Sr High Wednesday Evening 26

Intro

I’ve got two pieces of ridiculously good news for you. Two pieces of good news that serve as solutions to your two biggest problems in life. What are those problems?

First, we are living in a very broken world.

Second, and as a result of our brokenness, we are at war with God.

The text that we are considering tonight provides good news to deal with these two humongous problems — and it even tells us how these solutions are made possible.

First, in response to the brokenness of our world, we see that in Christ, God has been remaking the world.

Second, in response to our war with God, we see that through Christ, God has been reconciling the world to himself.

Finally, we will see that God has brought these solutions to be through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

God Has Made A New Creation

English Standard Version Chapter 5

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

State: Paul speaks one piece of very good news here at the beginning. But for our purposes, I think it is important that we ask the question: Why is this good news? What is good about new creation?

You’ve probably heard the phrase before: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s some good wisdom right there, and it applies in this situation as well. God is in the business of recreating the world and everything in it. In other words, God is fixing the world, and God doesn’t fix what isn’t broken.

When God first made the world, it was a beautiful garden paradise that was very good in every way. Things worked together in harmony, animals were peaceful, human beings lived in peace amongst each other and walked with the Lord their God.

When we look around our world today, we don’t see the same picture.

Unfortunately, this world and everything in it is very broken.

Weeds are growing in gardens

Wildfires are destroying the land (probably in Canada)

Joints are starting to get achy

Raising children has become painful

People’s bodies are starting to break down and fail

People’s souls have become twisted with sinful desires

And what has caused this massive turn for the worse? Why has God’s very good world become so very bad? Who is to blame for the miserable state of things in the world as we know it?

Its us. We’re the problem. It all started with our first parents, Adam and Eve. The corruption of Adam’s first sin has crept into the world and has infected everything in it; it has infected the plants, the animals, weather patterns, and most importantly, it has infected you and me.

We have a lethal poison in our veins, and it has thoroughly messed us up. We might like to project to the world that we’re good people, and we usually try to prove that we’re good people by comparing ourselves to other messed up people. But the truth is obvious: we all have deep desires for things that we should not desire. We find desires in our hearts to lie, to steal, we get angry at each other, we lust after people that aren’t ours and for things that aren’t for us, we get jealous of what other people have, we grumble, we complain, we’re lazy, we’re anxious, we’re depressed, and the list goes on and on.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Unfortunately, we are very broke.

And how can we fix it? How can we make ourselves better?

People write books about it. You can start going to the gym. You can start making your bed. You can start eating healthier food. You can get a makeover. You can meditate every day.

Those are all good things. But you could try every one of them, and you will find out time after time that you are completely unable to fix yourself.

Here’s the brutal reality: we are broken, and we can’t fix it.

Here’s a beautiful truth: In Christ, God has made us new.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Behold, the old has passed away; the new has come!

The you that has been so very broken is dead and gone. The you that has been trapped in sin, burdened by the weight, overcome with grief, slaving away to evil desires — in Christ, that guy is dead. And good riddance. That guy was broken, deserving death and condemnation.

God has made a pronouncement: the new you is born. A new you that is restored and made well again. The new you that is how you were meant to be from the beginning. The you that you wish you could be, but have never found out how to become. In Christ, that new you is here, alive and well.

Our broken world is being healed, and in Christ, we are the firstfruits of that healing, that redemption, that restoration.

Colossians

English Standard Version Chapter 2

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

This is one of the truths that baptism symbolizes: in Christ, you have died. In Christ, you have resurrected from the dead. The old you is gone, the new you is here.

This teaches us that apart from the death of Christ, there is no death of sin. Apart from the resurrection of Christ, there is no new life.

Transition: what is new about us? We experience a new kind of relationship with God; that is, we are reconciled to God.

God Has Reconciled Us To Himself

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

Whats the real problem with our brokenness? Whats the real problem with out twisted desires? What’s the real reason that our sins are such a problem? Why does it matter that we’re broken?

Not natural consequences, but a broken relationship with God.

Do you hate your sin? Think for a moment about why you hate your sin.

Do you hate it because it disturbs your internal peace?

Do you hate it because it makes it harder to have a relationship with your parents?

Do you hate it because it keeps getting you in trouble with others?

Do you hate it because it is making your life harder?

Do you hate it because it makes you feel like a slave to unwanted thoughts and desires?

Friends, none of these are the main reason that you should hate sin. You should hate sin because it is sin. Because it has disrupted your relationship with your God, your creator and sustainer. Because you have transgressed God’s good law.

Let me ask you this: which of your sins do you hate? Do you hate your addiction to lustful images, while not caring about the way you disrespect your parents? Do you hate that you disrespect your parents, but you don’t really feel like your tendency to gossip is a big deal? Do you hate the jealousy in your heart, but you don’t think you crude language is a big deal?

Know this: none of your sins are acceptable things to God. Every single one of them has caused a massive tear in your relationship with him. This is the real evil of sin: not that it makes your life inconvenient, but that it has set you against the Lord.

Yet you wish that one of your sins will be dealt with, all the while not caring about the mountain of others that are just as much to blame for your distance from God.

Works of John Owen: Volume 6 Chapter 8: The Second General Rule Proposed

Do you think he will ease you of that which perplexes you, that you may be free to do that which no less grieves him? No. Says God, “Here is one, if he could be rid of this lust I should never hear of him more; let him wrestle with this, or he is lost.”

We must learn to hate our sin because it is sin — because it is a disruption not of our lives, but of our relationship with God.

Then, when we learn to hate sin in this way, we can be opened up to this second piece of wonderful news: In Christ, we are reconciled to God.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

Would you be at peace with God? Do you desire to be near to him, to love him and to be loved by him? Know that if you desire this, he desires it far more.

In fact, God so desires that you be at peace with him that he has orchestrated the events of all of history to bring it to be. In Christ, a world that has declared war on God’s holiness is being reconciled to God.

This is, in essence, the substance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the good news that has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ. Through him, God has sent out an invitation to the world: Be reconciled to me through faith in my son.

This invitation is to go out far and wide, it is to be proclaimed in every nation, in every city, on every street, in every home — the invitation is open and stands to all: repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be reconciled to God.

And we are the ones who get to send out the invitations.

And so here I am, handing you the invitation. I implore you, not from myself, but on behalf of Jesus Christ himself: Be reconciled to God! Have peace with him. Be restored to him. Lay down your burdens, your worries, your guilty consciences — set them all down and be reconciled to God.

These are two magnificent pieces of news, are they not? God is remaking the world, starting with us. Most importantly, that means that God is reconciling us to himself, making peace and ending our hostility.

But you might be wondering, how? How can I be considered a new creation? How can I have peace with God? How can I know that these things are true about me?

The question we’re really asking is: how can I be justified in God’s sight? How can he see me as something new and good? How can someone like me be at peace with someone like him?

Here is the answer:

Jesus Accomplished These Through Atonement

English Standard Version Chapter 5

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

According to Scripture, the answer has everything to do with Jesus Christ. And now the text is about to make explicit what was already hinted at.

IN CHRIST he made new creation

THROUGH CHRIST he reconciled us to himself

Another way of saying this is that he has JUSTIFIED us. And I know you all know what justification means, because you just memorized it!

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Shorter Catechism

Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

How exactly did Christ accomplish these things? I have told you WHAT he has done, but now we see HOW he has done it.

We are delving into one of those foundational doctrines of our faith. What we have in view here is the moment in time that our salvation was accomplished. This is the root of our justification. The theological term for what we see happening in this verse is DOUBLE IMPUTATION. Let me explain.

Imputation is when you credit someone with something. For example, if I wanted to, I could take some of the money from my camp bank and put it into of of your accounts. If I were to do that, I would be imputing money to you.

So then double imputation means that theres 2 things being imputed here.

For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin

This is the first imputation. Our sin is imputed to Jesus Christ, the innocent one. Though he knew no sin, he became sin when he hung on the cross. When the Father look upon him, he looked upon him as though he were one of us. Our brokenness, our sinfulness, our war with God all became his as he hung there.

Think about the implications here. Imagine for a moment — what are your worst fears? What if your brokenness had no answer? What if your sin had no solution? What if your war with God had no mediator? What if you were doomed to drink the cup of God’s wrath to the fullest?

Your worst nightmare became his living, waking reality as he hung there. He hung there, the sins of the world imputed to him.

He did not do this is a victim; he did it as a willing sacrifice. And that isn’t all he did; that’s just the first imputation!

So that in him we might become the righteousness of God

This is the second imputation. All of the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to everyone who believes in him. Though we have only ever sinned, and have done nothing good that could possibly merit God’s favor, when the Father looks upon all those who trust in Christ, he sees a spotless child of God.

Think about the implications here. imagine for a moment — what are you wildest hopes and dreams? What if you were perfect in every way? What if you literally never sinned even a single time. What if, instead of being broken and trapped in sin, good poured from your heart continually? What if you were as good as Jesus himself?

Your greatest hopes and wildest dreams have all come true through faith in Christ, for this is exactly how God sees you. All of his goodness, all of his righteousness is imputed, credited to your account.

simil justus et peccator - at the same time sinner and saint

APPLY:

Does this sound too good to be true? Are you waiting for me to give you the catch? However good this might sound to you, I promise you its even better.

Are you hearing this for the first time, and you’re waiting for me to tell you what you have to do to earn it?

You won’t hear it from me — Brother, repent and believe in Jesus Christ, and this gift of salvation is yours in Jesus Christ. Without money, come and feast.

Are you hearing this for the thousandth time, and you’re waiting for me to tell you that you only get 999 chances for forgiveness? That maybe this good news is only for first-time hearers, and not for people who have continued to sin even after believing?

You’re not going to hear that from me either. Have you sinned against him 1,000 times today? Sister, repent and believe in Jesus Christ, and this gift of salvation is yours in Jesus Christ. Without money, come and feast.

Would you find the solution to your brokenness? Would you finally be reconciled to God? Would you have peace that surpasses all understanding? Come to the cross of Jesus Christ, come with hands empty and arms open wide, come and embrace your savior!

Have you struggled against lust? come and be embraced by Jesus Christ.

Have you struggled with anxiety or depression? Come and be embraced by Jesus Christ.

Have you struggled with anger? Doubt? God has sent you an invitation into his Kingdom, he wants you to come right now, exactly as you are. Don’t wait!

Luke 15:7

Luke 15:7 ESV

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

It’s not only that heaven is available to sinners, heaven rejoices when sinners enter in through the blood of Jesus Christ! Heaven isn’t preparing an eternal feast, and Jesus has invited you to come as an honored guest. One of my favorite poems was written thinking about this feast

Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back                               Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack                              From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,                              If I lacked any thing.   A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:                              Love said, You shall be he. I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,                              I cannot look on thee. Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,                              Who made the eyes but I?   Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame                              Go where it doth deserve. And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?                              My dear, then I will serve. You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:                              So I did sit and eat.

Are you broken? Not anymore — that person is dead; he died on the cross.

Are you at war with God? Through faith in Jesus Christ, the war is over — the cross ended it.

Believe in Jesus Christ, and you are a whole new person, justified by grace through faith. You came up out of the tomb, restored and reconciled.

Friends, I implore you, rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

FCF: In our sin we are at odds with God and spiritually dead

CCF: God is reconciling us to himself through the atonement of Christ

Call: Be Reconciled to God through faith in Christ (Rest On Christ)

Big Idea: God has reconciled us to himself through the cross of Christ.

Lives are completely transformed and controlled by the love of Christ. Because we are reconciled, we live new lives.

Immensely good news:

Our brokenness is made new

Our war with God is made peace

This has been accomplished through the atonement of Jesus Christ