First John At One-sent

At-one-ment I Jn.2:1-2 God’s Encouragement to us My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. I Jn.2:1-2 Advocate…one called or sent for to assist another; one who pleads the cause of another “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 Propitiation… God put Jesus forth as the place of mercy, through faithfulness, by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his covenant justice, because of the passing over (in divine forbearance) of sins committed beforehand. Rom.3:25 The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary Translation by N. T. Wright He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. I Jn.2:2 (NLT) “I would say that justification is a new beginning for a relationship that has been broken, and it is made right by forgiveness. But that’s just the doorway into the resumption of relationship. The relationship [itself] is atonement, and that involves Christ becoming one with us. [Atonement] means that we now [can] walk with him and that he is in us, and we are in him. We have eternal life, and that is what atonement is. The result of atonement is deliverance or salvation. We are not under the power of sin and death anymore. Justification, atonement, and salvation are three aspects of one thing.” Dallas Willard He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col.1:13-14 Atonement is the act of God whereby He restores/reconciles mankind to Himself. The act where man and God are at one (at-one- ment) God’s love triggers God’s forgiveness through the sacrificial life and death of Jesus, which then paves the way for God’s reconciliation. but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Rom.5:8,10 The cross – the place of justice? Justice is the right relationships among all things in the created order of things. Paul Marshall God is not interested in retributive justice (humans are); God is interested in restorative justice What’s the difference? The way we view justice often stems from our own interpretations of God. “No future without forgiveness” Desmond Tutu “To do justice is to love; to do justice is to forgive; to do justice is to reconcile; this is a chain reaction in which love forgives, forgiveness reconciles, and reconciliation restores—all characteristics of divine justice, God’s reconciling justice…. Without forgiveness, reconciliation would not be possible; and without reconciliation, no one could enter into a restored relationship with God. Reconciliation opens the way and makes possible the redemption of our past and the restoration of our future as we enter forever into the loving presence of God.” Sharon Baker To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev.1:5b-6 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Eph.1:10 “All of these activities of God in the face of sin boil down to the fact that God destroys sin, not in one fell swoop with hundreds of thousands of angels perched above with flaming swords, but by forgiving sin and opening the door for reconciliation. God defeats sin only through forgiveness and reconciliation. We can even say that God overcomes evil with good, the good act of forgiveness (Rom. 12:21).” Sharon Baker And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col.2:15 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Mt.5:23-24 (NLT) Note the context… “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell (Gehenna). Mt.5:21-22 (NLT) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. II Cor.5:18-20 “It (reconciliation) epitomizes the crux of the entire gospel message, the goal of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the purpose of our participation in the kingdom of God. Through Jesus and now through his body the church, the voice of the Spirit calls all persons to be reconciled to God, to work as ambassadors of Christ, ministers of reconciliation, entreating others to be reconciled to God as well. Reconciliation releases us from death to life, from revenge to restoration.” Dr Sharon Baker What is the message the church should be proclaiming to America? Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph.4:31-32 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Gal.5:13-15 What was the sin of the church in I Cor. 11:17-29?