“…if anyone is IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW 1CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…” (2 Corin. 5:17-18) 1ktisis: bring into existence. When God created man He said, “Let Us make man in OUR IMAGE, according to OUR LIKENESS…“ (Gen. 1:26) We were created as PERFECT, SINLESS beings, CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD. Then, as we know, Satan tempted us, we gave in and from that point, because of our choice, we became IMPERFECT, SINFUL beings, Children of the devil. “You are of YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and the desires of your father you want to do.” (John 8:44)
God provided us with reconciliation (katallassō), the restoration of a good relationship between enemies. Which was achieved by the death of Jesus Christ. “…when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through THE DEATH OF HIS SON…” (Rom. 5:10) Now once again we, “…received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, and if children, then heirs—
HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST…(Rom. 8:15-17)
-Bill Stockham