The Ministry of Reconciliation
Notes
Transcript
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
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.
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, a church that he personally planted, a church that was having doubts of the legitimacy of Paul’s ministry. There were those super apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5) that were discrediting Paul as an imposter, because Paul was suffering too much. He wasn’t “blessed” as many expected those who follow God, you see. We have modern day teachers that say that if you follow after God rightly, He will always bless you and prosper you in whatever you do. That same wrong idea was being upheld there by some who wanted to undermine none other than the apostle Paul.
Paul opens this letter:
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Paul writes this letter in the midst of much struggle. Yet Paul affirms that his suffering highlights his dependence on Christ. True Christian leadership is one that points to Christ not to oneself.
Paul’s motivation to reach out to the church is to defend his ministry and to encourage the Corinthian church to follow after Christ. It is all based on His love of the One who has changed him. Out of the reverence and love Paul has for Jesus, who has given him much.
Today is the last day of this year. And whatever this year has brought to you, be it good times, hardships, challenges, etc. Know this, I want you to be encouraged. Encouraged that no matter what comes in the following year, that in Christ you can live differently. That regardless whatever may come, you may rejoice in God, who has acted in time to bring you out of enmity into His people, through the work of Jesus.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
We ourselves may have grown weary with the worries of the world, yet today, with Paul I want us to engage with this new reality, which is offered to all. This may be news to you, perhaps. If so, I invite you to engage with our text this morning, for what we have ahead of us is indeed good news!
We will be talking about reconciliation today. What is reconciliation? It is to bring 2 opposing parties (who were at odds) into friendship. In today’s passage, Paul presents to us what it is that has been done to bring us to God. For we know from elsewhere in the Scriptures that outside of Jesus we are at enmity with God
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The Bible testifies that we are unable to please God on our own. We are enemies with God. We need to be reconciled. And how are we to be reconciled to God? We will see that this morning.
I also want us to answer this question: Who do we think Jesus is? We will see today that our perspective on who Jesus is will be indicative of our standing with God. For it is in Him that the work of reconciliation stands.
In summary, our text this morning shows us the motivation, driving force and ultimate application of the gospel ministry in the life of the church, and calls us to join alongside.
One sentence to remember: “Be reconciled to God through Christ, and make His reconciliation known.”
Our text can be divided into 3 main sections:
The Fear of God points to need of Gospel Ministry (v.11-13)
The Reigning Motivation of Gospel Ministry (v.14-16)
The Ministry of Reconciliation brings us to God (v.17-21)
The Fear of God points to need of Gospel Ministry (v.11-13)
The Reigning Motivation of Gospel Ministry (v.14-16)
The Ministry of Reconciliation brings us to God (v.17-21)
In the previous chapter, Paul speaks of the ministry he has been entrusted with. He is to speak of the glories of Jesus. For Jesus himself is the image of God. Paul proclaims that Jesus is the LORD (v.4-5) these 2 statements speak of Jesus’ deity.
He is glorious and He is worth whatever hardships Paul and the others are going through. In Chapter 5 Paul mentions that God has prepared them for the ministry despite all of its hardships. He takes courage knowing that despite the pains of this life He is with God even after death. And then when speaking of the life to come he saiys this:
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.
How does Paul react to this truth? We turn to our passage:
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.
If you have been a Christian for some time you must have heard the term “the fear of the Lord”. What does this mean? Does it mean that we ought to be terrified of God? What does it mean to fear the Lord?
Proverbs 9:10a (ESV)
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Scripture speaks mostly of the reverence we ought to have in regards to God. What I think supports this view in this passage is what Paul says next: (v.11) “we persuade others”. Paul and his companions are about convincing others. It is not a panic reaction, but Paul seeks to make a reasonable case to his hearers.
What kind of motivation is this? It is one of a concerned man. Concerned because of the glory of the one who is to come (the God-Man), and what that means for all people with whom Paul comes into contact. Out of this concern, Paul labours to affirm the validity of his ministry further in v.12
2 Corinthians 5:12 (ESV)
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.
These “super apostles” who are no real apostles at all, were driving the church of Corinth towards worldliness (v.12 “those who boast about outward appearance”). Their “ministry” was one of looks, one of superficial fruits. One that did not address the heart. Very much like the pharisees of Jesus’ day [[not in slide show]]
Matthew 23:27(ESV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
Paul seems to make a reference to these false apostles earlier, 2 Corinthians 2:17: “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ”
Paul has shown himself to be faithful to the message given by God, citing God’s knowledge of his ministry and appealing to the Corinthians’ conciense in v.11 and now comending them to look past outward appearances, to a newness of heart that can hear and embrace the message from God.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
This verse was hard for me to unpack. Does it mean that Paul was “crazy” for God and sober minded for people?
It could be a few things but I think it is referring to the suffering Paul is going through, yet rejoicing in God. This was one of the reasons the false teachers in Corinth were casting doubts to Paul’s minsitry. Paul spoke of enduring suffering and sharing in Christ sufferings. It sounds crazy for them (your best life now). Yet Paul presents his doings as known to God. His behaviour may have looked weird, but in terms of Paul’s reaching out to others, he reasons with his hearers to be reconciled to God, as we will see.
What is Paul going to present? He is going to unpack for them the great message of reconciliation. Despite the opposition faced, even at this church he planted, the message of reconciliation is of utmost importance. This gospel message is the only one that will bring peace between God and all peoples.
The Fear of God points to need of Gospel Ministry (v.11-13)
The Reigning Motivation of Gospel Ministry (v.14-16)
The Ministry of Reconciliation brings us to God (v.17-21)
Here we see the 2nd motivation Paul and his companions to spread the message of reconciliation. Paul evangelizes all people out of reverence to God (v.10-11) and he is driven by Jesus’ love.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
(v.14) Where it says “controls” (in other translations “compels”) is used for example to describe soldiers holding Jesus in custody in Luke 22:63 (holding). Christ love is not one competing motivation, but it is the dominating engine for the Christian life and ministry. Force that controls. The greatness of Jesus’ sacrificial love drives the heart of his redeemed people, who cannot help but want to serve their Saviour King.
How is this? Paul continues (v.14)“because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died”
Paul is talking about Jesus’ death on the cross. It was an event in history that has become Paul’s witness to the love of Christ.
Paul continues in v.15
2 Corinthians 5:15 (ESV)
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.
In Christ dying, he purchased a people for His own. Those whom he represented on the cross. For it is for them that Jesus paid the entirety of their sins and took their place. Jesus acted as their substitute.
As Paul said to the Corinthians in a previous letter, “You are not your own… you have been bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:19b-20)
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
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.
The love of Christ is powerfully driving the heart, but it also changes the mind! See v.16
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.
Remember v.12 when Paul encouraged the Corinthians not to judge things by their outward appearance?.
For Jesus was born not in a crib in a castle but on a manger in a stable. He died as a criminal, even though he is the divine judge of all. People who trust in Christ may look like nothing special outwardly, like Paul.
But this Jesus has separated the history of the world into 2 parts. The old era, the worldy legacy of Adam, the world of sin and death. And the new era, a new living era, ushered by Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus is the divider of history! Jesus has changed all things for those in Him. They are not the same.
QUESTION FOR US: How do you see Jesus? Is he a good moral teacher? Was he a revolutionary who angered the wrong crowd too much and was unfortunately condemned to die? Does he look to you as nobody special?
If you trust in Jesus today, if you see Him as precious. If you know Him as Lord and the coming judge, you are part of this new world. God has opened the eyes of your heart with new-creation power to see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We then see the crucified carpenter as the supremely glorious Saviour of the world.
The Fear of God points to need of Gospel Ministry (v.11-13)
The Reigning Motivation of Gospel Ministry (v.14-16)
The Ministry of Reconciliation brings us to God (v.17-21)
We have come to the central gospel argument of the entire letter of 2 Corinthians. Here we will see condensed a lot of truths of what it means to be in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Paul’s drive to the work of the ministry (1) started its motivation by the coming judgment of the divine judge of all, thus he persuaded his hearers to turn to Christ. (2) Paul was driven by the love of Christ, clearly seen in His sacrificial love, which is so great that it is the driving force in Paul’s life, so he could endure much pain and suffering. And now, we see what Christ's love achieved. It changes those who are in Christ.
This is why there is no way believers can regard Christ according to the flesh (v.16) because that is part of the old self! The old self crucified with Christ.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
In V.18 we see another focus. Up to this point, the text has been centered on Jesus as the worker of reconciliation. But now, in v.18 we see, as it were, the intellectual author of the work of reconciliation. That is God the Father. The reconciler.
Paul does not say that God did his part and we met him in the middle. We have been reconciled BY God, TO HIMSELF. He was both the offended party and the one who planned to reconcile us to Himself.
The word “reconciliation” here is a very important way to understand the salvation God has provided in Christ. The word reconciliation is understood best in relationship with friendship.
In reconciliation, we move from being God’s enemies to friends. God did this through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He did not simply say “I am going to simply forget your sins and now we will be ok”. For if God did that He would be disregarding His justice.
No, God the Father fulfilled both His perfect justice and measureless mercy by sending His Son to die, as a representative to the many. So that in Jesus, God’s righteous punishment of sins was enacted. And in Jesus, who was risen, all those who died with Christ (as it were) will also be risen with Him. So that wherever Jesus is, they will be also! And in that way, making us God’s friends!
For God the Father LOVES HIS SON, and by virtue of our union to Jesus by faith, we will also be loved as Jesus himself is loved by His Father!
2 Corinthians 4:14 (ESV)
14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
Not only did God reconcile us to Himself. He also “gave us the ministry of reconciliation”. This was given to Paul and CONTINUES to be given today. The church is the one carrying this ministry. From its pastors, church leaders and individual Christians (1 Peter 3:15 ?). God not only restored us to Himself, He also sent us out to spread His peace to others.
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.
God is not a disinterested creator (open theism!). He seeks after His own creation, to bring it back to Him. Also, in this verse we see an important evangelical concept that comes from God’s action. “Not counting their trespasses against them”. It is a phrase used throughout Romans 4 and Galatians 3. Where the sinner is counted as righteous through FAITH in Christ (Sola Fide)
Romans 4:3–5 (ESV)
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 4:22–25 (ESV)
22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
In the word “counting” is the key behind the Protestant doctrine of imputation (2 Cor 5:21). That God the Father transfers Jesus’ account to ours and viceversa. This is the message of reconciliation as entrusted to share. It is a world unifying message, in the person of Christ. God offers to consider us as Holy, as Christ is, and in that way, peace is secured, foerever. For once in Christ, made anew, you cannot be un-made back to the old self [new creation].
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
This message is so wonderful, we are invited to be the means by which the whole world learns it! Paul is making the appeal to his readers, he even implores them to be reconciled to God. It brings us near to God, at peace forever. But that’s not all, God, through His ambassador Paul, is calling all peoples to be reconciled to
Him!
God is not simply waiting for the world to answer to the reconciliation He provides. God is actively using His people to reach out to the ends of the earth. Our God is one who pursues His people. God is urging the world to enter into his gentle embrace and perfect peace.
God’s ambassadors implore people to be reconciled to God, this shows God’s great benevolence and kindness through His emissary, Paul.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
We ought to endeavour to reach out in whatever way we can to help others see this message. God is speaking his word of reconciliation to the world, through all believers. We are being invited to be reconciled to God AND to be part of the completed work of reconciliation. What is your response?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
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.
Here we are confronted with the glory and beauty of the gospel. This is the core difference between Christianity and every other world religion. We are offered the perfection of another. It is not about how good we can become so that we are made worthy of achieving heaven. This was done for OUR sake, for there is only this way to be reconciled. God offered this to benefit us, out of His compassion.
In our union with Jesus, we are clothed with His perfect righteousness (goodness). And this is not because of anything in ourselves. To think that we can merit this is to walk according to the flesh, to judge by outward appearances. We become acceptable and beautiful before God not by what we bring but by what Jesus brings; not by what we do but by what he has done.
It is what is called the “great exchange”. God imputes/credits to us Jesus’ perfection and God puts our sinfulness upon Jesus[[Not in slides]]
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
It is the invincible message of reconciliation. “For those who are in Christ are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17. In Christ you are safe. In Christ you have a new reality and a new future. A future of unending peace with God.
What would you do about this? Who is Jesus to you? Is he a good teacher? Someone who was a social revolutionary? Or is He the one who revolutionized your heart to entrust yourself completely to Him? It is in Him that we are brought near to God. No more as “condemned sinners” but rather as friends, as family.
Would you trust Jesus today? I beg you, if you are not at peace with God today, please be reconciled to God through His one and only divine Son.