Rejoicing in Reconciliation: Ending the War and Bragging on God

Summary

Unbelief is an unwinnable war against God that produces destruction, not freedom. Through Christ’s death, peace with God is now available, ending the conflict for those who trust Him. Believers rejoice in both future glory and present hardships, knowing God uses suffering to shape Christlike character. Saved while enemies, they can trust God to sustain them as His children. True confidence is found in bragging about God, not us.

An Unwinnable War Against God

Wars are bad. Unwinnable ones are worse. Unbelievers stubbornly hug the chains that bind them in their war against God. They are losing. They think they are winning.

The Cost of False Freedom

For example, their “freedom” to engage in sexual promiscuity leads to venereal diseases, AIDS, and unplanned pregnancies. Their lying renders them unable to believe others.

Their addictions damage their health and families. The casualty list is extensive.

Peace Made Through the Cross

Jesus’ death made peace with God possible. There is no sane reason for the war to continue.

It is over for those who have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. When an unwinnable war is over. We rejoice in our reconciliation.

Rejoicing in Reconciliation, Glory and Growth

We rejoice because of our glorious future. God’s glory is His incomprehensibly impressive quality of being. Light radiates from His presence.

One day, we will share that impressiveness. He calls us to eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10). We will be like Jesus and see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). At the resurrection, our bodies will change to be like Jesus’ glorious body (Philippians 3:21).

We rejoice because of difficulties. One day, we will become unimaginably impressive creatures. Before we do, we must overcome difficulties. They develop our patience. Jesus has oceans of it.

For us, a thimble-full of it can sometimes be challenging! Developing patience strengthens our character. It helps us draw closer to and trust Him more.

Our difficulties pass through God’s loving hand before they touch us. We rejoice because we know God is lovingly using them to shape us to be more like Jesus. How has some hardship you endured made you more like Jesus?

We do not deserve a glorious present and future. Yet, we confidently expect it because God’s undeserved favor rules supreme.

Loved While We Were Enemies

Jesus died for the weak and ungodly. We qualify! That is a low bar to clear!

He sacrificed Himself knowingly and willingly so we could become like Him. The Most died for the least. The Best for the worst. The Holy Creator for rebellious creatures. His love for us is behind it all.

If God saved us when we were His enemies, surely, He will keep saving us now that we are His children. If Jesus died for us when we were His enemies, how much more will His Spirit, who lives in us, provide all we need?

The power that raised Jesus and the love that motivated Him are available. Jesus wants to live His life in and through us.

Boasting in God Alone

“Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:1-11 NIV). Let us brag about God, not ourselves.

When we brag about ourselves, we quickly run out of impressive material. That is never a problem when we brag about God! See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,590 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,681 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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