Why Can't We Be Friends
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Opening Illustration: I remember going to see a baseball game a few years ago and it was between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Socks. I don’t know if there are any Boston fans in the congregation hear tonight but it was hot that day 89 and very humid. Not only that Boston was doing very well that particular year and the Orioles were going in the other direction so the tension was in the air. To make batters worse … that day there were more Boston fans in the stadium then Orioles fans so it seemed. As the first inning ended it was pretty normal game but there was some tension in the air. It all came to a head when a Boston pitcher hit a Orioles batter. When the batter rushed the mound and then the benches cleared and as they did a song came over the Stadium playing while asking the question Why Can’t We Be Friends.
Why Can’t We Be Friends It seemed ironic for the song and these grown men punching each other in the face.
As I was growing up in Ohio we lived in a neighborhood that had 5 sets of twins to say something was in the water is an understatement. We got along with most of them … but one set happened to be the same age as my brother and I … the Becketts Shannon and Susan. It wasn’t good from day one. I remember the first day in a new school in California which the school system was very laid back compared to Ohio. I was unprepared for the jump in academics I went from finger painting to long addition. But the Becketts were in my class and the first day they came up to me and did to things … yelled MUT … Mut Mut Mut like a dog barcking they also repeatedly all through the 3rd grade year kicked me in the shin. I had shins of steal by the end of third grade year. What a transition. Now there was not music playing in the background while they yelled mut and kicked me in the shins, but I did remember thinking the question … Can’t we all get along? The answer was NO!
The Same held true with our relationship with God. We couldn’t be friends. The Bible was very clear that before Christ we had a very different position then the one you might enjoy today.
Before Christ we were spiritually Desolate, Objects of Wrath, Listen to what Paul says in
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
A true sense of hopelessness has gripped our society and why not you have no purpose you are just a conglomeration of flesh. No ryhm or reason. Just living nothing more than an animal and really that’s not fair on the animals.
Isn’t it wonderful that you and I that are saved and have the gift of faith through Jesus Christ knowing that life is more than just the turmoil, trials, tribulations, and testings that we have to face. We have “Personal Peace” because we have been reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ. We were enemies now we are friends.
Lets understand what this term means Reconciliation:
Dr. Paul Enns in his book “The Moody Handbook of Theology” Says,
“Through sin man was alienated from God, but through Christ’s death peace with God, and salvation itself, was made possible for all who believed in Jesus.”
In Wayne Gruden’s book of Systematic Theology he defines Reconciliation as,
“The removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties.”
So Let’s Answer the Question “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and then the Question, “Why We Can Be Friends!” I can because of Christ.
I. Our Past Alienation … What We Were vs 21
A. In Position “alienated”
Alien is a different kind of word with harsh overtones. Almost like FREAK It doesn’t communicate small differences but out of this World differences. That was us. stop thinking … Well it’s not really that bad. You and I were as bad as it gets …"alienated”
1. “alienated” means to be considered alien to be or become foreign. Like when someone say “a foreign object has entered your eye” you know it just shouldn’t be there. The greek word looks as bad as it’s definition apellotriomenous …
2. All sinners are hostile and in rebellion against God.
3. all sinners are different in kind from God.
a. Our natures are different, even opposite
b. Our desire are different, even extreme
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
B. in Mind: “enemies”
1. We were enemies to the point as the original says that we hated God and wanted to injure them.
2. We are enemies in our mind or disposition. We always favored sin and ourselves over God. no chance.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
3. There can be no peace in the heart and mind of the person not saved.
C. In Works “wicked”
Wicked works are the manifestation of our alienation and hostility.
Wicked works refer not only to sins, but include all efforts to please God through religious works!
means to be morally bad or wrong.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
II. Our Present Reconciliation … What We Are vs. 21b-22
A. Experienced in Point of Time … “Now”
1. Writing to living believers.
2. Sainthood bestowed while living.
3. You can experience peace with God “Now” not someday.
B. Enjoyed through Union with Christ: “reconciled”
1. The word denotes peace, restoration for favor.
2. The word indicated removal of alienation and hostility.
a. The 2 obstacles to reconciliation are:
God’s Holiness
i. God’s Holiness
ii. Man’s willfulness
The 2 obstacles removed by
b. The 2 obstacles removed by
i. A peacemaking sacrifice by the God-man
ii. A peace working entrance by the Holy Spirit.
C. Accomplished at Great Cost to Christ
1.Christ’s Body: “Body of His Flesh”
a. God in Bodily form (real, not phantom)
Gnostics remember since they believed matter was evil, Christ’s body was only the semblance of a body, like O.T. appearances.
b. God in Flesh-form (like ours)
c. God in flesh/death (as all flesh)
Help us to understand our enmity and hostility toward God; how great and unfathomable love for us.
III. A Future Perfection (What we shall be): vs 22b-23
A. Perfection: His Part vs 22 b
1. Presented holy (Positional Sanctification)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
2. Presented unblameable (Guiltless when accused)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
3. Presented unreproveable (Unaccuseable)
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
B. Perseverance: Our Part vs 23
1. Continuing holy (Practical Sanctification)
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
2. Continuing grounded and settled
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Illustration: The Image is of a building with a foundation that is solid because the foundation is in bedrock and the superstructure invincible and unmoveable.
A husband and wife were estranged and not long after separated and divorced moving far away from the city they called home to different parts of the country. One day while the husband was on a business trip in the city where he was married he decided to go to the grave of his only son who had died. While at the grave he heard the footsteps of someone and turned to see it was his ex-wife. They both initial turned to walk away, but over the grave of their dead son held hands and were reconciled one to another over the grave of their dead only begotten son.