Rejoice in your Reconciliation.

Have you experienced true joy? Each of us have experienced moments of elation that moves us to jump and shout in delight and excitement.... I remember the National Championship game of 2020, The Crimson Tide was down by 3 in overtime, Tua Tungavloa was sacked in the backfield for a 26 yard loss. The Georgia crowd was cheering loud because they knew in their hearts they had just slayed Goliath. But, then Tua throws a bomb that finds freshman Devonta Smith in the in zone.... In that moment I lept higher and shouted louder than I ever have before.

Many of you experienced the same elation in 2021, when there 1:09 left to play, Bama ws marching down the field but found themselves facing 3rd and 10 on the 50. Bryce Young throws a deep ball that was picked off by Kelee Ringo and taken to the house. Most of you jumped and shouted with joy as Ga. won their first Natty in 40 years. These are great memories of joyous occasions, but they are hardly true joy!

Most of us have experienced long lasting joy as life changes before our eyes, like the time you accepted your dream job or when you finally recieved that long awaited promotion or that much needed raise. We have joy when we learn that we are about to have a baby or a grand-baby...... but this joy pails in comparison to the true eternal joy that we have in our salvation!

Though it often isn’t evident, the Christian life is characterized by joy. The verb kauchaomai is used 3x in this Chapter. It is translated as “rejoice” (v.2), “glory” (v.3), and “joy” (v.11). The NASB translates is as “Exult” which means to show or feel triumphant elation. The Apostle Paul says we exult in what Christ as done for us, yet many of us sit sour faced here today. Often times our churches seems joyless, hopeless, and lifeless and if anyone gt excited about Jesus and shouted glory hallelujah amen they would be met contempt. Perhaps today, we need a lesson in the joy of the Lord!

Paul has explained to us that we are naturally separated from God by sin and deserving of justice, but just at the right moment, by grace through faith, Christ steps in and takes our place. He took our hell and gave us His heaven. By this, we are reconciled being made true children of God.

CS: Today I’m going to give you 5 results of your reconciliation that will turn your frown upside down and leave you elated with with true, pure, and everlasting joy in your hearts.

I. As a result of your reconciliation you have peace with God! (1)

Since the fall of creation Man has been at odds with God. Because of His holy standard and our sin nature even our best words and deeds are open rebellion to God. Starting in Rom. 1:18 we are told that in our natural self we are enemies of God. That puts us at war with God. Imagine yourself at war with a supernatural being who commands a supernatural army, (Legions of Superman but deity and angelic) you can’t win that war. It is hopeless. You will be annihilated (Its like surviving a direct hit from an atom bomb.)

But under the inspiration of God Paul gives us great news..... through faith we been reconciled to God and brought into His family as a child of God. Because of this we now have peace with God. Peace is the Greek noun eirēnē it means a state of wellbeing. It is the polar opposite of war. It is the conclusion of war.

ILL: At 11:00 am on 11/11/1918 an Armistice (a truce) was reached bringing WWI to an end. On that day the headlines of The New York Times read in bold capital letter “ARMISTICE SIGNED, END OF WAR!” That was great news, and the beginning of a national holiday that is still celebrated by many nations today. But there is better news, 2000 years ago Jesus signed an armistice with His blood bringing an end to the war that we wage with God. A war that we cannot win! REJOICE! The hostilities are over we have peace with God!

II. As a result of your reconciliation you have access to God! (2)

Man kind is created in the image of God and has a deep desire to have access to God, regardless if we want to admit it or not. That why the ancients had idols and that’s why people today search for the missing link in their lives. There is a gnawing desire to be close to our creator. But, sin has put a bearer between man and God..

In much of the Old Testament time, God dwelt on earth in the Tabernacle/Temple, yet there was limited access to holy God. *A Gentile was barred at the gates. ** A Jewish woman was stopped at the women’s court. *** A non-Levite Hebrew could not enter the inner court. **** The High Priest alone could only enter the Holy of Holies (The dwelling room of God) once a year. God was so close yet so far away! But when Christ Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, the veil that separated God and His glory from sinful man was torn in two! (Matt. 27:51, Heb. 10:19).

Now by grace through faith in Jesus (regardless of race/gender/status), we have been reconciled and given a new standing, born again child of God and we can approach God without need of an earthly priest, Jesus gives us an all access ticket to the throne room of God! We can run to Him, seek refuge in Him, petition Him, We can bask in His marvelous glory.... as we draw close to Him… REJOICE you have Access to God! And One day you will see His unveiled glory in person and you see Him face to face as He truly is! Rejoice!!!!

III. As a result of your reconciliation you have assurance from God! (3-4)

Life on earth is full of difficult seasons and circumstances. This is true for the child of God and those who are still enemies of God. Jesus tells us that no one is excluded from tribulations.... they will come. (John 16:33b).

Difficult times often seem to be uncertain times But the Apostle Paul tells us that we have assurance, we can know for certain that everything will turn out GREAT! (Rom. 8:28)

Notice the ascending list of things we can be certain of, starting with the negative, “Tribulation” (times of affliction/distress) it brings patience/perseverance (Steadfastness in our faith) which brings about experience/proven character (Tested and Approved faith), experiential trust of God’s faithfulness), which brings about hope! Hope is the Greek noun elpis, it means to look forward to a confident expectation. Vs. 5 tells us that this hope does not disappoint… it is guaranteed! We have hope! We can rejoice because we have assurance!

ILL: The word assurance is used of insurance policies under whose terms a payment is guaranteed. If I died today my life insurance policy guarantees Hope and my boys a financial future.

Even more so my standing as a child of God Guarantees me while on earth a glorious and eternal future as my faith is worked out in difficult times proving God’s faithfulness!

My assurance is experiential knowledge that I am a child of God and He will give me eternal life. (Rom. 8:35-39)

Rejoice.... you have Assurance!

IV. As a result of your reconciliation you are indwelt by God! (5)

We have so much to rejoice over, we have a blessing that would make all the O.T. saints envious! We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God!

Before Pentecost The Holy Spirit came upon and departed from people. But by grace through faith in Jesus we are given us the Holy Spirit!

A. Holy Spirit Empowerment

ILL: Power cord not plugged in.

1. Learning (John 14:26) (John 14:16-17)

You will understand truth that was impossible to understand before!

2. Living

Before we lived as a sinners in this world not we can live as saints whose home is not this world. We can truly live in the world yet we are separated from this world.

3. Loving (Rom. 5:5, John 5:42

a. God

(Agapeo - divine love that isn't dependent upon beauty or actions. It is truly unconditional) (John 21:15-19)

b. people (Matt. 5:44, Rom. 13:10, Eph. 5:25, 28)

i. friends

ii. enemies

iii. wives

iv. self

D. Now we have a Guarantee.

ILL: Down payment on a home or car. Bu givings His Spirit He gives us a down payment on eternity! Rejoice!

V. As a result of your reconciliation you are preserved in God! (6-11)

A. Always saved

The word preserved means to maintain an existing state. We rejoice because once a child of God always a child of God! Once we are saved we are always saved (John 10:28).

ILL: Many of us preserve food in a fridge where it will keep for days. We preserve food in a freezer where it keeps for months. Some of us preserve food by canning it where it will keep for years! But Jesus preserves us in His almighty hand where we are kept for eternity!

Jesus paid so high a price for us that He will never give us up or throw us out!

B. Preserved from wrath

The word persevered also means to keep safe from harm or injury. This world is due God’s justice but if we have been justified By His blood we shall be saved from the wrath of God (5:9)!

1. Tribulation

Jesus will keep us from HELL ON EARTH (1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9) and call us up before God’s wrath comes on this world!

2. Eternal Wrath

Literal Hell (Rev. 20:11-15)

Con: Rejoice my brothers and sister… we have peace with God, Access to God, Assurance from God, indwelt by God, and preserved in God!