2 Cor 5_18-21 Reconciliation

Secular:

Biblical:

2 Corinthians 5: 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Personal:

Bridge:

Body:

Message of Integrity

5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

The fear of the Lord is what brings integrity to ministry…
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
It is not fear like terror… but the church was built on a right understanding of God… the sacrifice of Christ and the ministry of the Spirit
Paul is angered when it is a wrong understanding….
Romans 2:24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.
A ministry of integrity is one of fear…

Concern for the Church 5:12

We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

The church is about integrity…
Ministry focused… in the Fear of the Lord…. For his purpose…. That is what gives them “occasion to proud”…
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Not about outside activity… what looks right
About inside activity the heart… what is right
The concern for the church was integrity that reflects the fear of the lord… cut them through and they are the children of God straight through… Ministry of Integrity

Devotion to the Truth 5:13

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

If we are out of our minds…. It is for God
If we of sound mind… It is for you
We are so committed to the truth… that regardless of the outcome we are going to stick it out!
I might seem a little crazy…
Pastor…. Crazy pastor…
Keeps telling us to live sold out to God…. Give up our lives to Christ… to read your bible everyday… live a life of testimony to your neighbours…
Pastor Crazy Pastor… Crazy Small Group leader… Crazy accountability partner… but if we are out of our minds…. It is for God
If we call you to right living… if we call you to the tenets of scripture… to a right relationship… if we are of sound mind, it is for you
Ministry of Integrity….

Gratitude to the Saviour 5:14

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

Desire for Righteousness 5:15

and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Burden for the Lost 5:16-17

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Secular:

We live in a world that does not understand reconciliation….
A world of disposable relationships

Separated by lies
Fathers walking away from families…
Spouses deserting their mate
Boyfriends cheating on girlfriends
Sexual promiscuity

So much loneliness…
I said separated by lies… just as the couple standing on the bridge are separated by a lie… they denied their relationship… cheated… abandoned…..
Never embracing what God had intended…
That they would live a life… bound together in truth…
They were separated and are separated by a lie
The lie that we are to seek our own good first….
The lie that happiness is our goal… instead of joy
They stood on the bridge face to face…
Failing to recognize the opportunity to reconcile.
We live in a world that far too often misses the opportunity Easter brings…
Too turn our back on a lie…
And be reconciled to God!

Biblical:

2 Corinthians 5: 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Personal:

Reconciliation…

Takes Sacrifice…
There has to be a desire…
Sacrifice Pride
Sacrifice Selfishness
Sacrifice for Others

Come on… you have seen two pig-headed people in a fight…

You know once it is started it won’t end
Unforgiving
Bitter
Grudge holding

Sad isn’t it….
How many friendships have ended this way
How many families blown apart
How many churches hurt

Bridge:

We were born pig headed… (it is a theology term)
When it comes to God…. We were born pig headed
From Adam to now… this very day… none of us have got it right
We keep on having the same old arguments

I don’t need God
I don’t need him right now
Pride
Blindness

The time has come to settle the old argument
We are called to be reconciled to God through Christ

This is what God purposed Easter for… to reconcile us to him for his glory!

Reconciliation

Reconciliation Is by the Will of God - 5:18

18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

In the preceding verses… Paul talks about, all these things, which are the characteristics of the total transformation of the new believer…
God as the reconciler…
Us as the reconciled…
What was missing on the bridge…It was the will to reconcile…
We often let pride stand between us and the relationships God desires…
If you start talking about the problems in your relationship and your first words are…

She won’t do this…
He won’t do that…

We often don’t communicate the desire to reconcile… and prefer to talk about all the problems our spouse has…
In relationship to God… God has a desire to be in relationship with us… despite our past, our history…

Have you ever heard the God described as our Saviour?
Doesn’t that sound like some effort…
It is one who rescues, or delivers…

§ It is used as a title for the Father and the Son… 37 times in scripture

1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
God is active in reconciliation

Don’t wait (ridiculous argument… till I’m ready)
He waits on the other side… life to the fullest waits on the other side
He BUILT the Bridge… HE is the BRIDGE!

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. * Jesus is the Bridge

Believer
Repent
Follow

Reconciliation Is by the Act of Forgiveness - 5:19

19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Namely… Here comes the explanation…
That it is by the initiation of God… that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
There is a price to cross… and Jesus paid it…

· And we can claim it!

Is it everyone… in all time…
NO
We know from scripture that there are those separated from Christ and bear their own sin to eternal punishment.

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
The Bridge is real… and so are the consequences for failure to cross.
(Illustration of the flood)
One side is life…
The other side is eternal death and suffering

So who is reconciled?
Those who are forgiven… who is forgiven…
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Jesus forgives who….
Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Justified… imputed righteousness
God purposed that people would come to faith… those who would trust in the name of Christ…
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Jesus only Jesus

Not Jesus or other gods, works, birthright
Not Jesus and other gods, works, birthright

Forgiveness and made righteous
What is this reconciliation?
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon said… “You and your sins must separate… or you and your God will never come together!”
How is it that we are reconciled… by the forgiveness of our sins…Justified and mad righteous… reconciliation is by the act of forgiveness
Psalm 32:2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Not for those who have not sinned….
But for those who are forgiven

Forgiven ç è Perfect

Romans 4:8 "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
Not a feeling of forgiveness… an action!!
Imagine if people would truly forgive our transgressions…
Imagine if we truly forgave…

Oh the relationships…

Know that God will…. Know that God does… forgive all those who are in Christ
Know it is forgiveness by the act of reconciliation

The power of word of reconciliation… 19b

He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Through the Purpose of the Great and Glorious Lord God Almighty
Who brought about his redemption through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ!
For those who, by the Light of the Spirit of God have seen there sin for what it is…
Having accepted the message of Jesus Christ, who purposed their salvation, Jesus as Saviour and Lord…
Have now been committed to that very word of reconciliation that led us to Christ…
Word – logos… enduring word
Versus mythos… fiction

Word – of the Kingdom

NAU Matthew 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. Word – of the Kingdom *

Word – of salvation

NAU Acts 13:26 "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.
Word – of salvation

Word – of the Gospel

NAU Acts 15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Word – of the Gospel

Word – of the cross

NAU 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Word – of the cross

Word – of life and truth

NAU Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
NAU Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Word – of life and truth

Reconciliation Is by the Obedience of Faith – 5:20

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Take that Word personally….
And as An ambassador

For an ambassador is a high calling…

It is one who knows the heart and mind of the one they serve…

As messengers and representatives

Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
We have crossed the bridge of reconciliation…
We have been livened by the Spirit of God… Heard the Message… recognized who God is… recognized who we are… and crossed the bridge that is the atoning work of Christ on the cross… to the new life promised in Easter!
From Death to Life
Those who have been there can testify… (WAXING)
It is a better message… miracle of the church… (why use us God?)
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Reconciliation by Obedience in faith

Conclusion:

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is God’s Will
It is through Forgiveness
In the Power of the Word
In Obedience