How can the idolatrous sinner be reconciled to God?
Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 3 - Receive God's Forgiveness, Questions 21, p. 47
Martin Luther is attributed to have said, “The more you minimize sin, the more will grace decline in value.” This statement underscores the intimate relationship between our understanding of sin and our appreciation for God’s grace. To grasp the full magnitude of God's grace, it is essential to recognize the gravity of sin.
Sin, as depicted in the Scriptures, is a fundamental alienation from God’s holy nature. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” When we downplay sin, we obscure the chasm between humanity and God, thereby diminishing our perception of the need for reconciliation. This trivialization leads to a reduced comprehension of the immense cost of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Grace, in its essence, is God’s unmerited favor towards us, His children. When we minimize sin, we inadvertently suggest that grace is either unnecessary or of little consequence. This perspective distorts the gospel message, making grace appear as a light remedy for a trivial issue, rather than the ultimate solution to the insurmountable problem of sin. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 6:1-2, addresses this distortion: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
In acknowledging the depth of our sin, we come to fully appreciate the boundless nature of God’s grace. The psalmist offers a comforting reminder of this grace in Psalm 32:1-2: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” These verses provide assurance that, despite our profound sinfulness, God’s grace is sufficient to cover all transgressions, reaffirming the invaluable gift of God's forgiveness.
Recognizing the severity of sin magnifies the preciousness of grace, urging us to embrace the fullness of God’s redemptive love poured out through Christ.
This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:
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