Reconciliation

Introduction

Today we come to a very well known passage from 2 Corinthians. We’re 15 sermons into the book of 2 Corinthians and I’ve been looking forward to this sermon since before I started preaching through this book.

The section we’ll look at today is a summary of the 2 sections we looked at previously. In vv.11-15, Paul wrote that the love of Christ, that is…the love that Jesus has for humanity…his displayed love on the cross…that love controls and compels Paul.

In vv.16-17 Paul writes about becoming new creations in Jesus. And in the section we’ll look at today it all centers around 1 word - reconciliation.

Today we’re actually going to take 2 trips through this passage. In our first trip through it we’ll look at the message of reconciliation that Paul describes. In our first trip through we’ll focus on vv.18, 19 & 21.

On the second pass through, we’ll study the ministry of reconciliation as described in vv.18, 19 & 20. Hear God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 ESV

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.

The Message of Reconciliation

As we make our way through these the first time around - pay attention to how Paul describes the message of reconciliation.

Particularly in vv.18, 19 & 21, Paul writes out the glorious message of reconciliation - and what it is is a beautiful explanation of the gospel.

God, through Christ has reconciled us to himself. In Christ, God was reconciling the world…not counting trespasses against them.

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

That’s the gospel - that’s the good news of salvation through the blood of Jesus. Paul describes salvation as the process of reconciliation. But from these verses…take note of a few things.

First, Paul uses the reconcile…well, reconciling assumes that there was once alienation, separation, estrangement. And there is. Paul writes about it in the passage.

He talks about trespasses…he talks about sin. And it is sin that separates…alienates us from God.

Ever since the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world - mankind has been separated from God. There was enmity between us and God.

But what’s so incredible about the gospel…about this passage is this…Paul says it beautifully…in Christ - God was reconciling the world to himself. Isn’t that astounding???

Despite our alienation…despite our trespasses…despite of sin and waywardness…and we have to remember that sin isn’t simply a minor offense or a petty grievance....no no, sin, all sin - is a personal attack on a holy God. Sin is an assault on God’s character and provision...

and despite our constant sin and waywardness - it was God who took the initiative…it’s God who took the necessary steps in order to bring about reconciliation in our relationship with him.

The offended party was the initiator of the reconciliation agreement.

in our day - we would think of an outside third party who would come in to attempt to reconcile 2 parties. Professional negotiators are brought in to bring agreement between employer and employees.

A couples or families go see a counselor in order to bring reconciliation to family relationships.

In the ancient world, if 2 parties or 2 nations wanted reconciliation - it would be the lesser party, the smaller nation that would always initiate the talks. Often going to beg for peace.

But did you see that in these verses, Paul describes God…and you don’t get any bigger than God…its god who takes the initiative. God reconciling the world to himself.

Unlike other religions where humans have to take initiative or have to work in order to appease the gods…Paul writes that God - who is the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth…God has already taken the initiative. God has moved towards us to make a path towards reconciliation.

And how did he do it? God took the initiative to reconcile the relationship between himself and humanity…how? Paul writes - through Christ in v.18. In v.19 he writes, in Christ…and in v.21, we see the great exchange of the gospel. He who knew no sin, was made to be sin…so we might become the righteousness of God. Aren’t those beautiful gospel statements?

V.18 - through Jesus…because one died for all - because of Jesus death - that is the path towards reconciliation with God. But why is that the case? Why is it…how is it that God reconciled us to himself in and through Jesus?

Look at v.21. For our sake - he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin - who knew no sin. The NT witness is very clear that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life. While he was on earth, before he came to earth…now…Jesus has never and will never sin.

The word ‘know’ in this verse speaks about personal experience. It’s not knowing about something…not knowing about sin…but having personally experienced and participated in it.

The writes of Hebrews say that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. So God can make reconciliation through Jesus because he who knew no sin…became sin for our sake…what does that phrase mean?

i believe that NLT says it best when it translates v.21 in this way - he who never sinned became the offering for our sin. Atonement - the paying of debts was necessary in order for God and humanity to be reconciled.

But the beautiful truth of the gospel is…we don’t have to try and earn payment in order to compensate…the truth is this - while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

or as the text in front of us says, he who knew no sin, he who never participated in or had any personal experience with sin…became the offering that atoned for, paid the price for our sin.

The curse that should have fallen on the law-breakers, instead fell on the sinless One…so that the law-breakers could go free.

Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to forgive because, as Paul writes elsewhere, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. Jesus is the Son of God…the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And…as if it couldn’t get any better…God taking the initiative to reconciliation…God providing the way to reconciliation…Jesus, the sinless Son of God taking our place and dying in our stead…as if it couldn’t get any better than that, Paul makes this statement…so that we might become the righteousness of God.

Think about this great exchange. George Guthrie calls it a transformational interchange. Think about what Jesus became…for our sake.

Jesus the Son of God…became the offering for our sin..and us??? We become the righteousness of God…Jesus became the sin offering so that our relationship with God could be reconciled…so that we could be put into a right relationship with God.

Jesus becomes our sin offering - he takes our place, dies as our substitute…and as a reward, we no longer have our sins, our trespasses, our debts, counted against us.

And from the outset of the passage, Paul writes at the beginning of v.18 - all of this is from God. God making us new creations.

God reconciling the world to himself…God making Jesus to be the sin offering for us so we could be made righteous.

All of that is available to those who are in Christ. It is not automatically dispensed - each individual must come to a place of believing they are NOT right with God and are in need of a restored and reconciled relationship with him.

What can be said after looking at such incredible and glorious truths? Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

So that was our first trip through this passage. But I want to go through it again - because time and again Paul writes about the ministry of reconciliation…he writes about God entrusting to Paul and his coworkers…and subsequently all Christians…this ministry of reconciliation.

as we see in this passage the reconciling activity of God place in 2 movements. First - is his own movement as he reconciled the world to himself, but secondly - there is a movement from the reconciled to become ministers of reconciliation.

This time around we’ll look at statements from vv.18, 19 & 20. v.18 - God reconciled us through Christ and gave us this ministry of reconciliation.

v.19 - God reconciled the world to himself and entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.

v.20 - we are ambassadors for Christ - God making his appeal through us.

While the barriers to a right relationship with God - a reconciled relationship with God have been torn down - the reconciling process remains incomplete.

The call is for the reconciled to carry out the ministry of reconciliation. It is important to stress, as we did in previous weeks and earlier in this sermon - it’s important to note that the death of Jesus is sufficient to atone for the sins of the world - but his atoning sacrifice only becomes effective in those who respond positively to the message of reconciliation.

As Paul writes in Romans - how cane people believe if they haven’t heard? And how can hear without someone telling them? And how can someone preach if they aren’t sent.

This is vital need. Being a Christian isn’t about getting a ticket to heaven and sitting back and waiting for Jesus to return…doing nothing in the meantime.

No, no - Paul writes here that as we are reconciled to God we become part of God’s plan and part of his team to spread his message of reconciliation wherever we go.

It’s not about receiving the good news, and keeping that good news hidden or keeping it all to ourselves as a well-guarded secret...

Once we are reconciled to god, we are to go about spreading the reconciliation message…we are to be reconcilers. We carry the same message Paul did - Be reconciled to God.

We spread the message that god has already taken the initiative. He moved towards us - he provided the payment for our debts.

The demands for reconcilers - for ministers of the reconciliation remains a need in our day. In a real sense - a Christians is to be like a town crier - heralding the good news of reconciliation with God.

It’s Good News we proclaim every year at Christmas. “Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mild.” Do you remember the next line??? “God and sinners reconciled.”

Our responsibility is not only to trumpet that good news once a year at Christmas time, but we take that message with us the other days of the year too!

Ambassadors

Finally today, focus on v.20 - hone in on that word ‘ambassadors.”

An ambassador is someone who represents the interests of his or her home country abroad. An ambassador does not push his or her own agenda or ideas, but only those things given to them by their country’s leader.

Our ambassadors to other countries represent the interests of Canada abroad.

Our English translations use the word ‘ambassadors’ as a noun, but in the original language its actually a verb. We are to act as ambassadors.

As ambassadors, we act on behalf of God…God making his appeal through us.

As Jesus represented us on the cross…now in his physical absence, we represent Jesus while we are on earth. This ambassadorial role has 2 implications.

First - it means we don’t represent ourselves, and we don’t push our own agendas, but we follow what our Master - we do what God has commanded us to do.

We share the message of reconciliation.

Secondly, a foreign nation is often judged by the behaviour of its diplomatic representatives - so too, non-Christians often form their opinion of Jesus based on the behaviour of his representatives.

So we as Christians, as Christ’s ambassadors, as people through whom God is making his appeal to the rest of the world - we must be people who accurately represent Jesus to our world.

We must be people who to do justice, who love kindness and walk humbly with God.

We must be people who live by the ethics of the kingdom of God. We must be people who love and pray for those who persecute us.

We represent Jesus accurately to the world around us when we are growing in the fruit in the Spirit and growing in grace.

Hear me again - God is making his appeal to the world through us…his ambassadors. So must accurately reflect the God we serve to the world around us.

In a real way - God’s ministry of reconciliation is complete. Nothing more needs to be done in order to open up the lines of communication.

The price has been paid, Jesus paid it all. He became the sin offering for us, for all of humanity. Nothing needs to be added to the message of reconciliation.

However, the ministry of reconciliation is incomplete. Jesus has not returned yet. We are still living in a broken world. There are still people around us who have not heard the gospel message.

The need for heralds, for ambassadors is just as strong today as it was in Paul’s day. If you have been saved…if God is no longer counting your trespasses against you…then you are an ambassador of Jesus.

God is making is appeal through you. The work and the need continues today. Our world desperately needs to hear the message of 2 Cor. 5:20 - be reconciled to God.