Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (see also 1 Peter 1:21-25) 

Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential elements of Christianity. One is not a Christian unless that one has been forgiven of their sins and reconciled to God by His amazing grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus’ sacrificial death paid our sin debt. His victorious resurrection proved that His payment satisfied our debt and that if we turn to Him in repentant faith, we too will be resurrected. Forgiveness from God and reconciliation with God through Christ. That is a truly fantastic truth. 

We all need forgiveness because we are all sinners, and while the Lord God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, willing and able to forgive iniquity, transgressions, and sin, He will by no means clear the guilty. There is only one reason why our iniquities are not marked against us, and that reason is Jesus Christ being condemned in our place. 

Forgiveness and reconciliation are found in Christ Jesus alone. Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? Your socio-economic status is not a save you or keep you from being saved. The same is true about your ethnicity or education level. The same is true whether you have a rap sheet a mile long, or if you’ve never even broken the speed limit. No matter who you are, where you were born, whatever side of the tracks you were raised, or whatever you may have done or contemplated doing, you may be forgiven of your sins and reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus. 

When that happens, everything changes. This includes your eternal destination as well as your present disposition. Those who have been forgiven much should forgive much. More on that tomorrow.