II. Reconciliation with God: Scripture emphasizes the importance of reconciling with God, recognizing that sin has caused a separation between humanity and their Creator. Romans 5:10 declares, "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" This verse reminds believers of the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice, enabling reconciliation with God and salvation.

Reconciliation series recap – Reconciliation is a divine call to restore harmony. (Restore means to put back to original or better condition). Last week Ray told us about God’s ultimate act of reconciliation.

5th Step (confession) – Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to someone we trust, the exact nature of our wrongs. Confession, (Admitting) is not simply saying, it is taking ownership of.

Our sin has made us and enemy of God.

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.

Because of your sins, he has turned away

and will not listen anymore. Isa 59:2

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Ja 4:4

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

The wages of Sin is death.

26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge.

I will pay them back.”[h]

He also said,

“The Lord will judge his own people.”[i]

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:26-31

The Blood Makes us right with God

5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace[a] with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Rom 5:1-11