvation a possibility.
(The story of the Korean woman whose daughter played the harlot.)
· She saw her daughter through the cross of
· In Christ’s death, her anger was appeased, grace and favor returned, justice was satisfied, accounts were settled
· Given the opportunity, relationship was restored
Text:
2 Corinthians 5 NKJV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Both the miracles of incarnation and reconciliation were acts of God on behalf of all mankind.
Through these miracles God made a way for us to be saved.
God is waiting for us to make the connection. He is not mad any longer, but loves us and hopes we make the right choice.
Salvation is only one decision away … and that decision is yours.
Will you be reconciled to God today.
He came more than halfway, He came all the way, now you only have to open up your heart and let Him in.
I am an ambassador for Christ speaking on God’s behalf, pleading with you: I implore you, be reconciled to God before it’s too late.
Ask God to accept you into His family, to pardon your sins and save your soul. Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Give God your life and become a new creature in Christ Jesus today.
