"The Ministry of Reconciliation" |
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| 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2 | ||
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In chapter 5 of Second Corinthians, Paul has been painting a portrait of a Christian living in the midst of a dying world. We have seen that the Christian is to be a person who manifests a great hope because he knows that his “light and momentary troubles are achieving … an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (4:17). And the Christian living in the world today ought to be driven by two great motivating forces: 1) the knowledge that, one day, he must stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (5:10)—that all the hidden motives will one day be revealed, and 2) the love of Christ (14) which compels him to live his life for others. The third thing he talks about is the change of viewpoint that comes to the Christian. He says, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” (5:16). We don’t judge people by outward standards. We don’t value them because they are rich or influential or famous. We see everyone as a person created in the image of God for whom Christ died. And we understand that anyone, regardless of the depth of their depravity and sin, can become a new creation in Christ. That is how we are to live and think day by day because that is the way life really is. Having said all that the Apostle goes on to describe the ministry which God has given us. This is the greatest, most powerful, most effective work going on in the world today—and it is the work God has given us to do. Paul calls it “the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18-20: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 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. This is OUR ministry. Notice the use of the words “we” and “us”. This is the ministry that belongs to all of us – not just the Apostles, not just pastors or evangelists, but all Christians have a part in this ministry of reconciliation. Five characteristics of the Ministry of Reconciliation: I. It Comes From God (v. 18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation We are each responsible to God for our ministry We are reconciled first so that we do not go with something we know nothing about. II. It is a Powerful Ministry that Reconciles the World (v. 19) God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. The message everyone needs to hear. It presupposes alienation. Alienation is the great problem of man. A. The message doesn’t focus on judgment – “not counting men’s sins against them” B. The message is entrusted to people. We are sent to be peacemakers. That is why God has placed you where you are. III. It Requires Voluntary Acceptance (v. 20) 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. Not “all are saved”. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. No need for note of appeal if all saved. Ambassadors – representatives of a government to another. Not safe. Illus: Reconcilation (hands) “Be reconciled to God” was the message Paul preached everywhere. IV. It Achieves the Righteousness of God (v. 21) God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. One of the most magnificent verses in the Bible. It describes that mysterious transaction that took place on the cross when Jesus, the sinless one, was made to suffer for the sins of you, and I and the whole world. He took our place. And so the justice of God was satisfied—sin was punished—and His love was set free to come to a loveless, hard, self-righteous, selfish, hurting world. V. It is an Urgent Ministry (6:1-2) As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor
I heard you, I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. What does it mean “Do not receive the grace of God in vain”? “Grace of God” a general term for all that God has done on our behalf. We receive it when are “reconciled to God”. And after we are reconciled, the Holy Spirit comes and indwells us and begins the work of sanctifying us – remaking us in the image of Christ. But he does not work against our will. We can resist his influence in our lives, and the degree to which we do so is the degree to which we have “accepted the grace of God in vain”. We have accepted his grace, but we have not allowed it to fulfill its purpose in our lives. It has not changed you. So, the appeal to these Corinthian believers, and to us is: “Do not accept the grace of God in vain.” Well, when do we do this? That is the second thing he says, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of God’s salvation” (6:2). There is only one word on God’s clock “Now”. The devil's time is always tomorrow. That is why we never get around to it. God's time is always today, now. When are you going to reach out to your neighbors and become friends with them so that you might have an opportunity, hopefully, to share with them the change in your own life and heart? Well, now is the only time you have got. You do not have yesterday; it is gone. You may not get tomorrow. What you have is now; therefore, the Word of God always addresses us in this existential fashion. If you are going to act and you see something that needs to be done, do it now. Do not wait. Begin to live now. Enter into life now. That is God's time. Nothing else will avail. So, as Paul contemplates this great message of a beseeching God reaching out to a dying, despairing world with a cure for all its troubles, pleading with man, he sees us as involved in the process with him. And his appeal to us is, "Don't wait. Do it now." |
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