Superior Satisfaction: Superior Reconciliation

Introduction: Are you all familiar with a hostage negotiator? This person goes into a highly intense situation and uses his persuasive skills to convince the captor to release his hostages. Their goal is the safe return of the hostages. In trying to meet that goal they try to understand the captors demands so that they can compromise and reach an agreement where the captor will give himself up and release his hostages. When it comes to sin, the captor demands one thing: life. In Christ, because of His Superior Position, the believer can find true release from his hopeless state.

Thesis: Believers who trust in Christ receive full reconciliation to God the Father from their alienating sins.

Colossians 1:19-23

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 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. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Reconciliation’s Expedient (means) (v. 19-20)

Believers receive reconciliation through the blood of Christ, the totality of deity.

Believers trust no other for reconciliation for Christ alone is the totality of deity.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

The term for fullness refers to the idea of something being complete so that it is complete.

Christ possesses all of the characteristics of God so that everyone knows that He is God.

Why would someone choose someone other than God to do something that only God can do?

Believers regardless of dispensation now harmonize with God through Christ’s death.

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.

The believers medium of reconciliation is through the blood of Christ shed on the cross alone.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

The believers of all time receive reconciliation resulting from Christ’s sacrifice.

Reconciliation’s Extent (v. 21)

Believers receive complete transformation from their sin’s former alienation.

Believers receive transformation from their antagonistic and isolated minds to God.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind

Prior to salvation the believer had a mind devoid of God.

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Prior to salvation the believer had a mind in opposition to God.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Believers receive transformation from their wicked works against God.

by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

The believers former mindset was active in demonstrating its opposition against God.

Being filled with all 1) unrighteousness, 2) fornication, 3) wickedness, 4) covetousness, 5) maliciousness; 6) full of envy, 7) murder, 8) debate, 9) deceit, 10) malignity; 11) whisperers, 12) Backbiters, 13) haters of God, 14) despiteful,15) proud, 16) boasters, 17) inventors of evil things,18) disobedient to parents, 19) Without understanding, 20) covenantbreakers, 21) without natural affection, 22) implacable, 23) unmerciful: 24) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The believers present works are the active demonstration of the believers’ faith in Christ.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Reconciliation’s End (v. 22-23)

Believers endure on account of their faith in the work of Christ.

Believers are made perfect before God through the work of Christ.

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The believer before God is without blame.

The believer before God does not deserve reproof for Christ has already taken his/her reproof.

Believers firmly settled in their belief (through study of the Word) will not allow anything to budge them from their hope springing from the Gospel of Christ.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Believers must study the Word in order to shore up their faith in Christ.

the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

Believers strengthened true faith in Christ will remain fixed through the power of God.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

Conclusion: There is no one better for the job of reconciliation than Christ. The reconciliation that He provides for believers is complete so that we are made into His perfect image, which God requires for entrance into His heaven. To look to someone or something else for reconciliation with the God of the universe is hopeless and fruitless for no other is as powerful as Christ is. Through the power of God we persevere in our faith before Him and we strengthen our faith in Him through reading His Word.