THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
II CORINTHIANS 5:16-21
Introduction:
We have heard about SIN and its destruction in the lives of men. Then we spoke of CONVERSION or RENGENERATION and how the Lord redeemed man. Then we spoke of PROPITIATION or the ATONEMENT for sin and how God provided a way for forgiven of our sins.
Now we speak of RECONCILIATION, which supposes a quarrel, or breach of friendship. Our sins have made a breach breaking the friendship between God and man.
I. REGENERATION IS…
A. Weaning from the world, 2 Corinthians 5:16, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
B. A thorough change of the heart, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
II. RECONCILIATION IS…
A. A privilege, vs. 18-19.
1. Reconciliation means there is a breach of friendship.
a) Sin has made a breach,
1) The heart of the sinner is filled with enmity against God, Romans 8:7, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
2) God is justly offended with the sinner.
b) Yet there may be a reconciliation, Romans 5:10, “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.”
1) The offended Majesty of God is willing to be reconciled.
2) He has appointed the Mediator of reconciliation, 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
2. He has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
3. God is to be considered from first to last in the undertaking and performance of the Mediator, 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
a) He has appointed the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
1) It contained the word of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
2) It shows us that peace was made by the blood of the cross, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
3) It shows us that reconciliation is made, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
4) And he has appointed the ministry of the preaching of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
B. Reconciliation is spoken of as our duty, 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1. As God is willing to be reconciled to us.
2. We ought to be reconciled to God.
3. It is the great purpose of the gospel,
a) To prevail upon sinners to lay aside their enmity against God.
b) Faithful ministers the Word are Christ’s ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1) They come in God’s name to act in Christ’s stead.
2) They do the very thing he did when he was upon this earth, that is, preach the gospel of reconciliation.
3) By His ministers he admonishes sinners to repent, and accept of the terms he offers, that they would be reconciled to him.
i) To believe in the Mediator, 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
ii) To accept the atonement, and comply with his gospel, Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
iii) For our encouragement so to consider the Savior, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
(a) The PURITY of the Mediator: He knew no sin.
(b) The SACRIFICE he offered: “He was made sin;” not a sinner, but sin, that is, a sin offering, a sacrifice for sin.
(c) The END of all this is that “we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
CONCLUSION
As Christ, who knew no sin of his own, was made sin for us, so we, who have no righteousness of our own, are made the righteousness of God in him.
Our reconciliation to God is only through Jesus Christ, and for the sake of his merit: on him therefore we must rely, and make mention of his righteousness and his only.