The Purpose of God's Reconciliation

Introduction:

In these passages, we are challenged to think about why God acted in the world through Christ.

What was His intention?

How are we included?

How were we benefited?

How should we be affected?

In recent weeks, Paul has framed his own responsibilities and lifestyle from the perspective of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Christ’s death and resurrection meant Paul’s life should be bound by Christ’s love.

Paul has brought the Corinthians to understand what the implications of the crucifixion and resurrection are.

His life serves as an example.

He has called upon them to “follow me just as I myself Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Paul’s life fits within a broader, divine purpose.

We often grope for purpose and meaning.

In God’s reconciliation, we find it. In the life we are to live in light of that reconciliation, we find it.

God is the Source of the New Creation.

Paul knew he could take no personal credit for his apostleship, but he also knew he could not take credit for being a new creation.

Note the universality of the statement: “TA PANTA.”

Note how God is the source: “ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ.”

All credit for Paul’s life and lifestyle belonged to God.

Paul will now, however, further frame his life and apostleship within a bigger reality.

Perhaps intentionally ambiguous.

God is not responsible for our corruption.

The New Creation is Tied Directly to Reconciliation.

Remember what Paul said about life in 2 Cor. 5:15 “καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἵνα οἱ ζῶντες μηκέτι ἑαυτοῖς ζῶσιν ἀλλὰ τῷ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἀποθανόντι καὶ ἐγερθέντι.”

The larger reality is the corruption of humanity, and through it every human being, in the Garden of Eden.

Consequently, God has acted in the world.

Reconciliation: 40.1 καταλλάσσω; καταλλαγή, ῆς f; ἀποκαταλλάσσω; συναλλάσσω: to reestablish proper friendly interpersonal relations after these have been disrupted or broken (the componential features of this series of meanings involve (1) disruption of friendly relations because of (2) presumed or real provocation, (3) overt behavior designed to remove hostility, and (4) restoration of original friendly relations)—‘to reconcile, to make things right with one another, reconciliation.’

What connects us to the God who reconciles us is Christ.

Notice it is not law, experience, devotion, our self.

God reconciled us “through Christ.”

However, Paul understood that his ministry came about as a consequence of God’s act.

His ministry, though, is one of reconciliation.

He not only preaches this message, but he also lives it out.

He was not trying to provoke confrontation with them. He wanted to be reconciled to them.

God’s reconciliation of us through Christ means we ought to be reconciled to each other.

The Reality of What Happened in Christ

Christ’s coming was not a random act.

Something of the greatest divine significance took place when he came.

Notice how matter-of-fact Paul is about these statements.

What is the foundation of Paul’s previous claim (in v. 18)?

He makes three claims here:

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.

That act was contrary to “accounting to them (the world) their transgressions.

He appointed, or set, the word of reconciliation in us.

How have the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus affected our lives?

Do we see them as our own or God’s?

What was the purpose of God’s act of reconciliation if we refuse to live our lives in obedience to him?