The Ministry of Reconciliation

Well, thank you, Rachel. Thank you for reading God's Word to us.

Let me just pray before we begin.

God and Father, just thank you for your Word.

We thank you for all that we have sung in the truths in these hymns and choruses that we have sung.

We thank you for this passage and the Lord Jesus in it.

And we just pray that as you speak to us that we will have open ears to listen and soft hearts to take on your Word.

And so we ask that your Holy Spirit will work in each one of us this morning.

In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Well, good morning. I'm JT. I'm one of the elders.

It's my privilege to take us through this passage this morning.

And what a passage!

You know, when it was, I saw what passage I had.

I didn't recognize it from the, you know, 2 Corinthians 5, 11, 62.

I didn't recognize it.

But when I looked in it to see what it was all about,

well, as the more I've looked into it this week,

the more excited I've got about reading it and about what it contains.

This morning, this is the gospel.

This is the truth of what God has done for us through the Lord Jesus Christ.

So let's start with a little bit of a catch-up.

So we're in 2 Corinthians.

And as Graham said, this is the second letter of Paul to the church in Corinth

that is recorded in the Bible as we have it today.

We think there was letters in between times, but we don't need to get into that.

And Corinth, well, it was a cosmopolitan city.

It was kind of near Athens.

And it was a city of pleasure.

It was wild.

It had a reputation for that.

And Paul, he had set up this as the Apostle Paul.

He set up lots of churches.

And this was one of them in Corinth.

But there was this problem of there was these false teachers.

And they were teaching that it was all about what you show on the outside.

It's all about what you portray to people.

That's what's important.

And they were saying because of that, Paul, well, Paul wasn't a well man.

He didn't keep very well.

He had a poor job.

You know, he didn't actually speak very well.

He wasn't a great orator.

And they were saying, Paul isn't good enough to have authority over you, to teach you, to guide you.

But Paul here, and especially in these chapters 4 to 7, he is addressing these claims.

And in chapters 4 to 7, we have this paradox of the cross where we find strength in weakness.

And that is where we get this heading from, boasting in weakness.

Christ himself was self-giving.

He gave himself.

There was great glory in the suffering of the cross.

And Paul here, he is saying that the church in Corinth, they are to imitate the cross.

They are to expect poverty.

They are to expect suffering.

They are to be humble.

These things are to be expected.

And in fact, there is glory in these things.

And last week, Graham, he took us through the first 10 verses of chapter 5.

And some of the headlines from that would be that we live by faith and not by sight.

We will live differently if we remember the fact that our home is in fact in heaven.

That like tents are just temporary dwellings.

No one lives in a tent forever, do they?

No, this is not our forever home.

And when we live like that, then we will live differently.

And we saw that there is judgment coming.

There is justice coming.

And this brings us comfort.

We want justice, don't we?

But it's also a challenge to believers that the judgment seat of Christ is coming,

where Christians will be judged on their good works and the things they have done for God.

And that's important because that brings us to this week and this passage where Paul carries on.

And this week, to help think about it, we're going to look at it a little bit like a court case.

Okay?

Graham was a lawyer.

I am no lawyer.

And you'll see that from the way I've twisted my illustration to make it fit this morning.

That some of you might be a lawyer.

But I've seen enough TV programs or films or read enough books with law elements to know roughly how it works.

And always the key thing they say is, well, we must find the motive.

Why was this crime committed?

We need a motive.

But you also need the facts of the case, don't you?

You need the content.

What happened?

What went on?

What actually happened?

And there's always a plea, isn't there?

There's a plea made.

There's a call made at some point.

And we're going to see this this morning in this passage when Paul is talking about this ministry of reconciliation.

Your Bible might have that as a heading.

Well, Paul here, he explains the message and the character of this new covenant ministry that the church in Corinth is to be a part of.

And to help us think about that, this is a definition that someone has put about what reconciliation is.

It's not really a word that we use in everyday language.

But Christian reconciliation is the work of God through Christ by which he restores mankind to a favorable relationship with himself.

It is mending that relationship between God and man.

And that is what Paul is talking about this morning.

So we're going to look at it in three ways.

We're going to see Paul's motive.

We're going to see Paul's facts.

And we're going to see Paul's plea that he makes.

You know, there's two streams as we go through this.

The things that we look at here, they're going to apply to those who are not saved.

Those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their savior.

Yeah.

And they're going to be also pleased to those who are saved already.

And it will apply to those who would call themselves Christians who have that saving faith in the Lord Jesus.

And you know, it does that because that is true in life.

Before God, we are one of those two things.

It's as simple as that.

So whoever you are today, whichever category you fall into, this passage is for you.

But as we go through, let's remember the context of Paul speaking to this church in Corinth.

Right, so let's get stuck into the motive.

Paul here in the first few verses, he lays out his motivation behind this ministry.

In the light of the knowledge of the judgment seat of Christ that we finished on last week,

Paul says, since, in verse 11,

since then we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.

And this could mean two things.

Paul is defending his character to these false prophets, to those in the church.

He is saying that I do have true faith.

I fear the Lord.

Paul has that saving knowledge.

That reverent obedience, that devotion, that awe of God.

That is what it means to fear the Lord.

You know, Paul is also motivated to persuade others of the truth of these things.

Those that do not know these things for themselves.

Paul, why is he defending his character?

What is the point here?

Why does he feel the need to do that?

Well, if he doesn't defend his character, then he has no leg to stand on, really.

That would be a modern phrase for that.

There's no point laying out the truths of these things if no one's going to listen to him anyway.

How often do we see politicians, you know, high up politicians in all levels of government or famous people, society,

but then something goes wrong?

There's the expenses scandals.

There's parties that they shouldn't be having.

There's affairs.

All these things.

And what happens?

Well, these people just resign, don't they?

Why do they resign?

Well, no one trusts them anymore.

No one's going to listen to them.

No one's going to do what they say.

That's a little bit like here that Paul needs to defend himself first to show that he is truly who he says he is.

And how does he back this up?

Well, he says what we are is plain to God.

There's no hiding from God.

God knows the truth of who we are.

No matter what others say about us, God knows who you are this morning.

And in contrast to Paul's true faith, he challenges those who take pride in what is seen, as it says in verse 12.

These are the false prophets who are just totally interested in what is on the outside.

What is important is what is in their heart.

So Paul has defended his character and then he goes on to say his motivation for these things.

Verse 14, read it with me.

For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died.

The strong language there compels, convinced.

Paul is motivated here.

Do you get the sense of that?

You know this passage, one died for all, it says there, therefore all died.

Yes, all can be saved.

Jesus died for all.

But it also means that all need saved.

And that's important to know.

Everyone has been separated from God through sin.

Through the first man, Adam, and if you want some reading this afternoon, go and read Genesis 3.

Through the first man, Adam, sin came into the world.

And from that point on, all were dead men before God.

I've not seen it, but I've heard of a show called The Walking Dead.

I wouldn't recommend it because I don't know anything about it.

But you know, it's that kind of concept, isn't it?

It's that everyone is the walking dead.

We're just walking around, but before God, we are dead in our sins.

Romans 3, 23, a famous verse.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

You know, I've got two daughters.

One's four and one's one.

And, you know, the youngest one at the moment, she's already, and she kind of finds it funny

and she pulls this little pout, but her favorite thing at the moment is to go, no.

She sort of pouts at us all and scowls.

You know, it's kind of funny, it's kind of cute.

You know, we kind of try not to laugh because it encourages her.

But, you know, even from such a young age, the disobedience is built into her, isn't it?

And we're all disobedient.

We're disobedient to God.

But the good news is that that's not the end.

Romans 3, 23, shut your Bible.

No, that's not the end.

Romans 3, 24.

The good news is that the work is done.

All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

All are justified freely.

We'll see in verse 17 that that saving is not universal, that we need to do our part.

But we will look at that later on.

But Paul, he's so enthused by the truth of these things, by the fact that he has that saving faith,

that he is convinced that these things are true, that he is so compelled to tell others.

Verse 15, 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.

In that verse, we start with the death of the Lord Jesus, and we finish with his life, his raising again.

You know, if we believe these things, then our worldview is totally changed.

Someone's worldview, it really impacts how they live their life.

It affects what they eat.

It affects how they spend their time.

It affects how they spend their money.

Now, if we are living in the reverent fear of the Lord as Paul is,

then that will totally change how we live our lives.

Or it should do.

Not living a self-focus the world resolves around me.

How can I further myself?

That should not be our primary aim.

So what is your motivation in life?

God knows who you truly are.

There is no hiding from him.

We all start in that position of being separated from God through sin.

Christ died for all, but salvation, it needs accepted.

Forgiveness needs asked for.

And if we are saved, then what does our character say about us?

Paul had to defend his character here because he was being falsely accused.

But does our character allow us to actually go and tell others?

Do our words match our actions?

And if so, are we passionately convinced and compelled to go and tell others?

Are we living our lives for the one who's done so much for us?

That was Paul's motivation.

Then we're going to see Paul's facts.

So he's laid out his motive for these things,

and he's going to lay out the content of this ministry of reconciliation.

Verse 16.

So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

I don't know about you, but I can't think of the words from now on

and not start sort of tapping your foot and singing along.

The ones laughing in the room know what I'm talking about.

So it's The Greatest Showman.

It's a good film, isn't it?

It's got that really catchy song, From Now On.

And you know, in that, Hugh Jackman's character,

his life at that point has changed.

He's decided in his mind that he is going to live differently.

Not in the same sense that we have here.

But he's saying in that song,

From now on, I'm going to do this.

From now on, I'm going to live like that.

From now on, life will be different.

You know, that is the sense that we have here.

As saved people, our worldview is radically altered.

Paul says that even Paul, he once viewed Jesus as just a man,

but not anymore.

How do you view Jesus?

How we view Jesus, well, it changes our view on those around us.

And that affects how we act towards each and every person that we come across.

Verse 17,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.

If we believe in Christ, the new creation has come.

The old has gone.

The new is here.

You know, that if there is vital in that verse.

There's not universal salvation.

We are not all saved by the work of the Lord Jesus automatically.

We must do our part.

I was thinking now to try and illustrate this,

and nothing really does it justice,

but I was thinking, right,

if I stand up here and go,

right, everyone, free coffee at the end.

Okay, I've got vouchers.

Okay, come and see me at the end.

You think, oh, great.

Yeah, free coffee, brilliant.

But unless you come up to me,

ask me for a voucher,

accept it from me,

and go and get the coffee,

then one's not just going to appear in your hand.

You know, that's a trivial example,

but that is essentially the case.

We need to accept what the Lord Jesus has done.

We need to ask for forgiveness.

In Christ, we need to be joined to him

by faith as Savior.

And if so, then we become a new creation.

A new creation.

Reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Our spirit and our mind is totally made new,

but not yet our bodies,

which is important to note.

Our previous condition, it is gone.

We have a new position before God.

I want to be clear here.

We are not made perfect at that point.

We are not made perfect.

We know that.

We mess up.

We still sin.

Our practice sometimes fails us,

but our position before God

is secure and changed.

I am a new creation.

No more in condemnation.

Here in the grace of God, I stand.

It is our position that is secure in Christ.

So well done us, right?

Well done.

We're in that position.

Go us.

Well, no, I like the humble verses of the Bible.

I think they're always good.

They really put us in our place.

You know, verse 18 is one of those.

All of this,

all of what we've been talking about,

this being made new,

being in Christ,

this change,

all this is from God

who reconciled us to himself through Christ

and he gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

See which direction that is going?

It is all God.

We sung it this morning.

Jesus paid it all.

All to him I owe.

God has made us acceptable to himself

through the work of the Lord Jesus,

his death and resurrection

that we saw in verse 15.

Sin caused that separation,

but Christ allows that restoration.

God is holy.

God cannot accept us in our sinful state.

That wouldn't be right.

God is just.

We need our problem solved.

And we are reconciled,

not just that we just sit back

and do nothing,

but know that our examples

will bring others to know God.

God was reconciling us to himself

in Christ, verse 19 says,

not counting people's sins against them.

And he has committed to us

the message of reconciliation.

God doesn't hold our sins against us.

At this point,

I was brought to think of John 8

where the Lord Jesus,

he goes to the,

there's a woman who's caught in adultery

and everyone has picked up stones

and they're about to stone her.

They're about to kill her.

And Jesus says,

he who has committed no sin

can cast the first stone.

Gradually, everyone just drops their stones

and walks away.

You know, Jesus,

he hadn't committed a sin,

but he doesn't stone her.

He doesn't hold her sins against her.

We need to accept Jesus's death

and resurrection

as being that just payment

for our wrongdoing.

Jesus has done it all.

He has done enough.

And that good news message,

it is committed to us.

What a privilege and a challenge.

You know,

we're looking at the facts here,

aren't we?

We need to know the facts

of these things.

We need to have these things

straight in our heads

so that we can actually go

and tell others about them.

You know,

we've had the students

stand up this morning,

but your lecturers

are the experts in their field.

They know what they're,

well, I really hope they know

what they're talking about.

And they are experts.

They know all about it.

Their life revolves around it

and that allows them

to be able to teach you.

Hopefully,

that should be the case anyway.

You know,

that's like us.

We need to know the facts

of these things.

We need to have them clear

so that we can go

and be witnesses

and tell others.

How do we do that?

Well,

it's Bible study,

quiet time,

spending time

improving our relationship

with God,

attendance at church services,

being in occasions

where God's word

is read and spoken from,

but also our home groups.

Get involved in a home group.

Discuss these things.

Wrestle with these things

during the week.

Discuss how they really apply

to our lives.

These things are vital.

So that's Paul's facts.

And what is our response

to these facts?

What is our worldview?

Have we had that life-changing moment

where we are then in Christ?

That previous condition is gone.

We have that new position

before God

and we are set aside

as blameless

before him.

And if we are,

then are we clear

in these facts

so that we can tell others?

So that brings us

to our last point,

the plea.

So Paul has laid out

his motive

for writing these things.

He's laid out

the facts of the case

and now he's going to make

a plea.

Paul finishes

by pleading

to listen

and to act

on this ministry

of reconciliation.

Verse 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.

Christ's ambassadors.

You know,

we have a group

called the Embassy.

It's for the teenagers.

You'll see them

meeting over there

after the service

to discuss

some of these things

that have gone on

that have been talked about.

You know,

why is it called embassy?

Well,

it's because we are

to be ambassadors

for God

in this world.

You know,

potentially here

Paul is talking

about himself

as an apostle

because they certainly

had a special role

in setting up

the first churches

and they were

certainly

slightly different.

But you know,

it still applies

to us today.

The Church of Christ,

it is like a divine embassy

in this hostile world

and we are part of that.

Last week,

we thought that

this is not our

home forever.

That we are just

temporary dwellers

and in fact,

we are almost like

foreigners here

in this world.

Paul,

that strong language again,

we implore you

on Christ's behalf,

be reconciled

to God.

Be saved,

he is saying.

And I implore you today,

if that is not you,

if that is not you,

then don't leave

without speaking

to someone.

don't leave here

without addressing

the problem

that we all have.

Verse 21,

God made him

who had no sin

to be sin for us

so that we

might become

the righteousness

of God.

One of these verses

in the Bible

that's kind of

unexplainable,

the truths

of these things,

in one sense

it's so simple

but in other senses

it's just so complex.

Sin that wholly

characterizes us.

And Christ,

he was made

all that we are

when he died

on that cross.

And in the same way,

righteousness is what

totally characterizes God.

And we are made

so when we are

in Christ.

We are placed

in that right

relationship

by his gracious

loving kindness.

So God has done

it all.

Are we willing

to do our part?

That is Paul's plea

this morning.

6 verse 1

is God's

co-workers

we urge you

not to receive

God's grace

in vain.

So once again

we have those

two streams.

First of all

he's urging people

to accept

these things,

to accept

the truth

of these things.

And if we have

accepted already

then don't keep

it to yourself.

Don't live a life

for yourself

but live a life

for God

doing as he would

want us to do.

Don't waste

the opportunity

of God's grace.

It is wonderful.

It is marvelous.

And Paul finishes

by quoting

from Isaiah 49

Isaiah 49:8

verse 8.

It's a bit of a

difficult verse

this one

but it says

in the time

of my favor

I heard you

and in the day

of salvation

I helped you.

And what that is

there

that it is

prophetically

addressing the Messiah

so it is

Jehovah

speaking to

Christ Jesus

the Messiah.

God here

is answering

Christ's prayer

by raising him

from the dead.

You know

why is Paul

put that

in there?

Well he says

I tell you

now is the time

of God's favor

now is the day

of salvation.

The day of salvation

has begun.

Lord Jesus

he has died

he has risen again

we are in the day

of salvation.

Salvation is open

to us.

It is available.

It is available

to everyone

that we meet

and greet.

But that won't

go on forever.

It's until that

day of judgment

comes

or until we die

and our life

is taken from us.

And hopefully

that brings a sense

of urgency

to these things.

Today is the day.

You know

so often in this life

we worry about

tomorrow

what is your

10 year plan

where will you be

in 20 years

what are you going

to do in your

retirement?

You know

the Bible says

for us to focus

on today

because we do

not know

what tomorrow

may bring.

So don't waste

the opportunity

of God's grace.

Witness to others

do all that we can.

We are part

of that embassy

of Christ

in this world.

Today is the day

don't delay.

You know

there's an old

old hymn

and it says

this

it's called

Almost Persuaded.

One of the verses

says

Be now persuaded

O sinner

here

Be now persuaded

Jesus is near

His voice

is pleading

still

Turn now

with heart

and will

Peace will

your spirit

fill

O turn

today

So let me

just sum

this up.

Paul in regards

to this ministry

of reconciliation

he laid out

his motive

for writing

these things

he laid out

the facts

that he wanted

to get across

and he has

made his plea

he has made

his plea

all have sinned

we've seen that

God cannot

accept us

as we are

in that state

as he is

holy

and just

all need

to accept

the facts

of these things

to have that

relationship

with God

restored

to be

reconciled

to him

and we can

give praise

and thanks

that God

in Christ

has done

all of the work

it was all

him

required

for salvation

Jesus died

he took that

guilt

and that shame

for us

and he rose

again

and lives

forever

and we can

worship him

and if we are

a new creation

already

then that is

brilliant

we have been

made new

and we look

forward to that

day in heaven

when we will

have our new

body

and that

we will

be made

perfect

and won't

mess up

anymore

and if that

is the case

then we should

be convinced

about these

things

we should be

compelled by

these things

to go and

tell others

to witness

to do

whatever we

can

witness in

our daily

lives

show good

character

to everyone

that we

come across

spreading the

good news

that we

know to be

true

ourselves

God

Father we

just thank

you for

your word

we thank

you for

the depths

of it

that just

cannot be

explored

we thank

you for

the truths

of the

ministry

of reconciliation

the work

that was

done by

the Lord

Jesus

that you

brought us

to yourself

through that

great work

the death

and resurrection

of the Lord

Jesus

us

we pray

that as

we continue

to think

of these

things

and as

we go

from here

that these

things will

dwell in

our minds

and in

our hearts

and that the

Holy Spirit

will work

in us

to convict

us of

these things

throughout

today and

this week

we just ask

your blessing

as we close

and we do

just once again

give you the

thanks for

the Lord

Jesus

in his name

we pray

Amen