that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” vs. 19
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Most of us regularly and faithfully affirm our faith in Jesus as the Christ, and that’s a good and wonderful thing to do. But as we make our confession we should not imagine that Jesus was the first or only Christ–we simply cannot limit our understanding of Christ to Jesus of Nazareth. Christ was present at creation, through Christ all things came into being, and ever since that beginning Christ has been the presence of God in the Universe. Paul says that the work of Christ was the reconciliation of the world to God. Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Well, Jesus was the incarnation of Christ, the manifestation of Christ for human eyes to see and hear. And in him the reconciliation has been made complete–the sins of the world will not be held against them. That message is so powerful, the most incredible news that any sinner could ever hear. All people, all things, have been reconciled to God in Christ! Do all people know that? Sadly, no! Most people still struggle with sin and all its symptoms. Ravaged by guilt they act out in painful and horrendous ways. Paul says that God has entrusted that message of reconciliation to us. Essentially, we too are Christs, and with every smiling word of hope, every loving act of justice and kindness, we are reconciling the world to God–just like Jesus!
Thought for the Day: Who was the Christ in whom I heard the good news?
0 Comments