"that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19
Of course, I'm glad God is not counting trespasses against those in Christ, especially me, but I wondered, "How?? How can He just not count them?"
After a few days of some Mary-style pondering in my heart, I could only conclude that I didn't understand, but I was thankful. Then, searching for this passage about Abraham's faith in God's promise, I realized a connection that took my breath away:
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,
24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Romans 4:20-25
So, I realized, God will count one of two things- our trespasses, or our faith in Christ. One leads to death, our deserved wage. One leads to life, a gift of Jesus' righteousness.
Here's what I've found:
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Romans 4:6-8
