In Romans 3:23 Paul said, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” There is a sin problem in the world. It is man’s biggest problem. It’s spiritual in nature. For sin separates man from God. The words of Isaiah attest to this fact. The prophet said, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

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People who live in sin are separated from God, and the separation results in alienation or estrangement from God (Colossians 1:21). But God has, in Christ, solved this problem by reconciling man to Himself. Paul said, “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). To not impute means to not lay to one’s charge. God has, because of Christ who died to pay the price of human sinfulness, withheld the punishment that people deserve because of their sins (Romans 6:23). God has potentially forgiven everyone, and anyone who repents of his sins and asks for God’s forgiveness in obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized actually receives it. You, too, can receive God’s mercy and be reconciled to God.

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Constant Coulibaly