“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NKJV)
One of the radical statements or truths in the Bible regarding sin is that God is no longer imputing our sins to us. Why?
Because Jesus Christ, by His sacrificial death on the cross, has paid in full for our sins—past, present, and future!
The Scripture amply affirms this truth.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – NKJV
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
One of the most terrible lies of the devil regarding sin is that God is dealing with us today according to our sins. The devil wants you to accept and embrace the curse, sickness, poverty, failure, or frustration as God’s punishment for your sins or the sins of your parents or ancestors.
Sadly, some believers and ministers of God today have accepted, adopted, or subscribed to this terrible lie of the devil. What a terrible ignorance of the benefits or blessings of the finished work of Jesus Christ!
Under the Old Covenant, God dealt with people according to their works, adherence, or obedience to the Mosaic Law. But now, under the New Covenant, God is no longer dealing with men according to their works but according to their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:19-22, Gal. 2:16, Tit. 3:3-7).
Unfortunately, some believers today are yet to understand, acknowledge, believe, accept, or embrace this significant shift in God’s dealings with men under the New Covenant, which is sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is a landmark in the history of humankind. It is the turning point in God’s dealings with men. Things never remained the same between God and men after the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. The relationship between God and men was forever changed!
The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the whole world completely satisfied God’s judgment against sin. God’s justice in judging and punishing sinners was completely satisfied at the cross. God’s love to forgive and justify sinners was also fully expressed, manifested, or demonstrated at the cross of Christ.
We despise or belittle the worth of Christ’s death for the propitiation of the whole world’s sins if we still think, believe, or preach that God is angry with sinners or that God is still dealing with people according to their sins.
God’s wrath against sinners has been completely appeased or satisfied by Christ’s painful, agonizing, and terrible death on the cross (1 John 2:1-2).
Christ’s death was substitutionary. Christ took our place on the cross to receive the punishment meant for us because of our sins. Conversely, we took His place to receive the blessing meant for Him because of His complete obedience to God. That is grace!
The Scripture clearly states this truth.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – NKJV
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The sacrificial death of Christ paid in full for all the sins that man has ever committed or will ever commit. It atones for sins in the past, present, and future. It is a full payment for the sins of every generation.
1 John 2:1-2 – NKJV
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Until the close of the ages, the Scripture states that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 NKJV).
What are the implications of the great truth that God no longer imputes our sins?
Let us consider some of them.
First, it implies that all those who believe in Jesus and His sacrifice for their sins are reconciled to God.
It was sin that brought separation between God and man. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross wholly removed sin and, thus, the barrier between God and man. John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJV).
John the Beloved also reveals that “He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” (1 John 3:5 NKJV).
Jesus Christ has ended the hostility or enmity between God and sinners through His sacrificial death for our sins. God demonstrated His love for sinners by taking the initiative to reconcile them to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son for our sins.
Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 NKJV).
Although God has demonstrated His love towards all sinners by sending His Son to die for our sins so that we may be reconciled to Him, only those who humbly respond in faith to God’s love and grace are truly forgiven and reconciled to God.
The Scripture said of those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus for salvation, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13 NKJV).
Sin is no longer and can no longer be a barrier between God and the believers in Christ. The believers in Christ are eternally loved and acceptable to God. The believers in Christ are holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight (Col. 1:21-23). Praise God!
Second, Christ has paid in full for the sins of the world, and so, God is no longer imputing the sins of the world (the ungodly multitude) to them.
The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2). Therefore, God is not treating or dealing with the world (the ungodly) according to their sins (2 Cor. 5:18-19).
Lastly, anyone who despises or rejects the great price Christ paid for his sins will eventually face and receive the fierce wrath of God.
While it is true that God is not imputing any man’s sins to his charge or account now or dealing with any man according to his sins, God abhors sins and will eventually judge and punish sinners who despised and rejected Jesus Christ and the huge price He paid for their sins (John 12:47-48, 2 Pet. 3:9).
God has set aside a day when He will judge all who rejected Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for their sins and thus rejected God’s gift of salvation (Acts 17:30-31).
Beloved, God is not imputing your sins to you, charging, or condemning you if you have put your faith in Christ as a propitiation for your sins.
Romans 8:33-34 – NKJV
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Is this then a license to sin? Certainly not!
Romans 6:1-2 – NKJV
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Those who have been truly born of God cannot continue in sin because they are already dead to sin—their old, sinful, and corrupt self has been crucified with Christ, and because they now possess God’s holy life and nature.
John the Beloved affirms, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9 NKJV).
But what if you sin?
God will still not condemn you, but expect you to forsake your sins!
What if you continue in your sins?
Satan will bring a charge against you, condemn you, and gain an inroad or access into your life to oppress or afflict! Why?
Because practicing sins gives the devil an inroad, free access, or license to steal, kill, and destroy. Yielding to sin is yielding to Satan, the author of sin! Satan has the legal right to reign and operate freely wherever and whenever sin is allowed to reign.
Romans 6:16 – NKJV
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
1 John 3:8 – DBY
8 He that practises sin is of the devil; for from the beginning the devil sins. To this end the Son of God has been manifested, that he might undo the works of the devil.
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to me today that You are not imputing my sins to me. I refuse to allow sin to continue to reign in my life. I receive Your mercy and forgiveness today for all my sins, in Jesus’ name. Amen.