“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Co 5:16-21 KJV)
His dying . . . our living. Here we discover the three “Rs” of Christianity. These three “Rs” are the consequences of Calvary that impact the believer’s ability to glorify Christ. What happened at Calvary that impacts our lives and his glory? Regeneration and reconciliation.
Some might think me “out of my mind,” yet I defer to Paul’s response to such accusations: “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause” (v. 13). “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (vss. 14-15). We were regenerated in his death at Calvary. His regenerating sacrifice transformed us into new beings (v.17). In Christ, our old hearts, old habits, and old natures were crucified, while our new hearts, new habits, new natures, new names were birthed in us. The power of God made all things new — new soul, new principles, new values, new rules — all things new! O, what a Savior! When I think about his sacrifice and what he’s done for me . . . Makes me want to shout!
In addition, our quarrel with God had broken our mutual fellowship. Sin, mine and yours, had violated our relationship and defeated us, but that is not the end of our story. Praise our God! Christ took our sin and reconciled us with God! Think about it! His Highest, the offended Majesty of heaven, wanted so much to reconcile us to himself that He gave his only Son to die in our place. Hallelujah to our God!
Then there is that third “R.” Righteousness . . . not ours but Christ’s. In our pre-reconciled condition, you and I were not worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence with “righteousness” much less God’s Anointed One. Yet, God loved us so much that He made his sinless Son “be sin for us” in order that we could be made God’s righteousness in his Son (v. 21).
What a glorious Father and God we have! Regeneration . . . He did it! Reconciliation . . . He did it! Righteousness . . . He did it! Now, we are simply required to live his righteousness so that we might bring honor and glory to his sacrifice, as well as his name.
Dear Father, thank you for your regeneration, your reconciliation, and your righteousness. Grant that we may have the fortitude and determination to bring glory to your name by our living. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Encourage yourself today in God’s work on your behalf,