Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

“reconciliation”

The act of reconciling parties at a variance.

In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity.

Ingredients involved in Reconciliation.

Leviticus 6:30

And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Offering

Blood - Colossians 1:20-21

Tabernacle

Holy Place

Reconciliation with Christ involves other Christians as well as Christ.

Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Notice the things God Reconciles:

I. God Offers Reconciliation By The Son of God. v.18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

 Jesus is the way of reconciliation. (Romans Road)

Jesus is the truth of reconciliation.

He is the Good Shepherd that finds the sheep.

He is the Great Shepherd that feeds the sheep.

Jesus is the life of reconciliation.

John 15:5-7

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Leviticus 26:18–20

18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

II. God Offers Reconciliation By The Word of God. v.19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

 Christ left earth and left us a message.

When people “do” what they say is for the Lord and it doesn’t involve this “word of reconciliation” then it is NOT of the Lord.

When people want to “run the church” and never give God’s word of reconciliation they are either a devil or a Diotrephes (3 John 9) or both.

III. God Offers Reconciliation By The People of God. v.20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

At Calvary, Christ did everything possible to reconcile sinful man to God.

Upon returning to heaven, He left the job of telling the world how to be reconciled to God.

That is why we are called “ambassadors for Christ.”

 Conclusion:

Jesus was 100 percent man, so He understood man’s weaknesses and frailties. He was 100 percent God, so He understood God’s holiness and righteousness.

The story is told of a man and his son who were on the “outs” with each other. The conflict became so bad that neither one would talk to the other, and finally the son left home. One day the son received a telegram that his mother lay dying, and if he ever wanted to see her alive again, he needed to return home right away. So the son came to the bedside of his dying mother, and on the other side of the bed stood his father. Still neither of them would speak to the other. The wife pleaded with them to make things right, and though she begged them with tears, both of them stood beside the bed and said nothing. Finally, with her dying breath, she took the hand of her husband on one side and the hand of her son on the other and brought them both to her bosom and died. The two stood there a moment with their hands clutched to the breast of the dead woman. Then they burst into tears and got right with each other.

Have you been reconciled?