Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Legacy Standard Bible (CHAPTER 5)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. So then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God is pleading through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Today we are beginning a teaching series called The Story of God and the Mission of the Church.

- The Purpose: The we may know who and what we are as a church of the Saving King.

- The Structure: Biblical theology. What is the story of the Bible and where do we fit in?

Today I’m spoiling the story. I’m going to say the punch line first.

2 Corinthians 5 = On of my favorite summations of the mission of the Church in Paul’s writing.

Introduction:

Acts 18. Many people in Corinth are saved, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul’s message to Corinthians (Acts 18:5) = “Jesus in the Christ”

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians (Acts 17:3) = “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Reaction by the rebels in Thessalonica: “they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” (Acts 17:7)

Reaction by the rebels in Corinth: “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” (Acts 18:13)

The Royal Message Paul is spreading: *Jesus is the Divine, Saving King.*

Many were believing. Belief = Allegiance.

Thessalonian rebels: “Turning the world upside down” (or better, turning an upside down world right side up).

Luke’s summation of Paul’s preaching and teaching: “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence”

Christ = Royal Title

A King has come. His Kingdom is breaking in. The King’s messengers are spreading news that is turning the world right side up! Many Jews and Greeks are pledging allegiance to the Christ, King Jesus!

Our Passage

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Paul is in the midst of casting an eschatological vision for the Corinthian Christians.

This isn’t “I’ll fly away.” This is a picture of new creation.

You Corinthians who pledged allegiance to King Jesus, you are new creations!

(2 Cor 4:6-7) New creation in jars of clay.

New Creations in an old world?

Already / Not yet

“All these things are from God”

The true source of this wonderful reality.

It’s not Paul or Timothy or Apollos or Peter. Not the faithful messengers/servants, but the King.

“God, who reconciled us to Himself.”

καταλλάσσω - Reestablish a good relationship.

A “change” or “alteration” is occuring.

God has not changed. The world is reconciled to Him; He is not reconciled to the world.

He is the primary mover. Not us.

The arrival of the Saving King, the inbreaking of his good kingdom, the new creation reality of those who are “in Christ”…This is God altering our condition and reestablishing our broken relationship with him!

“Through Christ”

God’s plan to save the world, was to send a King.

(Skip ahead to verse 19)

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.”

This is global. His reconciling work is intended to bear worldwide fruit.

“Not counting their transgressions against them”

Listen to what Paul says to the Colossian Christians: “And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds, but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach…” (Col 1:20-22).

The Christ through whom God was reconciling, is a Saving King. He’s a Peace Maker. King Jesus takes alienated enemies and washes them with his own blood.

The atoning work of Jesus on the cross makes verse 19 a reality!

Our reconciliation isn’t just a fun fact, it’s telos is to bring us into God’s light and life!

Back to vs. 18 “Gave us the ministry of reconciliation…He has commited to us the word of reconciliation.”

Totus Christus

Head & Body

“And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20 cf. Gen 3:15)

The Reconciled now spread the message of Reconciliation.

Paul himself (Acts)

The Apostolic mission becomes the general mission of the reconciled.

This is how it goes global

“So then, we are ambassadors for Christ”

“So then…”

A Royal Mission

Read Is 52:6-10

Official representative of the King (Can do real work)

“God is pleading through us”

Through Christ God reconciles the world

Through us God beckons the world

“We beg you on behalf of God.”

Ambassadors are official representatives of the King.

Jesus sends out the 70 - ““The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me. And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16)

“Be reconciled to God!”

Here is the plea. Here is the beg.

God desires communion.

The Saving King bled so that peace could be made, so that rebels could be washed and redeemed, so that the world might be reconciled to God and be presented before him holy and blameless.

As the Psalmist frequently says, God is good and his loyal love is everlasting!

Closing Thought

Saint Casper’s Church of the Saving King is a family that has been reconciled to God. We are a new creation garden planted in a barren wasteland. We are the city of God being constructed in the midst of the city of Man. We are a Kingdom outpost. We are an embassy in a hostile land. We are people that have pledged allegiance to King Jesus. He is the head, and we are the body. So then, we are ambassadors called to speak the word of reconciliation - the Gospel of Jesus’ saving kingship - to Mount Pleasant on behalf of God. Through us, the triune God is turning an upside down world right side up. There is indeed a new King, and it’s not Caesar, it’s not Biden or Trump, it is Jesus, the pierced peacemaker, the crucified King. We are the ones who proclaim the good news, who announce salvation, saying “Our God Reigns!”

As we embark on this journey through the story of the Bible in the coming weeks, please keep today’s passage in your hearts and minds. Let me read it one last time…

The word of the King!