Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Reconciliation: Brought into God's Favor
Intro.
1. Salvation is deliverance from danger (www.bibleanswer.com/salvation.htm).
2. Reconciliation (to be reconciled), Rom. 5:10-11:
-“the restoration of the favour of God to sinners” (Thayer)
1a) to reconcile (those who are at variance)
1b) return to favour with, be reconciled to one
1c) to receive one into favour
3. Produce harmony, return to favor; atonement: “the state of being at one” (reconciliation, Rom. 5:11). (Illus: Reconciling a bank statement)
-Peace…were alienated…now reconciled, Col. 1:20-21.
4. Atonement: Adjustment (at-one-ment); “the reconciliation”, Rom. 5:11.
a. Lev. 17:11: “To cover”…“figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation)” (Strong). cf. Lev. 8:14-15
b. To expiate: “to put an end to, to extinguish the guilt incurred by”.
I. THE MEANS OF RECONCILIATION, 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Col. 1:20-22.
A. God has Reconciled Us to Himself through Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Col 1:20-22.
1. A word used for exchanging coins; adjustment, restoration.
2. God does not need reconciling, but He goes about the business of reconciling us to Himself in Christ. Jno. 3:16; 1 Jno. 4:9-10
3. Christ “died for all” – Atonement is available to all, 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 11:15.
4. Fulfillment of Dan. 9:24: “To make reconciliation for iniquity”.
II. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, 2 Cor. 5:18-20.
A. The Gospel is the Message (word) of Reconciliation, cf. Eph. 2:13, 16-18.
1. The apostles were sent by Christ to serve the world by preaching the word of reconciliation, Mk. 16:15 (Acts 1:8); 2 Cor. 4:7, 15.
2. They are ambassadors who implore on Christ’s behalf, 2 Cor. 5:20.
B. The Gospel Tells Us What Sin Did to Us: Once were… (Col. 1:21):
1. Alienated: Shut out from fellowship and intimacy with God.
2. Enemies: Hostile, hating and opposing God and man due to sin.
a. In your mind, Eph. 2:3; 4:17-18.
b. Wicked works, Eph. 2:1-3; 4:19.
C. The Gospel Tells Us What God Did to Reconcile Us, Rom. 5:8.
1. The death of His Son, Jesus, Rom. 5:10.
2. Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree, 1 Pet. 2:24.
3. Jesus accepted the penalty of sin (death), though sinless, 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:4-6.
D. The Gospel Tells Us What to Do to be Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5:20.
1. Believe, confess faith and repent, Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 17:30.
2. Be baptized, Rom. 6:4-5. United together (harmony, reconciled).
3. Continue in the faith, Col. 1:22-23.
III. THE MOMENT OF RECONCILIATION, 2 Cor. 5:20-21 (17); Rom. 5:11.
A. Urgency of the Plea to be Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5:20.
1. By delay one remains alienated from God and lost in sin.
2. Today – Hear His voice and do not harden heart, Heb. 3:7-8.
B. Obtained when the Blood of Christ is Applied to Our Sins, Rom. 5:10; 6:3.
1. Reconciled by His death…baptized into His death.
2. Sinners obtain atonement (are reconciled to God) when baptized into Christ.
C. Reconciliation is in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26-27.
D. The Motivation for the Sinner’s Obedient Response, 2 Cor. 5:21.
1. What Jesus did: The Just One died for the unjust, 1 Pet. 3:18.
2. What we may become: The righteousness of God, Eph. 4:23-24.
-Acquitted of guilt and so returned to divine favor.
Conclusion
1. As long as one remains in sin they are alienated from God.
2. In His great love, God took the initiative to reconcile the world to Himself and sent His Son to die of the cross for the sins of the world, 1 Jno. 2:2.
3. God invites (pleads with) you and Christ’s ambassadors implore (beg) you – Be reconciled to God! 2 Cor. 5:20
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: July 5, 2013