2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – Pardon: A New Lease on Life
When you look at these verses, it uses the word reconciliation several different times. I want you to have in mind the bringing together that which is broken. We have another technical term for it – justification. To understand reconciliation, to understand justification, you have to come to terms with the brokenness of mankind. Paul says that in Jesus Christ, the old things have passed away. What are those old things? Those old things are the brokenness of mankind. God describes the human condition as hopeless. Because we have rebelled against a holy God, our lives are completely shattered. They are shattered because of sin. We’re born with the original sin of Adam. We follow through with that by the actual sins that we commit so that there is, by our lives, by our character, by everything about us, an illustration of the oldness, the brokenness of our condition without Christ.
God didn’t leave us in that desperate and hopeless condition. Instead of being characterized by sin and condemnation, God gives to us the righteousness of Christ, and we are considered to be new creations in Him. Jesus’ death on the cross satisfies God’s judgment. He fully accomplished God’s work of reconciliation. This is where the idea of pardon comes in. Justice is served in God’s pardon. When God reconciles us to himself, His character cannot be denied. That character is a just and holy character. In Him there is no sin at all. God cannot even look on sin. That’s against His character. So how is it that a holy God can look on us who are sinners? How is it that a holy God can make new what is old and broken? By His word He pardons us, and by His action He satisfies His justice. The penalty that we deserve because of our sin, because of our brokenness, is satisfied by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came and died on the cross in our place, in the place of anyone who trusts in Christ. The penalty that we deserve, Jesus Christ has taken upon Himself, and He satisfies the justice of God. Jesus was the one who knew no sin. That means that Jesus had no sin whatsoever. Christ is blameless. He is perfect in his obedience to God. And as such, He was able to offer Himself as the only worthy sacrifice for sin. Christ’s righteousness is given to us. God’s righteousness is given to us in Jesus Christ. And the sacrifice, the penalty that we have deserved, literally the death penalty that we have deserved because of our sin, is satisfied in Jesus Christ. And so in Christ we have pardon.
Question
- How can God reconcile us to Himself?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that in Christ we are a new creation.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.