Category Archives: Reconciled

Accountability, Bible, Forgiveness, Jesus, Law, Reconciled, Salvation, Scripture

HELD ACCOUNTABLE

ROMANS 5:13

“for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.”

Wouldn’t it be awful to be arrested, charged and imprisoned for breaking a law you never knew existed? I have heard it said, though, that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it. Laws exist to keep people safe and, hopefully, allow for an efficient government (that’s not always the case). There have been laws on the books for centuries, some good and some bad. We are told to respect those in authority and submit to them. That’s hard to do

Paul continues to lay out the necessity for our reconciliation with God by showing us that sin has existed since the fall of Adam. There was no written law for people before God gave it to Moses, but there was still an unwritten law which God had given all mankind. It would indeed be cruel for God to hold people accountable for sins if they did not know they were sins. Paul tells us that was not the case in today’s verse.

APPLICATION

Look at what Poole says about this. “It appears there was a law before the law of Moses, for if there had been no law all that while, then sin would not have been imputed to men, so as to make them liable to punishment or death; but sin was imputed or charged upon men before the law of Moses, and death passed upon all. Therefore, there must have been a law, by the transgression of which men were sinners, before that time. And that was either the law of nature, or the positive law which God gave to Adam,…” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)

Paul has already covered this back in Romans 1:20. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” No one can claim they did not know any better. They cannot claim God just made me this way. Boy, I’ve heard that a lot. Sorry, it doesn’t work.

How does this apply to us? I think it’s pretty clear. We have no excuse for our sins. We cannot claim ignorance. Christ came to die to cleanse us of all sin. Nothing prevents anyone from receiving that free gift. It doesn’t matter where you live, what you do for a living, who your family is or any other excuse you want to throw out there. Christ died for YOU! Never deny that. And if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, give Him praise right now. Bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Peace, Reconciled, Scripture, War

CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP

ROMANS 5:10

“For if while 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.”

What does it take for enemies to become friends? It’s really pretty simple – one of them has to hold out the “olive branch.” By that I mean, one has to make the first step towards peace. Sometimes that is done because there has been a battle and the end seems certain. For instance, Germany made peace with the U.S. at the end of World War II because they saw they had been defeated. The U.S. desired to end the hostilities in order to save lives and bring lasting peace. But they had to accept the offer of peace to end the war.

In the case being shown to us in the last few verses, we were enemies of God before He made the first move. God and man were at war. The end was certain. Man was going to suffer the wrath of a holy God. But in this case, God made the first move. He offered His Son as a peace offering, a sacrifice to secure our salvation. Reconciliation comes, and salvation follows.

APPLICATION

Paul shows us the progression of our salvation here. Enemies – reconciled – salvation – eternal life. The Cambridge Bible explains this verse this way. “The language, carefully weighed, points more to God’s acceptance of the sinner than to the sinner’s acceptance of God. For the case is put thus:— ‘When we were enemies, God was gracious to us: much more (as to our apprehension) will He be gracious to us still.’”

Don’t you see that God has exonerated us from the punishment that awaited us before Christ? We were doomed. There was no escape. But after He offered Jesus on the cross and we accepted that gift of grace, He welcomed us into His family and can now bestow on us the Holy Spirit who will guide us in our new life with Him. God continues to give us life here on earth and promises us an eternal life with Him.

Relationships change, don’t they? I bet you can name several people with whom you are no longer close friends. Years ago, you were close, perhaps spending every day together. For various reasons friendships come and go. Our relationship with God is not like that. Once you are His, you are His forever. As you spend time with Him in His Word and prayer, you become closer and closer. Don’t you want to know Him more fully? Then invest the time to do that. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. He will do that willingly. We are told in Psalm 34:10, “they who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.” Are you seeking today?

O God, You have reconciled me unto Yourself and are now perfecting our relationship into an eternal one.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Friends, Ministry, Partner, Reconciled, Scripture

MAKING UP

COLOSSIANS 4:10

“Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);”

Have you ever made up with an old friend? Once you make up, you both often realize how silly your dispute was in the beginning. There’s an old song that says, “Making up is hard to do.” Well, it is if we allow our flesh to stand in the way. But if we allow the Spirit of God to rule us, we will be quick to reconcile.

Paul mentions a couple of people who are with him during this imprisonment. He directly calls Aristarchus “my fellow prisoner.” He doesn’t call Mark a fellow prisoner, so he must have been free to leave and go to Colossae. It is noteworthy that Paul asks specifically for Mark to be welcomed by the church there. He was probably afraid they may have heard about the rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15) over Mark and hold that against him. Paul is giving Mark an introductory letter to the church there with his full confidence.

APPLICATION

Mark had undoubtedly matured and become, once again, a trusted partner in ministry with Paul. Mark must have also lost some of his fear of persecution (some think this was the reason he deserted Paul earlier). Why else would he have been there with Paul during this imprisonment? Perhaps Mark had been rebuilding his relationship with Paul since that first breach.

We are told in Ephesians 4:1-3, “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Paul was a peacemaker. He had made peace with Mark. Is there someone you need to make peace with?

Maybe you’re saying, Well, it’s been too long. They would never forgive me now.” Wrong. We don’t know how long it took Paul and Mark to make up, but they did. It may have been months or years. The time doesn’t matter. Do it today. At least try. You may be spurned by that person. If so, forgive them anyway. Pray for them daily. Do all you can to reconcile and then leave the rest with God.

Father, help me to be a peace with all those around me.

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Bible, Blameless, Holy, Reconciled, Scripture

HOLY AND BLAMELESS

COLOSSIANS 1:22

“yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—” 

The last two words I would use to describe myself is “holy” and “blameless.” I know we are commanded to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:15-16), but that is hard, isn’t it? And blameless? Are you kidding me? I have done so many things against the Lord I can hardly be called blameless. Yet, here we have today’s verse.

Take a good look at the verse. Notice that it does not say you or I have done anything to make ourselves holy or blameless. No amount of effort on our part will do that. It is because “He has now reconciled you” that you are called holy and blameless. That word “reconciled” is the same word we looked at two days ago in Colossians 1:20. Only God can declare us holy and blameless. The second we declare ourselves with those terms, we have ceased to be that very thing.

APPLICATION

You need to understand what these two words mean. “Holy” is the Greek word hagios which means to be set apart for a purpose. God sets you apart for His work. It’s used 235 times in the New Testament, so you need to do your own word study on hagios. That would be a great study. You could take one day for each time you find that word and dig out that verse. I give you that challenge.

And “blameless” is the Greek word amomos which means without blemish or faultless. Which one of you could describe yourself that way? Not me! But God declares me to be just that. Remember, His Son shed His blood to make us this way. His blood covers us and purifies us. We see this in 1 Peter 1:18-19. “18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

So, if God declares us holy and blameless, shouldn’t we do our best to live that way? We can if we choose to. We can live holy lives. We can live blameless lives. I am not saying we can be sinless, but we can stay covered by His blood. We can choose to live to honor Him and only allow those “accidental” sins to happen. We do not choose to sin. If we do that, we can honor His description of us.

O Lord, I praise You for making me holy and blameless. Strengthen me today to live like that.

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Bible, Grace, Reconciled, Relationships, Scripture

THE GREAT RECONCILER

COLOSSIANS 1:20

“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Reconciliation is a term we use when two parties are at odds with each other and there is an attempt to solve the problem. This sounds easy, but it’s not. Depending on the people involved, this can take a long time. Sometimes, unfortunately, things are never reconciled, and the break is permanent. I have had to experience this in my life. It is painful and hurtful. But we know God heals all wounds. He is the Great Reconciler.

Strong’s Lexicon tells us, “the verb apokatallassó is used in the New Testament to describe the complete and thorough reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. This term is stronger than the simple form katallassó, indicating a full and complete reconciliation.” Paul is the only Bible author to use this word, and he only uses it three times, once in Ephesians and twice in Colossians.

APPLICATION

In Ephesians 2:16, we see Paul use this word. Let’s back up to verse 15 to get the full context. “15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.” The purpose of God’s reconciliation was peace. It still is.

We will see Paul use this word in Colossians 1:22 in a couple of days. So, with today’s verse and these other two uses, we have the only three times this word is used in the New Testament. That made we wonder something. Since reconciliation is such a big deal, why is it only used three times? That’s a question I will file away and ask the Lord one day.

Remember this from today’s verse. Reconciliation is the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. This applies first and foremost in our relationship with God. But it also applies to our human relationships. Sin is what breaks relationships. That sin could be in the life of one or both of the people involved. Keep your life walking in the Spirit so you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. Amen?

O Lord, thank You for reconciling me back into a perfect relationship with You. Help me do that with others.

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Abiding, Appeasement, Bible, Justified, Obedience, Reconciled, Salvation, Scripture

JUSTIFIED

GALATIANS 2:16

“nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”

I know some believers who work so hard to do things for God. I say “believers” because I truly believe they are Christians. However, they have been taught they must work, work and work because that is how we show we love God. It is as if they had to earn points to be justified in God’s eyes. Paul blows that out of the water with today’s verse.

Paul, a former Pharisee, knew the Law backwards and forwards. He could argue the merits of the Law with the best of them. So, when he says, “knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus,” he knows what he is talking about. As the saying goes Been There, Done That! Remember, Paul is addressing Peter and the other Jewish believers who had withdrawn from eating with the Gentiles. They can’t go back to keeping the Law as a means to gain salvation. It was only in Jesus.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you a question today. What are you so busy “doing” to try to please God? Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” I have to believe when Paul penned these words in Ephesians (somewhere between 60-64 A.D), he had to be thinking of the incident here in Antioch. That is purely my conjecture, though.

There is an old hymn that says, “We’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, we’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, we’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, and we’ll be gathered home.” Great sentiment, but not required. What about the dear saints who can’t do any works? Where do they stand with Jesus? Right in His arms, just like you.

I am NOT saying we should not do anything for God. James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But I do not believe for a second that James, being a Jew, thought he had to “do” in order to “be.” Our works are the way we show our love for God. We want to be in His service daily. Rest assured, though, that your salvation is dependent on one thing – Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Glory!

I am so thankful, dear Lord, that I am secure in my salvation based on the blood of Jesus

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Admonished, Apologies, Battles, Bible, Confession, Family, Forgiveness, God's Will, Hurts, Love, Power, Reconciled, Restoration, Scripture

SIN IN THE FAMILY

MALACHI 2:10

“Do we not all have one Father? Is it not one God who has created us? Why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?”

Family dynamics are hard. Some families seem to have no troubles at all from the outside. But if you were able to peer into the real family, you would see hurt feelings and squabbles. Why? Why do families, who share the same blood, fight and not get along. It’s simple – it’s called sin. Period! Exclamation mark!

Look at today’s verse. Malachi points out the failure of the people. When he says, “Do we not all have one Father,” he may be thinking about the Shema Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” They were in the same family – God’s family. God had called them His people. But they were sinning against each other which was in effect sinning against God.

APPLICATION

Isaiah 6:5 says, “Then I said, ‘Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of armies.’” That is why we sin against each other. Isaiah saw it. We are all sinful creatures. In our case, as believers, we have the solution to all this sin – Jesus. He has covered our sins. He has given us the power to stop blaming our sins on someone else.

I believe Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:26 applies here. “And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.” Just as we all cheer for our family member who gets that award or makes the game-winning score, we also all suffer when one family member is fighting with another. This kind of in-fighting can kill a family.

There is only one solution to this – return to the foot of the cross. Forgive one another. Reconcile the family. When we “deal treacherously” with each other, whether it was intentional or accidental, the wounds are real and must be dealt with. Come together to Jesus. He can heal all wounds because He was wounded for us.

Father, forgive our in-fighting as family. Help us show love and compassion to each other daily.

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Bible, Joy, Reconciled, Rejoicing, Salvation, Scripture

HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU

ZEPHANIAH 3:17

“‘The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.’”

Children need their parents to show them praise. They need to know how proud their parents are of them. This can be done with words or deeds, but however it is done, it must be done. The absence of praise or rejoicing in a child’s life can have lifetime effects. Don’t underestimate how much your child needs this. They probably will never ask for it. Just do it.

Don’t you just love today’s verse? God, the One who made all things, the One who redeemed you from your sins, He rejoices over you. He rejoices over you with shouts of joy. Can you believe that? Shouldn’t we be doing that towards Him? Of course, we should. But He also rejoices over us. What a glorious thought!

APPLICATION

Those days when you are feeling lowly, remember this. He loves you with an everlasting love. His love is eternal. It will never end. There is nothing you can do to cause Him to stop loving you. He loved you while you were His enemy. Listen to these words from Paul in Romans 5:10-11. “10 For if while 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. 11 And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

Did you catch that second verse? We also celebrate. So, while God is rejoicing over us with joy, we are rejoicing that we have been reconciled back to Him. We rejoice because He rejoices. He rejoices when we rejoice. Doesn’t that give you something to shout about today?

Celebrate Jesus today. He is celebrating you. He loves you so much and wants you to know that. If He were here today (and He is through His Holy Spirit), He would be telling you that to your face. Listen to the Spirit that is within you. He is telling you the same thing. “My beloved, I rejoice in you.”

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul rejoice.

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