Evangelism: The Work of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:9–21 ESV

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The Message of Reconciliation

The coming judgment (10)

Sin and enmity

“Reconciliation” - Implies that there is a problem – a need for reconciliation

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

The wages of sin is death – one sin equals death

Our sinful state makes us opposed to God who is holy (vice versa – cannot tolerate evil)

Isaiah 59:2 “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Romans 5:6–11 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Ephesians 2:13–16 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

One died (14-15)

All - is those who live (15)

Made Christ to be sin (21)

Raised (15)

A new creation (17)

Reconciliation - not counting sin against them (19)

The summary of all redemptive history (19)

We become the righteousness of God (21)

A call (20b)

“Be reconciled”

Reconciliation is the work of God

So, we don’t tell people to make peace with god, we tell them that has made peace through his Son.

Now is the day of salvation (6:2)

The Method of Reconciliation

Regard no one according to the flesh (16)

Only a body - not the soul

From an earthly or human perspective.

Those who crucified Him.

1 Corinthians 2:8 “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Persuade (11)

Using truth to convince

Ambassadors of Christ (20)

God making His appeal

Implore (20)

Appeal (6:1)

The Word of God - the gospel of Christ

The Motivation of Reconciliation

The Fear of the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.”

A broken heart

C.H. Spurgeon, “Winners of souls are first weepers for souls”

Peace with God (1)

The love of Christ (14)

Christ’s love for us (context)

This motivates our love for Him and others.

1 John 4:10–11 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

A holy compulsion

Control, seize, take hold of, restrain

We cannot help doing this

Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Died to self and now live for Christ (14-15)

To live for yourself is to live your life without reference to God

Dies when I representative died.

A new creation (17)

Union with Christ

Phillip Hughes, “The expression “in Christ” sums up as briefly and as profoundly as possible the inexhaustible significance of man’s redemption. It speaks of security in Him who has Himself borne in his own body the judgment of God against our sin; it speaks of acceptance in Him with whom alone God is well pleased; it speaks of assurance for the future in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life; it speaks of the inheritance of glory in Him who, as the only-begotten Son, is the sole heir of God; it speaks of participation in the divine nature in Him who is the everlasting Word; it speaks of knowing the truth, and being free in that truth, in Him who Himself is the Truth. All this, and very much more than can ever be expressed in human language, is meant by being “in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:9 “we make it our aim to please him.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Application

Believe in the Lord Jesus that you might be reconciled to God.

Reconciliation is available to all.

If you trust in Christ as your substitute, your sins are gone and righteousness is yours

Colossians 1:21–22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”

What is my motive for serving?

Am I working to see people reconciled to God?

Do I see people through Christ?

Is my heart broken for the lost?

Hymn: Jesus Sinners Does Receive - Supplemental

Benediction: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity, Amen.