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Words of Faith 10-16-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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2 Corinthians 5

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ...

 

       Where does this wonderful work of the New Creation come from? Paul declares that all this is from God. While that might seem obvious it is really not to many people. People often think that they can make themselves new. We often may labor over making a "fresh start" or "turning over a new leaf" with God but his is futile without Him. We make resolutions and promises but our flesh is weak. We go through religious efforts and rituals, but new life is all from God. All? Yes all.

         Paul wrote to the Ephesians-- "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast" (2:8-9). None of salvation is from ourselves. It is all a gift from God that we receive by faith. All that we can do is trust it. This is true of our New Life in Him.

       It is God who initiated and completed this work of reconciliation through Christ. In a worldly reconciliation there is negotiation. Two parties come to a table and make offers and counter offers until they reach an agreement and a deal is cut. But in the reconciliation of humanity to God it is all one-way. We have nothing to offer at the table. We have nothing to bargain with. There is nothing of worth we can offer. The Father makes his demand for payment and that demand is unconditional and non-negotiable. It is a payment we can never pay. He then steps up to the table to make that payment for reconciliation with His only Son, Jesus. That is grace and it is amazing.

       This is all from God. There is nothing that you can do that will ever make God love you more than that. There is nothing you can do that will ever make God love you less than that. This is all from God who reconciled Himself to us in Christ.

 

       Father God, I am at a total loss for words. You have said it all. I am overwhelmed by this grace. I am brought to silence by Your love. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. In Jesus' Name.