2 Corinthians 5:9-6:1 - Identity - Sent...reconciliation

(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... 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... 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. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

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. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

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…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. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

————-

, 13- (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...

God takes action to make us alive, to save us. This is based on grace, it is a gift we don’t deserve and he gives it because he is rich in mercy! We aren’t saved because we are nice, or because we tried our best.

, (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...13 now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…that he might create in himself one new [hu]man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross

God took action to reconcile us to himself. Reconciliation to God, is connected to reconciliation with each other. God invites us from death to life. From being far to coming near. From being strangers to joining his family. Our identity changes.

As we are reconciled to God, we are reconciled to each other.

Today we are going to talk about Reconciliation. What came to mind was this famous feud between the Hatfields and McKoys in Virginia, Kentucky area.

Numerous deaths. Feud was heated for a decade. Today there is a historical site and things have changed. 2003, descendants formed an official truce - reconciling.

Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to God and to each other. Reconciliation is a part of following Jesus.

HOOK

Have you ever heard someone say “that’s cool if you follow Jesus as long as you keep your faith to yourself. Everyone’s faith is a personal thing?” Is that true?

Have you ever had a friendship been broken? Experienced hurt? What is our responsibility according to Jesus?

If someone asked you “how much does following Jesus impact my relationships?” What would you say?

Reconciliation.

SERIES: We are currently in a series “How to Follow Jesus.” In this series we are discussing Identity. Through Jesus, we receive a new identity, WHO we are is transformed and this informs HOW we live in response.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (ESV)

Baptism is about new identity. WHITEBOARD.

Identity. We put it like this: Jesus-centered Family of Sent Servants. This is our identity. This is WHO we are because of WHO God is.

Vision: Why We exist is: To Know Jesus & Make Him Known in Everyday Life - Together.

WHO we are and WHY we exist informs HOW we live. I like to talk about how this leads to 3 relational practices in our lives. UP_IN_OUT. UP relationship with God, we are Jesus-centered. IN relationship together as a spiritual family. OUT relationship to the world. We are sent servants, making Jesus known in all of life. The world should be better because Jesus’ people are there. /// 3 legged stool.

3 legged stool.

Today, we are going to talk about Reconciliation and how this relates to the SENT facet of our identity. Series

PRAY

Big Idea: We are reconciled reconcilers

+++ Funny, how I finish my sermon on Thursday and then Thursday night right before bed, Nat & I get into an argument.

Two major themes in the story of God, in the Bible are covenant and kingdom. Mike Breen has a book “covenant and kingdom” that walks through the Bible commenting on this.

Covenant

covenant is about relationship. In the past, marriage was viewed as a “marriage covenant.”

Covenant is more loving then a contract but more binding then a commitment. A covenant is about relationship and involves responsibility.

A covenant is more personal then a contract and more binding then a regular relationship.

Covenant is one of the major themes in the history of God’s people. Covenant is more intimate than a contract, more loving than a legal relationship. But it is more binding then a personal relationship. Covenant is this tension of relational love and also binding responsibility. Covenant is “we” before “me.”

God established covenants with his people throughout history. A central covenant is seen in in the OT.

God established covenants with his people throughout history. A central covenant is seen in in the OT. I rescued you so obey him and keep my covenant. Covenant relationship starts w/ God. We don’t obey in hopes of achieving God’s love, we obey in response to receiving his love. It is about relationship but also involves responsibility “obey him.”

(ESV)

4 “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”

It starts with God noting how he rescued them. Obey me in response to what I did for you. It starts with God. We don’t obey in hopes of achieving God’s love, we obey in response to receiving his love.

“My people.” It is personal & relational. “if you will obey.” there is responsibility.

This leads to the second theme. Kingdom.

God is a King and he is establishing his kingdom.

God establishes a covenant relationship with his people and he commissions them with kingdom responsibility. The two are connected.

All through history, God was faithful to his side of the covenant. He is faithful to his people, he is their God. All through history, humans have broken their side of the covenant. We have not been “his people,” we have not obeyed. We have all wanted to rule in own way. We have wanted to be the queens and kings of our own kingdoms. In times past, this led to a sacrificial system. // Series

++Imagine two lines, there is the “covenant breaker” line and the “covenant keeping” line. All of humanity is lined up there, waiting to face God. In the “covenant keeping” line-up there is no human. No one who trusted and obeyed with their whole heart and life. Only God kept his side of the covenant. Series

Breaking a covenant led to curses. Keeping a covenant led to blessings. This is how covenants worked between humans and with God.

Now, let’s book at . This is about reconciliation but we can see this is about identity and we can read it through the lens of “covenant and kingdom.”

Who God is shapes who we are in Christ. God is a sent and sending God, a hospitable God, a God who acts to reconcile - this has implications for us in terms of our OUT relationships.

Open bibles to (page 966)

Summarize w/ 4 observations and then discuss 2 implications for us today.

2 Cor. 5:9-10

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.

We are all going to stand before God and all of us are “covenant breakers.” On our own, we are dead in our sin and we have not been a faithful people. But Jesus rescued and reconciled us, so we want to please him.

i. Paul’s focus is on pleasing God.

ii. Jesus followers - follow Jesus.

(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.

Paul says that his goal is to please God. He recognizes that we will all stand before God one day.

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.

a little wordy but Paul is saying that Jesus died for all people. Now, all people can die to themselves and live for Jesus. We are compelled and controlled not by comfort, convenience, or fear but by Jesus’ love. We grow in being Jesus-centered.

ii. Jesus followers - follow Jesus.

iii. Jesus reconciles us to God and makes us new.

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

We are covenant breakers but Jesus is the way we can be reconciled and enter into covenant relationship with God. Jesus moves us from death to life, from strangers of God to being in his family. //Big Idea

covenant relationship with God. Jesus moves us from death to life, from strangers of God to being in his family.

How does Jesus do this? We are all covenant breakers which leads to curses and death. God is always a faithful God, but we are not a faithful people. Jesus came, fully God, fully human. Jesus kept the covenant, obeyed God perfectly. He deserves blessings. Then Jesus displays God’s radical goodness! Jesus takes our curse and death in our place. And he invites us to receive his blessings. Jesus fulfills the covenant and starts a new covenant.

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,

The new covenant relationship with God is not based on our faithfulness, it is based on Jesus’ faithfulness in our place. We recognize our lack and receive Jesus’ blessings and a new identity by trusting him.

We are reconciled not by faithfulness but by faith.

We are made a new creation “in Christ.”

“In Christ” - when we recognize our lack, repent of our self-focus, and receive a new life by trusting Jesus - we enter into relationship with God through Jesus. We are now “in Christ.”

+++ Ironman. He is in his suit and the world views him differently, he has a different identity, different protection, different power. In Christ, we are made new. New identity, new perspective, new purpose, new power.

We are reconciled to God, adopted into his covenant family. But there is also kingdom responsibility. // Big Idea

(ESV)

19 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.

iv. We are ambassadors & reconcilers.

We are reconciled into covenant relationship & we are sent with kingdom responsibility. Paul announces “be reconciled to God!”

Ambassadors represent the king and develop alliances and goodwill. Jesus is the ultimate ambassador. He shows us what God’s kingdom is like, he ushers in God’s spiritual kingdom.

When we are “in Christ” we are reconciled into covenant relationship and we are released to be reconcilers of the kingdom. /// Big Idea

Covenant relationship. Kingdom responsibility. Covenant security. Kingdom significance. Adopted & Ambassadors. Reconciled + Reconcilers. Saved & Sent.

We are reconciled into Covenant family. As Kingdom ambassadors we are reconcilers. Big Idea

(ESV)

19 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.

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. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Ambassadors in the ancient world went out to develop friendship and goodwill. Jesus came as the ultimate ambassador, he came in love, not establishing friendship but inviting us to join his family. We are sent to love our world as ambassadors as well. In the first century, Caesar Augustus ruled and he boasted of how various kingdoms sent ambassadors to Rome to meet him. He didn’t send out ambassadors to nations, he sent governors. He sent governors to rule the regions that Rome defeated and ambassadors came to him. God isn’t like Augustus, he doesn’t wait for us to come to him. He takes sacrificial action to come to us. He is proactive.

An overall comment and then zoom-in. One church leader, Mike Breen writes how covenant and kingdom are two central themes in the story of God. Covenant relationship & Kingdom responsibility.

Covenant is one of the major themes in the history of God’s people. Covenant is more intimate than a contract, more loving than a legal relationship. But it is more binding then a personal relationship. Covenant is this tension of relational love and also binding responsibility. Covenant is “we” before “me.”

God established covenants with his people throughout history. A central covenant is seen in in the OT.

(ESV)

4 “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”

It starts with God noting how he rescued them. Obey me in response to what I did for you. It starts with God. We don’t obey in hopes of achieving God’s love, we obey in response to receiving his love. “My people.” It is personal & relational. “if you will obey.” there is responsibility.

This leads to the second theme. Kingdom.

God is a King and he is establishing his kingdom. He does this with Israel in history, he is their king and they are to be lights to the nations showing God’s goodness.

God establishes a covenant relationship and he commissions them with kingdom responsibility. The two are connected.

All through history, God was faithful to his side of the covenant. He is faithful to his people, he is their God. All through history, humans have broken their side of the covenant. We have not been “his people,” we have not obeyed. We have all wanted to rule in own way. We have wanted to be the queens and kings of our own kingdoms. In times past, this led to a sacrificial system.

++Imagine two lines, there is the “covenant breaker” line and the “covenant keeping” line. All of humanity is lined up there, waiting to face God. In the “covenant keeping” line-up there is no human. No one who trusted and obeyed with their whole heart and life. Only God kept his side of the covenant.

++Imagine two lines, there is the “covenant breaker” line and the “covenant keeping” line. All of humanity is lined up there, waiting to face God. In the “covenant keeping” line-up there is no human. No one who trusted and obeyed with their whole heart and life. Only God kept his side of the covenant. Series

Breaking a covenant led to curses. Keeping a covenant led to blessings. This is how covenants worked between humans and with God.

JESUS.

Jesus comes, fully man fully God. Jesus trusts perfectly. Jesus obeys perfectly. Jesus acts rightly, he is righteous. Jesus, as a human, doesn’t break any covenant with God.

Jesus also announces God’s spiritual kingdom breaking in! Jesus gives the world a picture of what it looks like when God is king. He heals people because in God’s kingdom when it is fully realized there is no sickness. He breaks down religious, economic and racial barriers.

Jesus then creates a new covenant. He changes everything! Jesus enters the scene with the two line-ups. But he is the only human who obeyed. He walks up the “covenant keeping” section. He deserves the blessings, he deserves the crown. There is the line-up of all humanity awaiting the judgment. Then something radical occurs, Jesus crosses over and cuts to the front of our line. He cuts to the front and takes our curse of death. He chooses the cross. And in this he establishes a new covenant.

This is the goodness of God. God fulfilled both sides of the covenant. He was always the faithful God but then he became the faithful human in our place.

In the new covenant, where Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, we can accepted before God because of Jesus. We receive the blessings Jesus deserves and Jesus received the curse we deserve. We are reconciled into covenant relationship with God, not based on our obedience but based on trusting Jesus.

Covenant relationship. Kingdom responsibility. Covenant security. Kingdom significance. Covenant family. Kingdom ambassadors. You can examine these themes in our texts today:

Covenant relationship. Kingdom responsibility. Covenant security. Kingdom significance. We are reconciled into Covenant family. As Kingdom ambassadors we are reconcilers. Big Idea

You can examine these themes in our texts today:

& 2 Cor. 5:19

13 now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…that he might create in himself one new [hu]man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God - .

“in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” -

Reconciled back into relationship, new covenant relationship. Adopted into God’s family. Big Idea.

But it isn’t just about covenant relationship, it is also about kingdom responsibility. 2 Cor. 5:18-20

But it isn’t just about covenant relationship, it is also about kingdom responsibility.

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.-

The interwoven dynamic of relationship and responsibility. Covenant and Kingdom. Family & Mission. Saved & Sent. Adopted & Ambassadors.

TRANSITION

Big Idea //// How to Follow Jesus? We can focus on the actions but we must recognize identity. Actions flow from identity. Kingdom responsibility flows from covenant relationship.

God is a reconciler. He reconciled us to himself in Jesus. He invites us into his family. When we trust Jesus and receive his invitation, we receive a new identity - an identity based on who God is.

REVIEW

i. Paul’s focus is on pleasing God.

God pursues us, Jesus became the ultimate ambassador - he took action so we could be reconciled. In Christ, we become a Jesus-centered family of sent servants. We become little ambassadors. We have the ministry of reconciliation. This is what we do, because of who we are, because of who God is.

ii. Jesus followers - follow Jesus.

iii. Jesus reconciles us to God and makes us new.

iv. We are ambassadors & reconcilers.

Two Implications:

1. We are reconcilers w/ our spiritual family.

Reconciliation isn’t a doctrinal nicety. It is a daily necessity.

Paul has had challenges w/ the church in Corinth & he writes inviting them to reconciliation. But reconciliation w/ others starts w/ reconciliation w/ God. He calls them “be reconciled to God.”

TRIANGLE / Big Idea

In relationships, Jesus can unite us and bring us together. Two people both being reconciled to Jesus end up coming closer together as they come closer to Jesus.

If we are allowing ourselves to be reconciled and drawn to Jesus, then we it is necessary to also be reconciled with each other. He is at the center.

When we aren’t being reconciled to God, when we aren’t repenting of sin and walking in obedience, that is when everyone of us can choose which way we want to go (arrow in different direction).

If only affinity or our personal feelings are guiding us together, then we can drift but when Jesus is at the center he unites us. Being reconciled to God is connected to being reconciled with each other.

We are not allowed to have division or offence setup camp in our hearts. Jesus teaches:

“but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - (ESV)

There is a connection between our relationship w/ God and with others.

When we aren’t reconcilers, it shows that we aren’t trusting Jesus and the undeserved reconciliation he extends to us. When we recognize our brokenness and we receive reconciliation then the next step is that to extend reconciliation and forgiveness to others.

(NLT)

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

++ Iphone. OS & APP (if you aren’t technologically inclined just bear with me).

Your phone has an OS, an Operating System that tells the phone what to do and how to function. Then there are Apps. We add Apps and the Apps must be compatible with the Operating System to work on your phone.

Imagine your life is your phone. Then here is the question: “What is the Operating System?” We generally default to the OS being our personal desires “what’s true for me” and “works for me.” Then we add “Apps.”

We can think of Jesus like an app that we add into our life as he works for us. If he is compatible with our OS, our desires, then great. We say things like “I have asked Jesus into my heart.” “I brought Jesus into my life.”

We also add other apps “the gym” “certain friends” “a spiritual community.” /// If we get frustrated with someone then we stop using that app, or we delete it and we download others.

Here is the thing. Jesus isn’t an app. Jesus is the Operating System. When we respond to Jesus, we receive a new identity, he transforms the phone of our life and gives us a whole new OS, he is at the center, he directs how we function. It is an excellent upgrade! /// If Jesus is the OS, and someone disappoints us we want to delete that friendship app… Jesus the OS doesn’t let us!

(NLT)

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

Big Idea

Two Implications:

1. We are reconcilers w/ our spiritual family.

2. We are sent reconcilers to the world.

We have the message of reconciliation. We are Jesus’ body, his hands and feet here on earth. We are his family, welcoming others into the new covenant. We are ambassadors in his kingdom - doing the work of our king.

,

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ... 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. -

Big Idea

Have I received the grace of God in vain? Am I not being a reconciler? Is division or offence sitting in my heart affecting my relationships? Am I operating out of pride or fear rather than faith?

Our city needs Jesus!

What Holds Us Back From Being Sent Ambassadors and making Jesus Known?

Misunderstand. We think its only about me and Jesus. We missed the reality that we are sent ambassadors. Covenant relationship & Kingdom responsibility. /// Big Idea

Fear? Paul says I fear God more! We overcome fear of people by fearing God more. God wants to continue to override our old OS.

Selfishness. Busyness. We lack effort as ambassadors, we just want to stay and feast with the king rather than go and share with others. Paul says the love of God controls us.

Willard: grace is opposed to earning but not to effort.

Jesus is the way to be reconciled into covenant relationship. He earns it. But we still are called to put in effort with kingdom responsibility.

HOW CAN OUR HEART BE CHANGED TO BE SENT?

This is the work of the Holy Spirit!

(ESV)

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.