Almost every time I teach on 2 Corinthians 5:19, this one listener messages me claiming that what I teach is wrong. She says the words "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself" is directing us to the place to get our sins forgiven. ("in Christ")
However, when we view the scripture without prejudice we quickly discover that is not what it means.
The term "God was in Christ" is in reference to where God was when He was doing a work "in Christ." It does not mean that one must get "in Christ" before receiving forgiveness.
If Jesus is "the image of the invisible God," then when He was on the cross, God was on the cross. "God was in Christ."
Scripture affirms that Jesus was God in the flesh. To say differently is to say that He is less than and separate from God.
When Jesus was on the cross acting on our behalf, God was on the cross acting on our behalf. Therefore, "God was in Christ" explains where God was and not "the place" we have to be to be forgiven by Him.
While it is true that one must be in the body of Christ to be reconciled to God", it is not true that one must be "in Christ" to be forgiven.
God had to first stop imputing the world's sins against us so we could "be ye reconciled to God" by faith. God's reconciling did not require anyone's belief, our reconciling does.
One of the best ways to learn about God is to read about Jesus. Jesus and God are one. (John 10:30)
>When Jesus was angry, God was angry.
>When Jesus felt compassion, God felt compassion.
>When Jesus experienced grief, God grieved.
>When Jesus reconciled, God reconciled.
Hence, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself."
Paul's words "God was in Christ" mirrors the words of Jesus when He said: "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
The "in me" matches God was "in Christ." -That's sort of hard to miss.
Again, the listener made the claim that when we read "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself" it is directing us to the place to be forgiven.
I submit that the "in Christ" directs us to a place alright (in the context of 2 Cor. 5:19,) but it is the place where God did His work and not the place someone needs to be in order to "get forgiven."
Jesus confirmed this when He said "...the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." i.e. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself."
In John chapter 5 Jesus said: "The Son can do nothing of himself."
So if God would not have done a work "in Christ," the work would not have been achieved.
"God was in Christ" meant that God became flesh -- dwelt among mankind -- and did a work "in Christ" that forgave the world of their sins.
In Acts chapter 10 when Peter came unto Cornelius, Cornelius fell down at his feet and "worshipped him." But Peter said "Stand up; I myself also am a man."
Conversely...
In Matthew chapter 28 After Jesus resurrected, the disciples "worshipped Him" and Jesus accepted their worship.
If Jesus were not God, like Peter, He would not have accepted their worship.
"God was in Christ" in the fullest sense and is why Paul wrote: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9).
In John chapter 1 the apostle John said "The word was God" and "was made flesh, and dwelt among us,."
If "The Word was God" and the Word "was made flesh," then Jesus was God.
That means God was in the flesh. God was on the earth. And God "was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself."
Falsely claiming that "God was in Christ" directs us to a place where we can be forgiven, is just another failed attempt to advance the false narrative that says "You must be "in Christ" before God will stop imputing your sins unto you."
But those of us who understand and believe plain English know that God actually accomplished that for the "world" just as He said. And He did it by the work He did "in Christ."
When we allow reason to carry the day, we see that "God was in Christ" is about where God was and what He was doing, and not where we need to be to get forgiveness.
On account of the finished cross-work, no one today can be charged for their sins.
"God was in Christ" does not refer to believers only, but rather the entire "world" just as God said.
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