Today, Jesus rose from the dead. He defeated all death, because on the cross he took away all sin.

Most people I talk to think that God’s angry with them. The rest think that God is pleased with them because of something inside them.

But Easter is all about God’s unconditional gracious forgiveness: the decision God has made to be in a good mood with us NOT because of something in us, but because of something HE has done FOR us.

The Apostle Paul explained it like this (2 Corinthians 5:18):

in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Whoever you are, from God’s side, he has decided to not count your trespasses against you. It is in that sense that God has “reconciled” the world “to himself”: he’s decided that your mistakes and failures don’t count against you anymore.

Not because of anything in you—but because of Jesus. “In Christ” as Paul puts it.

That’s why Jesus rose from the dead on Easter day: to proclaim this news to everyone. To tell us God has reconciled us to himself. Because as I hear this message, God’s Spirit gives me assurance that because Jesus did this for everyone, he has done it for me. And through that assurance, I actually receive what is already objectively mine.

And so, Paul writes (2 Corinthians 5:20):

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

In other words: Stop viewing God with suspicion. Stop thinking of him as being angry with you. Stop thinking of him as needing something within you to be pleased with you. Just look at Jesus and see: he is in a good mood with you already.

Everyone is forgiven. And because everyone is forgiven: YOU are forgiven.

That is Easter.