By Josimar Salum
What is there about the message of the cross that is folly, that makes no sense for Gentiles and it is a stumbling block for the Jews?
“Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!
Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins.
God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-20 MSG (v.17, ESV)
It may be difficult to completely understand what God has done already to forgive all our sins, so let me show you this passage in another versions:
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV
“It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).” 2 Corinthians 5:19 AMP
That is overwhelmingly marvelous. What Jesus did when he died? He forgave all sins of the world, he forgave the sins of the entire humanity, he forgave all sins committed by all people since Adam, all sins that will ever be committed even the sins of the last human that will be born on Earth or in any place of the universe!
Jesus was not pretending, he was not faking when He asked to the Father to forgive all those people who made Him suffer and crucified him on the cross. Even if after they heard him asking the Father to forgive them they kept doing the same things. What do you think? Did God forgave them even if they didn't repent? Is God forgiveness conditional? Even if they did not ask for forgiveness, even if they had never repented they were forgiven! Simply because Jesus asked the Father. It is so simply. Jesus Himself had forgiven them!
“And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Luke 23:34 ESV
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