TODAY’S VERSE:  

Romans 5:10 “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

This month we are going to learn the last 3 big words describing the work of God in salvation from our “What Every Christian Should Know” series. These words are reconciliation, propitiation, expiation (R-P-E).

Have you ever got into an argument with a sibling or friend? Of course you have. What happened? Did one of you apologize? Were you eventually reconciled, meaning you made up and became friends again? We sure hope so! Just like you needed to be reconciled to your sibling or friend, we need to be reconciled to God.

See, all people are born sinners because of the first 2 people created, Adam and Eve. They were born without sin, but chose to disobey God which resulted in their depravity, 100% unrighteousness. This included their cells and DNA, which were passed on to their children and then, eventually, passed right on down to us. This means we are all born depraved and enemies of God (yikes)!

As we have been learning, God has made a plan to save His children. Jesus, God the Son, became a man (unbelievable). He remained sinless (amazing) and then willingly bore the judgement for the sins of God’s children (wow). Because of this, we can be reconciled to God (phew).

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God is 100% righteous and we are born 100% unrighteous. In order to be reconciled to God, our sin must be punished, the debt for this sin paid (redemption). We must be declared not guilty of unrighteousness and imputed with righteousness (justification). In order for these things to happen, the justice of God must be satisfied (propitiation). There is only one thing that could accomplish this and that was the sacrifice, the life blood of Jesus Christ. He was without sin and therefore the only acceptable sacrifice (the expiation) that would propitiate God.

1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

This gift of salvation is truly an astounding miracle. We can do nothing to earn, deserve, or obtain it.  He does all the work and receives all the glory!

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

All we are able to do is accept this gift and then show our gratitude by living our lives for Him. Thank you, God, for loving your children and making a way to save us and ensure that we would be with you for all of eternity.

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”