Christ's reconciling death

How can a sinner change his state before God? He cannot. Only God can. Paul declares the joy and wonder of God's mercy to sinners who once were alienated from and hostile to God, yet now are reconciled in Christ.

Here is the reality of Christ's work, for every child of God stands in a fixed relationship to God of peace and love on account of Christ's finished work.

Here is the reality of Christ's humanity, for it is one like us, God with us, the incarnate Son who reconciled us in the body of his flesh. He grappled with and conquered sin on behalf of his people in the same flesh that his people had.

Here is the reality of Christ's sacrifice. There can be no reconciliation without atonement, no atonement without sacrifice, and no sacrifice without death. His death alone would suffice to bring sinners back to God.

There is no peace with God apart from Christ's real work, accomplished in his real humanity by his real death. But this is a real salvation.

"Sinner, would you escape God’s wrath?
Would you be truly blessed?
Here God in Christ is reconciled;
Here is eternal rest."