The Ball is in Your Court

2 Corinthians 5:19 says “that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.”  So, what does that mean.  When reconcile is used of relationships between people it means to restore friendly relations.  And that certainly seems to be the meaning Paul applied here under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Not imputing sin to the world means no one is being charged with the sins they have committed.  In John 1:29 we have the testimony of John the Baptist who said Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  The apostle John confirmed that in 1 John 2:2 when he wrote “And He (Jesus Christ) Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

So, if God is open to having friendly relations with the world because Jesus Christ has removed the one thing that had driven a wedge between us, what is the missing link. 

That would be 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

That could be one of two things.  1. it could be the failure of His ambassadors to reach out with the good news about His desire to join with us.  Or 2. your reluctance to be reconciled to God.  Either way the issue is not God.  If you’re reading this and have not yet believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life then the problem is your unwillingness to believe and receive the gift of everlasting life.  Belief is simply taking Him at His word that everlasting life is a gift freely given to those who will believe Him for it.  It is a gift that will last forever and includes other benefits. 
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Like a declaration of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”