THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATIONII CORINTHIANS 5:11-6:2

DOWNLOAD THIS POWERPOINT ATHTTP://WWW.JLWILLIAMS.ORG/MEDIA/POWERPOINTS/

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING SERIES

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin

for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

II Corinthians 5:11-6:2

1. PURPOSE OF RECONCILIATION

A. Reconciliation presupposes alienation

B. If there were no broken relationships…division…hostilities…alienations…estrangements – there would be no need of reconciliation.

But our world and churches are filled with chasms of separations between hostile people…tribal groups…ethnic groups…family members…married couples.

So the purpose of reconciliation is to bring peace between the estranged…hostile…warring parties.

So the purpose of reconciliation is to eliminate the alienation.

2. PASSION OF RECONCILIATION

A. “Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord…” (II Cor. 5:11)

B. Psalm 36:1 says that the wicked person has “no fear of God before his eyes.”

C. The righteous have a holy, reverential fear of God that causes them to want to please Him – while the wicked have no such “fear of God.”

D. When man does not have a healthy and holy fear of God, then he lives to please himself and gratify his flesh – regardless of who he hurts.

E. But when a person truly fears God, then he will live to please Him – and maintain peace.

F. Paul earlier said: “…we make it our goal to please Him…” (v.9)

G. In all other religions, the person has to appease the gods of wrath and anger; but in Christianity we live to please the God who loves us!

“…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 12:21)

H. Further, Paul says that:

“…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (v. 10)

I. So the Christian is to have a holy passion to live in such a way that will be pleasing to God – so that when he individually stands before the Judgment seat of Christ, he will hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

J. So the passion of reconciliation is the fear of God that motivates us to live a life that will please Him.

3. PERSUASION OF RECONCILIATION

A. “knowing what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men” (v.11).

B. Before we are Christians, we live to please ourselves and please others. We are “men-pleasers” rather than “God pleasers.” (Col. 1:10)

C. When we “fear men” rather than “fear God,” it always is a snare to us (Prov. 29:25). We allow men to persuade us – rather than us persuade them out of our fear of God.

D. The word that Paul uses here for persuade is a significant and strong word. It is the word peitho, and means: “to apply persuasion, to prevail upon, to win over; bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral persuasion.” So Paul was not at all passive in his persuasion!

E. So if we are going to be ministers of Reconciliation – it will not be easy. It will take great effort and persuasion through the power of the Holy Spirit!

4. PURITY OF RECONCILIATION

A. “What we are is plain to God and I hope it is also plain to your conscience” (v. 11)

B. Paul says that in his ministry of Reconciliation – there are no hidden agendas…secret motives…unseen motivations.

C. Paul said: “I am transparent to God and transparent to man.”

D. When people of the world go about reconciliation – when politicians take the lead in it – there is always a hidden agenda. There is almost always some secret, self-serving motivation.

E. But for the Christian, the motive is purely one of peace!

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (II Cor. 4:1-2)

F. Paul’s motives as an apostle were being questioned by some in the church at Corinth – who had been influenced by other so-called “super apostles” who were undermining his ministry.

G. These false religious leaders took pride in external things – while Paul was concerned about the unseen things of the heart:

“We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart” (v. 12)

H. So Paul knew that heart purity is the real issue. He knew that the content of the heart would be fully revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” (I Cor. 4:5)

I. So we must all examine our hearts! But we must also realize that there has been only one Person who had perfectly pure motives – and that was the Lord Jesus! All of the rest of us have mixed motives…impurities in our heart.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

J. However, as we read the Word…mature in the Lord…walk in the Spirit – our motives are more and more purified. Since God’s Spirit is the Holy Spirit, He will increasingly sanctify and purify our hearts.

5. PREREQUISITE OF RECONCILIATION

“For the love of Christ compels us…” (v. 14)

A. It is nothing but the agape love of Christ that will motivate us to be ministers of reconciliation.

B. Through the Holy Spirit, God “…pours out His love in our hearts.” (Romans 5:5)

C. That agape will not allow us to be silent and inactive in the face of hostility, alienation and injustice!

D. His love compels us to take action in the direction of reconciliation.

E. The word Paul uses here for “compels” or “controls” is sunecho – a very strong word! It means: “to hold together, confine, secure, surround, hold fast.” It is the word that is used of:

① “crowds surrounding Jesus”

② “soldiers surrounding a city”

③ “people gripped by a strong desire or emotion.”

F. So without the love of Christ in our hearts – we will not be compelled toward reconciliation when there is alienation.

G. Without agape, we will be controlled by apathy…indifference…passivity…inactivity…fear!

H. So the number one prerequisite for being a minister of reconciliation is agape – the love of Christ!

6. PRICE OF RECONCILIATION

“Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all…” (v.14)

A. This verse reminds us that there is no such thing as “cheap reconciliation!”

B. For us to be reconciled to a Holy God took nothing less than the death of the Lord Jesus!

C. There is no such thing as “cheap grace…bargain-basement salvation…discounted redemption…reduced reconciliation!

D. Grace is free – but it is not cheap! The price tag for our redemption and reconciliation is written in blood!

E. So if it was eternally costly for God to reconcile us to Himself – then it will be costly for us to become seriously involved in the ministry of reconciliation!

7. PATTERN OF RECONCILIATION

“And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves

but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” (v. 15)

A. Paul reminds us here that we have a new pattern to live our lives after – the pattern of self-surrender.

B. We no longer live for ourselves – but for God who purchased us:

“Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God with your body.” (I Cor. 6:19-20)

C. So reconciliation is not just an act – it is life-style. It is not a one-time intervention – but the pattern we seek to live by.

 

D. Redemption and reconciliation is both a crisis and a process. Salvation is a crisis – and sanctification is the process.

E. Through the crisis of redemption, God eternally reconciled us unto Himself – but that crisis of reconciliation in our lives is to result in a lifelong process of reconciliation in the lives of others!

F. Tragically, the pattern of most people’s lives is the ongoing process of one alienation after another. Since their lives are broken spiritually and emotionally – they inflict that upon everyone around them!

G. What is the pattern of your life – alienation or reconciliation? Are you living for Him who died for you?

H. Paul said, that once we realize the price that was paid for us – we can “…no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for you.”

8. PERSPECTIVE OF RECONCILIATION

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way,

we do so no longer.” (v.16)

A. Before his experience on the Damasus Road – Paul had a radically different perspective on life than the one he describes here!

B. Before his conversion, Paul viewed every person “…from a worldly point of view.” That meant they were either Jews or Gentiles…clean or unclean…chosen or rejected. He and all of humanity neatly divided up and compartmentalized into “us” and “them” “my side”…“other side!”

C. But God had to temporarily blind him so he could get a new perspective! He lost his sight – but in the process gained insight!

D. What was this radically new insight that forever changed his sight?

E. It was a new correct understanding of who God is through Jesus Christ.

F. Before his experience on the Road to Damascus, Paul had a wrong view of Christ. He thought Christ was nothing more than a Jewish heretic who blasphemed by claiming to be God – and got what He deserved – crucifixion!

G. But on the Damascus Road he met the risen Christ – and both his insight and sight were forever changed!

H. His new insight about Christ transformed his sight of all mankind. His spiritual insight – gained while he was temporarily blinded – gave him new physical sight.

J. Once we are transformed by the love of Christ – we can no longer “view any person from a worldly point of view.” We see people through the lenses of Grace. We see them from God’s perspective…we see them through the eyes of Christ!

PRINCIPLE

I. If our insight about God is wrong – our sight of man will also be wrong! It is impossible to have a wrong view of God and have a right view of man!

J. The Cross changes our perspective! It crosses out our human…carnal…fleshy…worldly point of view – and gives us a spiritual point of view.

K. The blood of Calvary not only cleanses our sins; it clears our vision. The blood of Christ washes our hearts of sin – and our eyes or prejudice.

L. Agape love helps us see every person through their potential in Christ through the new birth! The Gospel is “Good News” that results in “good views!”

9. POWER OF RECONCILIATION

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come.” (II Cor. 5:17)

A. Paul had a new perspective – that the power of Christ could transform anyone into a new creation!

B. Paul knew if the power of the Gospel could transform him – who had been a blasphemer of Christ…a persecutor of the church…a murderer of Christians (Acts 8:1; 9:1; I Tim. 1:13) – then it could transform anyone!

C. From personal experience, Paul knew that this was not some new religious system based on reformation – but the very power of God for transformation. He already knew the folly and frustration of trying to reform himself through his own efforts…through good works…through obedience to the law.

D. On the Damascus Road, he was not reformed from the outside in; he was transformed from the inside out!

E. This transforming power did not come from the ethical ideals of a dead religious leader; it was from the risen and reigning Christ!

F. Paul now knew from personal transforming experience – that the power of Christ could make anyone a new creature…a new creation!

G. That’s why he wrote the Christians at Rome:

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of anyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16)

 

H. Only the Gospel has the power of God to reconcile lives. The Gospel is “Good News” because it not only reconciles us to God; it also reconciles us to others.

I. That’s why all of the worldly attempts at reconciliation – as sincere and well-intended as they may be – never last. Pacts are signed…peace accords are ratified – only to soon to be broken! Why? Because there is no transformation backing the reconciliation. There is no spiritual power to perpetuate the peace!

J. Only the Gospel of Christ has the power to bring lasting reconciliation.

K. Only when there has been eternal reconciliation with God through the power of the Gospel, can there be temporal reconciliation between men!

 

10. PERSON OF RECONCILIATION

“All of this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…” (v. 18)

A. Paul reminds us that this entire ministry of reconciliation does not originate with man – but with God;

B. Reconciliation is not a principle – but a person. It is not a theology…a theory…a philosophy…a movement – it is a person!

C. Reconciliation is not a human inclination – but rather a divine incarnation.

D. It is absolutely impossible for reconciliation to occur where there is alienation without the intervention of a person. Reconciliation cannot take place abstractly or theoretically. Reconciliation must become an incarnation. Someone must stand in the gap of alienation. Some reconciler must personally incarnate the reconciliation.

E. So the glory of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ – the Incarnate God, brought reconciliation to the world! Reconciliation was personally incarnated in Him – and it is to be continued through us as His Body.

F. That brings us to our next point…

11. PROCLAMATION OF RECONCILIATION

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…

He committed to us the message of reconciliation” (v. 18-19).

A. Paul now turns the spotlight from the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus – to us. Just as Jesus was God’s incarnate Word about reconciliation; you and I are to continue to speak and incarnate the word of reconciliation.

B. The church has been entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation. That’s why Paul speaks of us Christians as “…Christ’s ambassadors” (v. 20).

C. In the same way, Paul tells us that the church is God’s Embassy here on earth. Therefore, the church is a small microcosm of the Kingdom of God here on earth! The church is God’s Embassy in a hostile and alienated world. And, you and I are God’s ambassadors who represent Him in a lost and dying world!

D. Question: “What do people sense when they step into your church? What do people experience when they step into your home as God’s Ambassadorial residence?” Do they sense a place of spiritual peace and reconciliation – or worldly alienation? Do they experience reconciled relationships, or the same hostility and ethnicity that they experience in the world? Is your physical home and spiritual home a place where the presence of God…the peace of the Lord Jesus…the power of the Holy Spirit reign supremely?

E. So Paul reminds us that we as Christians have been given the ministry of reconciliation – the words of reconciliation. That means that in any situation of alienation, I have the power to either be silent and allow the alienation to become worse; or speak hostility and intensify the alienation; or speak words of reconciliation – and bring healing of relationships.

F. The Apostle James reminds us that “…the tongue is a fire” (3:3-6). It so often ignites forest fires of alienation and hostility between people. That’s why the most powerful and dangerous force in the world is the tongue!

G. It is my prayer that God would sanctify our tongues so that they would from this moment on speak only words of reconciliation!

H. Paul said: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6).

I. God help each of us to let His Holy Spirit sanctify our tongues, so that we would only speak those words which edify and produce reconciliation. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” ( Rom. 14:17)

J. However, when that is our commitment, it will not be easy or cheap! That reminds us of our next point…

12. PAIN OF RECONCILIATION

“God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ,not counting men’s sins against them…

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us…” (vs. 19, 21)

A. Here again we see how the ministry of reconciliation becomes very personal and painful.

B. We have already seen that the price of reconciliation was nothing short of the death of the Lord Jesus. It was not painless for God to bring about reconciliation. The reconciliation of the world was only made possible by the shame and pain of the cross!

C. However, the crucifixion of Christ was not the total picture of reconciliation. Many people before and after Christ were crucified – and died horribly painful deaths on cruel Roman crosses. It was not just the physical pain of the cross that killed Jesus. It was the spiritual pain and shame of yours and my sin that killed Christ! It was when “…God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” that Christ died spiritually! That was the hell of the cross!

D. We can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like for incarnate love to be “…made sin.” Up until this point on the cross, there had never been a moment in time or in eternity when the Father and Son had known anything but perfect unity. But on the cross, the Father put all of the sins of the world on His sinless Son – all because of grace, mercy and love! It was during those 3 eternally long hours – between 12:00 - 3:00 PM when Christ was suspended on the cross in both spiritual and physical darkness – that He experienced and endured the real pain of reconciliation! That’s what really killed the Lord Jesus – your sins and mine! He did not die from a broken body – but from a broken heart!

E. Sin was totally alien to the life and nature of the Lord Jesus – yet He took it upon Himself. Because of love, He incorporated sin into His holy being. He personalized and personified sin – and died as a result of it. And He did it all for you and me!

F. What does that tell you and me about the ministry of reconciliation? It assures us that if we are going to be serious about the ministry of reconciliation – then it is also going to be costly and painful for us! If we are going to step into the chasm of alienation and do the Christ-like thing – then we will also have to be willing to take the shame and pain of other people’s sin upon ourselves. Unless we too are willing to personalize the problem, and become identified with the pain and shame other people are experiencing – reconciliation will not occur.

H. So Jesus became personally identified with our sin – so that we could become personally identified with His righteousness. That brings us to our next point, the…

13. PERFUME OF RECONCILIATION

“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God” (v. 21)

A. The Bible reminds us that we are all born into a state of spiritual death. As Paul says, we are all “…dead in our trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1).

B. When something is dead, it decomposes…it rots…it stinks – it is offensive to our noses. In the same way, the Bible assures us that our sin is offensive to the senses of God.

C. However, through our faith in Christ Jesus, we have “…passed from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). Now that we are “…in Him,” we are no longer dead in our trespasses and sin. We have “…become the righteousness of Christ.” We now smell like the Lord Jesus!

D. I love those graphic verses in II Corinthians 2:14-16, where Paul says:

“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

E. These verses take us back to the Old Testament sacrifices – especially in the Book of Leviticus. Every time a sacrifice by fire was carried out according to God’s precise instructions, these words of description would follow: “…it was an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Lev. 1:9, 13, 17, etc).

F. So Paul reminds us that when we too die to self, and live for Christ (Gal. 2:20), then our lives are the “…fragrance of Christ unto God.” Everywhere Christ went, He spread the fragrance of God. In like manner, everywhere you and I go we are to spread the fragrance of Christ!

G. Let me ask you a question: “What do you smell like to God? Who do you smell like to the people you live and work with? Are you the fragrance of Christ – the fragrance of life? Or are you the noxious odor of death and decay?”

H. When I called my wife from London on my flight to Ethiopia, she asked if I would buy her a particular kind of perfume that she likes – and that I also like. My nose has come to associate that particular perfume with Patt. It reminds me of her love. So I am going to buy a BIG bottle on my return trip home through London!

I. So the Bible reminds us that we are to be the perfume of Christ to a lost and dying world. We are to be the aroma of reconciliation everywhere we go.

J. What does your church smell like? What kind of spiritual and relational odor arises from the fellowship and worship of your local church body? When people come to your church, what do they smell? Are they drawn by the fragrance of Christ and His righteousness and reconciliation? That’s how the true saints of God are supposed to smell! We are to be God’s perfume of righteousness and reconciliation in the world of sin and alienation!

K. That brings us to our last point in this study, the…

14. PLEA OF RECONCILIATION

A. Even though the chapter ends in our Bibles with verse 21, that is not the conclusions of Paul’s message about reconciliation. Chapter 6 is a continuation of Paul’s theme about the ministry of reconciliation. He gives a final passionate plea for reconciliation:

“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (6:1-2).

B. In essence Paul says: “Since we have been reconciled to Christ; since we are now the fragrance of Christ; since we have received the righteousness of Christ; since we have been given the ministry of reconciliation – I urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain!”

C. Why does he say this? Because now is the time of God’s favor! Now is the time of God’s salvation!

D. Unless we move from information to application, we are guilty of “…receiving God’s grace in vain.”