The Ministry of Reconciliation: Beyond Forgiveness.

Topic: Reconciliation

God restoring all things in Christ.

Messiah (Christ) – the hope of Israel; He would restore the Kingdom of Israel

Before restoring the kingdom, Jesus would first restore the hearts of His people.

He would save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21) He would do more than forgive their sins, He would deliver them from its power over them.

When it comes to being set free from sin and its effects on your life, you must change the heart and transform the will. The law failed to do either. Its weakness was its dependence upon the flesh.

A Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:6–10 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord. 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people.

The Law of the Spirit of Life

Romans 8:2–4 (NLT) 2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So, God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Satan – The Ominous Third Party

When it comes to being set free from sin and its effects on your life, you must change the heart and transform the will, and Satan must be defeated. He holds the power of death and sin.

Christ Victory

Hebrews 2:14–15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Satan’s House is Plundered

Mark 3:27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”

Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil!

The Spirit, the Word, and the Church

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Divine agent of God – He is Christ’s advocate.

John 16:8–11 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Power of God’s Word

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

The Ministry of the Church

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Jesus is soon coming after His glorious church!

The church is comprised of all who have received Christ, been filled, and led by the Holy Spirit, and washed by the water of the word.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Ephesians 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.