Ministry of the word - ministry of reconciliation

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 In verse 18, Paul explains that he, and by implication other Christians, have a "ministry of reconciliation" to serve as "ambassadors for Christ" (verse 20). It is, the apostle continues in verse 20, as if God is "pleading through us" to "be reconciled to God." Jesus Christ brings this reconciliation about, and the new man is the result.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 We play a part in making peace with God by choosing to be reconciled to Him. This is perhaps the first step in becoming a peacemaker. Paul essentially refers to himself as the one to whom the word and ministry of reconciliation have been given as a portion of his function as an apostle of Jesus Christ. However, the thought does not end there because we are also being prepared to assist in causing the reconciliation of the world to God. This is a second major, time-consuming step toward being a peacemaker. The sanctification process of a Christian's conversion creates within us the ability to be a peacemaker in the godly mold.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Part of the responsibility of the church of God in preaching the gospel around the world is to inform mankind how they can be reconciled to God. In many cases, people do not even know they are separated from God. However, all have been separated from Him, and all need to be reconciled to God through the redemption offered in Christ's payment for sin. To do this, we must also proclaim what sin is, as many are equally ignorant of what constitutes sin. Doing this enables them to judge their need for reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Preaching the gospel is not just about the Kingdom of God but includes many attendant features that flesh out understanding necessary for establishing communion with God.

Ephesians 2:8-10 Notice first how this chapter begins: He has made us alive (Ephesians 2:1). Paul makes sure that we understand that it is God who gives what we spiritually possess. As for verse 8, it does not matter whether we believe that the pronoun "it" refers to grace or faith; both are gifts of God. Grace is God's kindness to us, shown or demonstrated by His revealing Himself to us. It might help to think of this in reference to God revealing Himself to Moses in the burning bush before He sent him to Egypt. If God did not freely purpose on the strength of His own sovereign will to reveal Himself, neither Moses nor we would ever find Him. If a person cannot find God on his own, how could he possibly have faith in Him? Satan has deceived us so well that men have only the foggiest idea of what to look for. Faith—with God as its object—begins and continues as part of His gift of kindness. The gift includes His calling, the granting of repentance, the sacrifice of Christ for our forgiveness, and His giving of His Spirit. It is a complete package of many individual gifts. The gospel is the medium that provides knowledge of the objects of the faith He gives, that is, what we believe and trust in. Paul, perceiving these gifts as a package, uses "grace" as its label. In verses 9-10, he advances to the logical "next step" in God's purpose. Our works in no way jump-start the process of justification, sanctification, and glorification. All our works, beginning with repentance and continuing through our period of sanctification, depend directly on the freely given kindness and faith God provides. Our God-ordained good works are the result of our response to the gift of faith that God gives. Works, then, are the external evidence of the unseen, internal faith that motivates them. A person could not do them unless God had given the gift of faith beforehand. Good works follow, they do not precede. II Corinthians 5:17-18 confirms this: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." This corroborates that it is God working in the person. His work is termed a "new creation." Since nothing new creates itself, we are the workmanship of another. We are God's workmanship. In sum, because of what God does, we cooperate and produce works that He ordains. The apostle Paul adds to our understanding in Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." He is not saying that we should work in order to obtain salvation. These verses indicate the continuing use of something one already possesses. They suggest carrying something to its logical conclusion, which is for us to live lives worthy of the gospel, doing the works God ordained, as in Ephesians 2:10. In Romans 9:9-19, Paul, using Jacob and Esau's pre-birth circumstances as a foundation, provides a clear illustration to show that from beginning to end, the whole salvation process depends upon God's involvement. Jacob, representing those called into the church, received God's love in the form of gifts designed to prepare him for the Kingdom of God. From Esau, representing the uncalled, God has simply withheld His love for the time being. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”¹ On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln spoke those words to his Republican colleagues in the Springfield, Illinois statehouse. He had just been chosen to run against Stephen Douglas for the United States Senate. When Lincoln’s law partner, William Herndon, questioned the use of such a strong statement, the future president said, “The proposition is indisputably true…and I will deliver it as written. I want to use some universally known figure, expressed in simple language as universally known, that it may strike home to the minds of men in order to rouse them to the peril of the times.” Lincoln’s famous statement is a paraphrase of Jesus’s words recorded in Mark 3:25—“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (NIV). Lincoln was right because Jesus is always right. Unity is the foundation of everything we value: peace and love, respect and purpose. And like Lincoln’s colleagues, we need to be reminded of what’s crucial to awaken us “to the peril of the times.” Reconciled to God We long for unity because our Creator placed the desire for it in our hearts. When sin entered the world, disunity followed—conflict between Adam and Eve led to conflict between Cain and Abel, which spiraled into a vortex of disharmony that has plagued humanity ever since. But Jesus entered our world to end the conflict, to restore unity between God and sinners. In Paul’s letters to first-century churches, he used the term reconciliation, which means “to bring back to a former state of harmony.” Sinful people had been separated from their holy God since Adam and Eve tasted the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But Jesus’ death and resurrection made reconciliation possible: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners [at enmity with God], Christ died for us.…For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life. (Romans 5:8, 10). Jesus satisfied God’s requirements for reconciliation, but each person must receive the terms of reconciliation: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The Ministry of Reconciliation Once our relationship with God has been restored, we are called into his service: “[God] reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.…We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20). God has commissioned each of us to share with others his message of love and peace. To move people toward a reconciled relationship with God may seem a daunting task, especially in our postmodern culture that exalts moral relativism and disdains absolute truth. But as Paul told the Corinthians, we must open wide our hearts, allowing God’s compelling love to flow through us to others (2 Corinthians 5:14, 6:11). Eight Practical Ways to Pursue This Ministry What are some practical ways we can open our hearts and deliver God’s loving message of reconciliation to those who don’t even realize they’re searching for it? 1. Evangelism When God provides an opportunity, share the message of reconciliation clearly with your words to lost, estranged people who desperately need peace with him through Jesus Christ. 2. Online Refuse to engage in divisive discussions on social media or to share divisive posts and tweets. Choose instead to post comments about God’s goodness and faithfulness. Share the blessings you and your loved ones experience, and give God the glory. 3. Generosity Give a generous tip to a harried restaurant server. Explain that it’s a privilege to share God’s resources with others. 4. Listening Seek to understand opposing viewpoints when people speak against the values you hold dear. Choose to listen rather than argue. 5. Thanksgiving Send a handwritten note of thanks to people who impact your life—a mail carrier, doctor, or neighbor. Tell them why you consider them one of God’s blessings in your life. 6. Hospitality Invite a neighbor or coworker to share a meal with you. If you’re not a cook, meet at a restaurant or pick up food and bring it home. Express your appreciation and give God the glory for bringing that person into your life. Share experiences that point to your relationship with God. 7. Boasting in Christ If someone compliments you on the way you handle a situation, glorify God by explaining that you sought his guidance in the matter. As we point to God’s work in our lives, the evidence of his grace, forgiveness, faithfulness, and attentiveness to us can create a hunger in other people’s hearts for such a relationship. 8. Scripture You may also find it helpful to list the fruit of self (Galatians 5:19-21) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) on a 3×5 card or on your smartphone. Each day read the two lists and ask the Spirit to help you produce fruit compatible with your role as a minister of reconciliation. As conflicts, problems, and frustrations rise, look at the lists and pray for guidance. If you’re like me, you may need time to pluck the seeds of anger, defensiveness, or jealousy from your heart. If possible, wait a few hours, even a few days, before you respond to situations. Allow the Spirit to plant the right seeds in your heart. We Shall Not Fail Lincoln ended his impassioned plea for the abolition of slavery with these famous words: “The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail—if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise councils may accelerate or mistakes delay it, but sooner or later the victory is sure to come.” “The result is not doubtful” for us either. God has promised his words will accomplish what he intends (Isaiah 55:11). We sow his seed, plant, and water, but God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). He also tells us to stand firm in his truth and his love—in the message of reconciliation he has given us. If we deliver that message in loving actions and words, then through the power of the Holy Spirit “we shall not fail” to move others toward reconciliation with God in accordance with his great plan of salvation through Christ. And one day we’ll stand before Jesus in perfect unity with saints of every nation, tribe, and language, praising him for finishing what he started (Revelation 5:9-14). “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Col. 1:20–23). What is the message of reconciliation? How can a person be reconciled to God and have eternal life? In the church of Colosse there were teachings attacking the truth of the gospel. They said Christ was not God and that further revelation was needed for salvation. Paul writes this letter to the Colossians to defend the supremacy of Christ. He said in the previous passage that the fullness of God dwells in Christ (v. 19). Essentially, he said Christ is God. He also said it is through Christ that all things shall be reconciled (v. 20). Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. The word reconciliation means to renew a friendship or to restore to a right relationship. Paul told this church that if anybody was going to be saved—reconciled to God—it must be through Christ. He is the only one who can renew our relationship with God.              In fact, Christ taught the same thing. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me” (John 14:6). There is no salvation apart from Christ. In considering Paul’s defense of Christ and the gospel in the current passage, it must be noticed that he calls himself a “servant” of this gospel. In Colossians 1:23 he says, “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Because Paul was saved and transformed by this gospel, he became its servant. This is the natural response for someone who has truly been changed and reconciled to God. He wants to serve this gospel by sharing it and enduring whatever cost that may come in the process of its dissemination. This is the only appropriate response for someone who is truly convinced of the gospel’s innate worth. Here is a story from the 1900s that illustrates Paul’s response to the gospel and how it should be ours as well. While on a three–story scaffold at a construction site one day, a building engineer tripped and fell toward the ground in what appeared to be a fatal plummet. Right below the scaffold, a laborer looked up just as the man fell, realized he was standing exactly where the engineer would land, braced himself, and absorbed the full impact of the other man’s fall. The impact slightly injured the engineer but severely hurt the laborer. The brutal collision fractured almost every bone in his body, and after he recovered from those injuries, he was severely disabled. Years later, a reporter asked the former construction laborer how the engineer had treated him since the accident. The handicapped man told the reporter: ‘He gave me half of all he owns, including a share of his business. He is constantly concerned about my needs and never lets me want for anything. Almost every day he gives me some token of thanks or remembrance.’1 That engineer who was saved became a servant of the man who saved him. In the same way, Paul, who was saved by the gospel of reconciliation, became a lifelong servant of it. Wherever he went, he preached it. He traveled to nations throughout the ancient world to tell them about what changed his life. This should be true of us as well. Second Corinthians 5:18–20 says this: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Yes, if Christ saved you, you are also called to be a servant of the gospel. You have a specific ministry. It is called the “ministry of reconciliation.” God is reconciling the world to himself and he chose to make his “appeal” through you. Not only was this Paul’s ministry, but it is equally ours. Now if we are going to be ministers of this gospel, we must first thoroughly understand it. We must understand the message of reconciliation so we can better share it. In this lesson, we will be studying the “message of reconciliation” so we can more effectively apply its truths to our lives and teach its richness to others. As we teach and spread this message, we do our part in declaring the supremacy of Christ as Paul did. Big Question: What are the elements of the message of reconciliation as seen in Colossians 1:20–23? The Message Of Reconciliation Means That All Of Creation Has A Serious Problem “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). Interpretation Question: Why do “all things” need to be reconciled unto God (Col. 1:20)? What do “all things” include? Why does creation need to be reconciled unto God? A crucial part of the message of reconciliation is that man is separated from God. Something happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned. Scripture teaches that man experienced spiritual death—a separation from God. Man Hides From God Right after Adam sinned, we see his new relationship with God. God came looking for him in the garden and instead of revealing himself, Adam hid (Gen. 3:8). This is a picture of man’s relationship to God since the inception of sin. Man, now, is in a state of hiding from God. Sin has so infected man that it caused him to separate from God. Listen to what Isaiah 53:6 says about man: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” All mankind has gone away from God as a result of sin. In fact, Paul declares that no one truly seeks him anymore. Romans 3:11 says, “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” In the same way that Adam hid from God, man today hides from God as well. Man does seek, but he seeks a god made in the image of man or any other imagination he prefers. Man cannot stand the God of the Bible. Consider what Paul says in Romans 1:21–23: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Although man has an inward witness of God in his heart and the clear witness of creation (cf. Rom. 1:19–20), man still chooses to not acknowledge him. Instead, he creates his own god. Man’s Sin Suppresses The Truth Of God Here in Colossians, Paul further explains man’s depravity and natural tendency to separate from God. He says, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” (Col. 1:21). Sin in man makes him hide from God and alienate himself from him. Man is alienated “because” of his “evil behavior.” Just as sin caused Adam to hide from God, sin causes man today to hide and deny God. Romans 1:18 describes this: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” When man is living in sin, he wants to push away the reality of a holy God. Man’s evil behavior compels him to. Jesus taught something similar about his first coming: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19–20). Because man practices evil, he hates the light. He wants to suppress the idea of a holy God, lest his deeds be exposed. Mankind wants to suppress the truth of God. Consider how Paul describes man’s thinking in relationship to God and his law. Romans 8:7 says, “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Man’s natural mind is at enmity with God. It suppresses him; it doesn’t want to believe in him. It doesn’t want to follow the laws of God. In fact, it cannot follow them. Man is a slave to the cravings of his sinful nature. He is controlled by sin. Jesus said, “He who sins is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Nature determines action. A lion will always eat meat instead of a carrot because it’s his nature. Similarly, a sinful nature only yields sinful behavior. This is the natural state of man. He is at enmity with God. He will not seek him. His mind cannot understand him. The teachings of Scripture are foolishness to him (1 Cor. 2:14). He runs away from him. He is dead in his sins—separated from a holy God (Eph. 2:1). He suppresses the truth of God because he would rather live his own life apart from God’s lordship. Man, by nature, despises authority or anything that restricts or constrains him. He wants his own unbridled freedom. In his eyes this is right, and anything or anyone that interferes is not welcomed (Ps. 2:1–3). God Is At Enmity With Man But, this situation gets even worse. It is not just that man is at enmity with God and needs to be reconciled to him, but that God is at enmity with man. Yes, this is a far worse picture than man simply running away from God. It is not a big thing for an ant to be angry at a lion. What is drastically worse is that God is at enmity with man. Look at what Paul says about man in his natural state apart from God: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). Scripture proclaims that men by nature are “objects of wrath.” We as sinners abide under the wrath of an angry God. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” God is so holy that he cannot stand sin. He is so just that he must judge it. And therefore, because of his sin, man is under the judgment of God. This is the condition of all men. They are separated from God and at enmity with him. The writer of Hebrews says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Because God is holy, man cannot have a relationship with him. The requirement of being in God’s presence is a holy life. Well, one person might ask, “What if man works really hard and practices righteousness and good deeds? Can he then have a relationship with God and have eternal life?” This is what the religions of the world advocate. But they don’t fully understand: the gravity of man’s sin and that God is just. Imagine for a second this happening in a human court. Imagine a man on trial—a convicted murderer of thousands of people, as well as a rapist and thief—asking the judge if he could get off “scot-free” by promising to do good works for the rest of his life. If this judge exonerated him, would he be a just judge? There would be an uproar in society if this happened. Righteous deeds are what we are supposed to do. It doesn’t pay back for the sins we already committed. The judges in our judicial systems may not always be just, but we can be sure the God of Scripture is just and that there is no amount of good works that can amend for the sin of man. There is no amount of religious devotion, prayer, or giving that can atone for one’s past sins. Scripture says that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The just punishment for one sin, one bad thought, earns death (cf. Matt. 5:27–28). Man is in a terrible predicament under the wrath of a just God. In fact, Scripture says that man apart from God’s grace can do no good works at all. Listen to what Isaiah 64:6 says: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Even our righteousness is as filthy rags before God. Sin has so tainted man that he can do no good work that is pleasing to God. One might say, “How is that? There are plenty of good things that people do.” Sure, there is no doubt about that. But God’s standard is so high that even our greatest good deeds are filthy in his sight. This is true in part because God requires not only good deeds, but a right heart. More important than one’s deeds is the heart that they are committed with. Scripture teaches that the greatest commandment is this: “To love God with your whole heart, mind and soul.” This is often called the doctrine of total depravity. There has never been a moment in my life when I have “loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul.” Even my good deeds are tainted by motives to be approved by others and sometimes to be better than others. I fall far short of God’s plan for my life. Again, Paul says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Creation’s Plight Now we have talked about man, but what about the rest of creation? Why do “all things” need reconciliation with God? Scripture teaches that even creation no longer honors God in the way it should. Moreover, I believe Scripture teaches that even heaven is in need of redemption. When man sinned on the earth, Scripture says that God cursed the ground (Gen. 3:17). It from that point on bore weeds and thorns instead of the fruit it was supposed to. No doubt, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the like are part of the curse. Romans 8:20–22 says this: For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Like man, creation is also in frustration and bondage to sin. It is groaning, waiting for the time it will be set free from sin and changed into what God originally planned. Some have said maybe we see creation’s frustration every year. It blooms in the spring, only to die in the winter. But again it should be noted that heaven also is affected by sin. Consider what the book of Job says: “If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes” (Job 15:15). Eliphaz, one of Job’s accusatory friends, spoke this statement, and therefore, it must be tested by the rest of Scripture. However, there seems to be support for this. One of the things many people do not understand about heaven is that there is a current heaven where God dwells, and that one day he will create a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Theologians call the current state of heaven the “intermediate heaven.” Why is there a need for a new one? Consider what Scripture says about the “intermediate heaven:” In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man–made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence (Heb. 9:22–24). The writer of Hebrews is talking about how the tabernacle on earth was a copy of the tabernacle in heaven. The articles of the earthly tabernacle needed to be cleansed with the blood of a lamb, but the writer says the articles in the heavenly tabernacle needed to be cleansed with a better sacrifice. What was that better sacrifice? It was the blood of Jesus. Well, hold up. Why does the tabernacle in heaven need to be cleansed in the first place? It seems that after the fall of the angels in heaven, heaven is no longer as God originally intended. We see Satan having access to heaven, speaking with God several times in the book of Job. In 1 Kings 22, we see demons having access to heaven. One demon says he would go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets of the king of Israel to lead him into destruction (v. 22). We even see a future battle in heaven with angels and demons in Revelation 12. It is the new heaven and new earth in which nothing bad or corrupt will be able to enter (Rev. 22:14–15), not the current intermediate heaven. For this reason, Jesus also had to cleanse the tabernacle in heaven. I personally believe that when Scripture talks about there being no crying, weeping, or mourning in heaven, that again it specifically is only referring to the new heaven in Revelation 21:4. In Revelation 6:10, we see martyrs in the intermediate heaven who died during the tribulation period mourning and asking God when he will bring vengeance on the people of the earth. It says, “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”‘ There seems to be mourning in the present heaven as people cry out for God to bring his justice on the earth. There is no clear biblical reason to think there is no mourning in the intermediate heaven. Scripture says that even the Holy Spirit mourns and groans inside of us with words that cannot be expressed (Rom. 8:26). If God mourns, certainly the saints in heaven who are closer to and more like God mourn as well. Heaven and earth are not the way God originally intended. That’s something we all should mourn and pray about. Do we not see how bad creation’s predicament is? Man is at enmity with God and incapable of obeying him or seeking his face. Creation is in frustration and bondage because of sin. Even heaven has been affected by sin. This is the bad news. Everything is far from where it should be. This is the bad news everybody must be aware of. In order for a person to be saved, they must first realize why they need to be saved. They must understand the gravity of their problem. They are sinners in the hands of an angry God. They are apart from their Creator. This is a necessary element of the gospel—the message of reconciliation. It is necessary for every person who will be saved to first feel the sting and conviction of their sin. This is the offensive part of the gospel that Christians must not be afraid to share. Why should a person be offended at a God who wants to save? Actually, it’s the reason God wants to save them that is offensive. Their sin separated them from God, and that is why they must repent and turn to God for salvation. Every person on earth must feel the weight of their sin and realize that Christ wants to take that burden and draw them to himself (Matt. 11:28–30). Are you willing to declare to mankind the gravity of their situation? Are you willing to teach that God is angry at sin all day long and that we need a savior? (Ps. 7:11). Application Question: Do you feel that the reality of man being a sinner, under the wrath of God and in need of repentance, is the hardest part of sharing the gospel and a major reason why people do not share? Why or why not? The Message Of Reconciliation Does Not Mean Universal Salvation “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:19–20). Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean when he says “all things” will be reconciled unto God? Does this teach universalism, the salvation of all mankind? Why or why not? In order to understand reconciliation we must also understand what it does not mean. It does not mean universal salvation. This verse has been used by many prominent teachers to teach that eventually every person will be saved. That is not what Colossians 1:19 teaches, nor does it fit into what the whole of Scripture says. Scriptural Evidence Scripture clearly teaches that not all people will be saved, not even all people who profess Christ. Listen to what Jesus said: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21–23). Many who profess Christ as Lord will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead of living for God, they lived a life of evil. They will be separated from Christ for eternity. If not all who profess Christ will enter into the kingdom, how much more those who deny Christ totally? Listen to what Matthew 25 teaches: Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matt. 25:41–46). Scripture clearly declares that at Christ’s coming he will separate the sheep from the goats. The goats will go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels while the sheep will go into eternal life. Scripture does not teach that all will go to heaven. When Paul says “all things” will be reconciled, it must be limited to those who follow Christ and the restoration of the heaven and earth as the rest of Scripture teaches. It should also be noted that clearly the devil and his angels will not be reconciled. They will be eternally condemned. We see this taught in Revelation 20:10: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” When Scripture speaks of reconciliation, it does not include the unbeliever, nor Satan and his angels. Universal salvation is not a Scriptural doctrine, though it certainly appeals to man’s nature. God is a just God. He is not only a God of love but of justice. “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day” (Ps. 7:11). Christians must be clear on this, for many popular teachers teach this today. This is a false gospel that we must be aware of. Rule With An “Iron Scepter” Some might still ask, “Is there a sense in which God will reconcile all things to himself?” It must be noted that though this cannot refer to salvation, there is a sense in which unredeemed man and fallen angels will be reconciled to God, but only in judgment. All creation will bow down to him as Lord. Listen to what Philippians 2:9–11 says: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. One day everyone will bow down to Christ, but some will bow down only because they must. Psalm 2:9 says the Son will rule with an “iron scepter” (cf. Rev. 12:5), and he will “dash them like pottery.” One day all will submit at the second coming of Christ because they must. The Lamb will return as a Lion. He will judge the earth, and in that sense unredeemed men and fallen angels will finally be forced to submit to Christ as Lord. In this sense, God will reconcile all things to himself, but this reconciliation will not change their eternal destiny. Application Question: Have you met Christians who believe that all will eventually be saved? Why do you think this perversion of the gospel is growing in popularity? (For further information, research the “Wider Mercy Doctrine.”) The Message Of Reconciliation Is That Christ Is The Reconciler “By making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:20–22). We considered the problem: man and all of creation have been affected by sin. Man is separated from God because of sin. He cannot obey God and will not seek God. Here is the next question. How then can man be reconciled to God? Interpretation Question: What does Paul teach as the source of reconciliation? Paul says: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22). He declares that through Christ’s death, redeemed man has now become without blemish and free from accusation. How can this be? How can a sinful man be holy in God’s sight? This teaches a truth seen throughout Scripture called substitution. Under the Mosaic Law, God set up a sacrificial system to instruct man about this. Man understood that “without the shedding of blood there was no remission for sins” (Heb. 9:22) and that the “wages of sin was death” (Rom. 6:23), and therefore there had to be a just punishment. However, God d symbolically punished the sins of man on a sacrificed lamb so that the people could enter his presence and worship him. In fact, many scholars see “substitution” implied in the very first death. After Adam sinned, God immediately killed an animal and clothed Adam and Eve. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and therefore someone had to die for Adam’s sin. From the beginning, God showed mercy to man by allowing a substitute. However, the sacrificial animal never took away the sins of the world; it only symbolized a future reality. When John the Baptist saw Jesus on the earth, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). The lamb in the Old Testament was only a picture of substitution. The lamb without blemish was a picture of being without sin. The people symbolically received the sinless life of the lamb, and the lamb bore the sins of the people and died for them. This symbolized the perfect lamb that would die for the sins of the entire world: Jesus Christ. What happened with Jesus, however, was not a symbol; it was the reality. There, literally, was a substitution when he died on the cross for the sins of the people. He took the sins of every person in the world and bore the wrath of God for them. Those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will have his work on the cross applied to their account. He bore our sin and the just wrath of God and we took on his perfect righteousness. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” He took our sin and we received his righteousness. This is what Paul means when he says we are to be presented holy, blameless, and free of accusation in his sight. Listen again to what he says: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22). The only way for man, and therefore creation, to be reconciled was by the substitutionary death of the perfect lamb. We are now acceptable to God because he sees us as his perfect Son. His righteousness is now applied to our account. Application Question: What are some applications from the fact that we have become Christ’s righteousness and are now holy, without blemish, and free from accusation? 1. Because We Are Now Christ’s Righteousness, We Must Practice Righteousness In Our Daily Living. Those who are truly born again will naturally desire to live a righteous life. In this substitution, a person truly becomes a new creation in Christ. Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). We are now God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). He changed us so that we can glorify him through the new life and the new righteousness he has given us. True salvation will always result in good works. “Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:13b–14). Are we living out our new reality in Christ? We are his righteousness and we must seek to live this out daily. 2. Be Cause We Are Now Christ’s Righteousness, We Must Not Accept The Condemnation Of Satan, Ourselves, Or Others. One of Satan’s tactics is to accuse the believer when he falls or makes mistakes. He will condemn the believer for his failures and seek to use this condemnation to draw us away from God. There is a difference between conviction and condemnation. A true believer should feel conviction when he sins. This happens because of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. True conviction draws us to God and away from sin. However, condemnation will draw us away from God and into sin. Condemnation will bring depression and anger and will often cause believers to go into seclusion or into worse sin. Do not accept any condemnation from the devil. Christ knew and paid in full for each sin we would commit when he died on the cross. This does not give us license to continue in sin. But it should give us confidence to accept his forgiveness and turn from it. Listen to what Paul says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). He also said this at the end of the chapter: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Rom. 8:33–34). Who can rightly bring a charge against a believer? It is God who justifies. The word “justifies” is often explained as “just as though I never sinned.” Who is he that condemns? No one can rightly condemn us—not Satan or ourselves. Christians must start to live on the basis of who we are “in Christ” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 6:11; Eph. 1:3). Because we are “in Christ” and we are his righteousness, we must live in accordance with this reality. When we fail we must seek forgiveness and continue to walk according to what Christ has done in our lives and who we are in him. Listen to Paul’s words on this one more time: In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:11–14). Jesus makes us holy through his death (2 Cor. 5:21) so that we can continually approach God (Heb. 4:16). Therefore, we must reject condemnation that comes through our flesh, the devil, or others. This is an important truth we must actualize to continue to walk in Christ’s victory, especially when we stumble. Application Question: In what ways does Satan commonly come against you with condemnation? How do you discern these lies and battle against them? The Message Of Reconciliation Is That Reconciliation Comes Through Faith “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Col. 1:22–23). Interpretation Question: What is the condition Paul gives for man to be reconciled? How does a person take this step? How does a person receive reconciliation with God? How do they have their friendship renewed? Paul teaches in this text that a person is saved through faith in Christ. Look again at what he says: But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel (Col. 1:22–23). Scripture everywhere would teach that salvation, and thus reconciliation, is by grace. It is by unmerited favor that anyone is saved. We cannot earn it; we cannot work for it. It is a work of grace, but this grace gives us the faith to put our trust in Christ. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” A person receives this grace from God through an act of faith, an act of trust. We get a good picture of this in how Paul responds to the jailer who asks, “How can one be saved?” Let’s look at their interaction: “He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household’” (Acts 16:30–31). Belief in Christ or faith is the means to be saved. Interpretation Question: What are the characteristics of this faith in Christ that brings reconciliation to those who trust in him? 1. True Faith Believes The Content Of The Gospel. Paul declares that in order for a person to be saved he must have belief or faith. However, faith is only as good as the object. We don’t believe in faith; we believe in the object or the content of our faith. What is the content of the gospel? The content is an admission that one cannot save one’s self. One cannot work for it, nor can he earn it. Everyone is totally lost because of sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Because of our sins we are totally separated from a holy God. We will ultimately be separated from him eternally in a burning fire that will not be quenched. The writer of Hebrews says, “Without holiness no one will see God” (Heb. 12:14). It is this reality that drives a person to come to Christ and be saved. He realizes that he needs a savior. The content is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world. Paul says, By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:2–4). This is the content of the gospel. Before recognizing the gospel, we must again understand the bad news. We are separated and under the wrath of a just God because of our sins. But the good news is that God’s Son came to earth and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that one day those who believe in him will rise again. This is the content of the gospel. But it must be noted that intellectual belief is not enough. 2. True Faith Is Committed To The Lord Of The Gospel. The word “faith” used here in Colossians 1:23 is more than just intellectual belief. In Greek this word can be translated as “trust,” “commit,” or even “obedience.” The word in classical Greek is used of those in a contractual relationship.2 There is a commitment of the will and not just the mind. This is important to say because there are some in Christianity who would say intellectual belief is enough, but James says even the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19). Simple belief that Jesus is God and Savior isn’t enough. It has to do with a commitment of the will in following and obeying him. Romans 10:9–10 says, That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. To believe means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our life. It also includes an element of repentance as a person ceases to live his former life and accepts Christ as Lord of his life. A transference of leadership takes place. This is important because many make false confessions. Christ warned about this in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to what he said: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21–23). Many in the church have only belief, only profession. They have right doctrine. They know that Christ is Lord, and they even serve him in the church but are not truly saved. Christ says true faith leads to doing the “will” of the Father in heaven (v. 21). We have too many Christians in the church who claim to follow Christ but their profession doesn’t change their language. It doesn’t change how they treat someone who offends them. They have just as much unforgiveness and bitterness as the world. Christ responds to these people and says, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” Let’s say a man goes through an elaborate wedding ceremony and marries a wonderful woman. However, after the ceremony this man never sees the lady again. He wears a ring and tells people he is married, but he has no relationship with this wonderful woman. He even has relationships with other women. Is that a marriage? Similarly, lots of people come to church and put on a display before people, but they have no real relationship with Christ. Christ will one day respond to them, “I never knew you.” The message of reconciliation is that we are reconciled to God by faith in the Son. This faith has a doctrinal element: believing in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world. But it also has an element of commitment and obedience to him. When you really believe something it should affect how you live. This is the problem with much of Christianity. Application Question: In what ways have you seen “professions of faith” abused in churches and among believers? Do you think there is an overwhelming lack of true saving faith in the church? 3. True Faith Perseveres In Following Christ As Lord. It also should be noted that this faith in Christ that brings reconciliation with God has more to it than a committed belief. Paul gives a conditional clause. Look again at what he says: If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Col. 1:23). Perseverance of true saving faith is taught throughout Scripture. True faith will last and spurious faith—false faith—will not. We see a good example of false faith in the Parable of the Sower. Look at the stony ground: The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away (Matt. 13:20–21). Jesus taught that many would hear the word of the gospel and even receive it with joy. However, they didn’t have any true root. A plant without roots will die when the wind or the storm comes. It has nothing to sustain it. This root represents true faith. Many in the church who have emotional displays when they accept Christ fall away and never return after they face peer pressure from friends or family, their faith starts to cost something, or God allows some trial to happen in their life. This type of faith has no root—it’s false. Let’s see how John handles a similar scenario with people who initially professed faith but ultimately fell away. In the church of Ephesus a Gnostic cult attacked the church and many members fell away from Christ. John said, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19). John said if they belonged to us, meaning if they were truly saved, they would have remained. He is not simply dealing with members leaving the church. This was a deeper issue. They were leaving the church to follow a false gospel that attacked the deity and humanity of Christ. He says that their falling away proved that they had no real root—no real faith. He says, “Their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Jesus said something similar about believers in the end times. He said: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:12–13). In the end times, wickedness will increase. The world will be a loveless place, and in that context Christians will be persecuted because of it. No doubt, many Christians will fall away because of this persecution. They would prefer career, acceptance by friends and family, wealth, or comfort, and therefore they will not be willing to take up their cross to continue following Christ. Christ said, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Those who fall away in the end times will fall away because they had a false faith. Christ taught the same doctrine as Paul and John. True faith perseveres. He doesn’t say they lost their salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that those who are Christ’s sheep he will not lose. In fact, it is one of the very things God sent the Son to do. Listen to what Christ said: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day (John 6:37–39). Jesus came to do the Father’s will, and Christ cannot fail at this because he is God. If he failed at doing the Father’s will, he could not be our Savior because he would have “fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Our Savior is perfectly righteous, and because of this, he can give you his righteousness. He does not fail at keeping his elect. He puts his elect in the Father’s hand and in his own so he loses none (John 10:28). He holds the temperature gauge on every trial (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13; John 18:9) because he will not put you into a trial that the faith he has given you cannot ultimately handle. God will never lead you where his grace cannot keep you. He prays for his elect so he can save them to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25). He works all things for the good of them who love the Lord. God predestined you before you were born to be made into the image of his Son and nothing can separate the elect from his love: not life, not death, not angels or demons, sin or anything else, for we are convinced that nothing can separate the believer from the love of God (Rom. 8:28–39). God gives the elect a measure of faith (Eph. 2:8–10), and the Son keeps that faith so that he may please the Father. A savior who failed to keep the elect could not be a savior at all because he could not perfectly do the will of God. He, therefore, could not be God. Thank you, Lord, that Christ is our Savior and God, and nothing is impossible for him! The way that each person can be reconciled to God is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith believes in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is committed to the Lordship of Christ, and finally, it always perseveres. Application Question: Many orthodox Christians believe that true faith does not always persevere, meaning that a person can be saved and then lose their salvation. How did they come to this interpretation? What do you think the whole counsel of Scripture says about this? Conclusion What are the elements of the message of reconciliation? We must understand this because all who are true believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Like Paul we have become its servants (Col. 1:23). We are called to let God speak through us as he reconciles people to himself. But this is also important for us to know because many false gospels are attacking God’s church and trying to lead people astray. We must know this message, we must protect it, and we must share it. The message of reconciliation is that all creation has a serious problem. All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and because of that creation is far from where God desires it to be. The message of reconciliation is not synonymous with universal salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that those who refuse to accept Christ will be judged eternally by him. It also teaches that no grace was afforded to Satan and his angels. They will spend eternity separated from him in a burning fire (Matt. 25:41). The message of reconciliation is that Christ is the reconciler. It was through his death that the wrath of a holy God was appeased. At the cross there was a substitution: we received the perfect righteousness of the Lamb and he received our sin and judgment. We can have peace with God because of this (Rom. 5:1). The message of reconciliation is that salvation comes through faith. This faith believes in the resurrected Lord. It is committed to his lordship and it perseveres. We must continue to follow this Christ. Those who do not persevere have never truly known the Lord (Matt. 7:23). The word “reconciliation” is talking about making peace. God is no longer holding our sins against us and our guilt has been taken away. Our sins were imputed to Jesus on the cross. Jesus has paid the full penalty for the sins of the entire world. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:2 Jesus became what we were so we could become what He was—the righteousness of God. Jesus has given His righteousness as a gift for those who receive it by faith. Nothing could be better news! Righteousness draws all the blessings of God into your life. The ministry of reconciliation is proclaiming this news.  Righteousness means right standing with God. Do you know what this means? You can be in perfect relationship with God simply by believing what Jesus has done for you.  Who is a Minister of Reconciliation?  If you are a true follower of Christ, you have been made a minister of reconciliation. This ministry is not just for the “super Christians”. It is for every born-again believer.  The American Heritage Dictionary states that to reconcile means “to reestablish a close relationship between; to settle or resolve”.  This is saying that for a relationship to be restored, or reconciled,  whatever was causing the problem between the two people has been taken out of the way.  As a minister of reconciliation, it is your honor to let the world know what has been done through the work of Jesus. What was causing division between God and man has been taken away. Sin has been dealt with! Friendship and good standing with God has been restored. God is not mad at people, He is madly in love with them. Jesus came to show us the true, accurate character of God. To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship, restored to good standing with God. God delights in you now and you can freely delight in Him. There is nothing causing dissension in the relationship.  God’s view of you is no longer based on your actions, but completely based on what Jesus has done for you. This is really, really good news and as a minister of reconciliation, you get to partner with God in sharing this reality with mankind.  Not Imputing Their Trespasses to Them- What Does This Mean?  Before Jesus came to earth as a man, there was wrath from God against mankind for his sins. It wasn’t the full extent of wrath, though. Even in the Old Testament, we see God’s mercy and grace toward people all the time.  But the Old Testament Law was a ministry of wrath (Rom. 4:15, 2 Cor. 3:7 and 9). People’s sins were held against them. They could not be fully cleansed from sin until the final sacrifice had come.  When Jesus came, He showed us the truth about God. He showed us that it is not God’s heart to hold sin against us. This is exactly what 2 Corinthians 5:19-  21 says: that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him The sin that had brought hostility, shame and division between man and God has been dealt with in the work of Jesus. God is not imputing sin to you. David prophesied about this in the Old Testament.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:2 It’s nearly too good to be true news. In fact, that’s what the word gospel means. It’s nearly too good to be true!  Jesus has taken your sin and given you His righteousness as a gift. You have been reconciled to God. You have complete right standing with God, both now and for eternity. Receive what He has done!  Nothing can ever separate you from God. Nothing can ever make you displeasing to Him. Your righteousness is of God- it’s His righteousness, given to you as a gift.  Your belief in what Jesus has done allows you to receive this gift of righteousness.  What is a Minister of Reconciliation?  A minister of reconciliation is one who continues the ministry of Jesus- of not imputing people’s trespasses to them and pleading with humanity to receive what Jesus has done and be reconciled to God.  The word “reconciled” simply means to bring into agreement or to make the same. We have received the ministry of reconciliation. That means that we are in the ministry of reconciling people to God.  Much of what people teach about Christianity today is actually keeping people alienated from God rather than reconciling them. In 2 Corinthians 5:19, Paul said that the way Jesus was reconciling the world unto Himself was by not imputing their sins unto them.  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19 A minister of reconciliation should be ministering to the world in the same way Jesus did – by not imputing people’s trespasses to them. We should be focused on God’s grace and the reality of what He has done for us.  As a minister of reconciliation, we should never be focused on people’s sin, but on Jesus as their answer for sin Did you know that sin isn’t even an issue between God and people? Why? Because our sin is not being imputed, or charged, to our account. It was charged to Jesus’ account, and He has completely paid the bill. One drop of His blood is worth more than all the debt of sin.  The job of a minister of reconciliation is to announce the good news, an accomplished fact, that sin has already been dealt with through the work of Christ.  A true minister of reconciliation will  be saying, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God! Change your mind and believe the Gospel so that you can experience what has already been done on your behalf!” What is Reconciliation?  The term reconciliation means more than not having our sins held against us. It actually means that God is pleased with us. We have been re-created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Reconciliation removes a consciousness of sin so that we can be restored to our reality as a child and friend of God. We can know and experience His delight in us. This is what it means to be reconciled to God. If you’re always conscious of your sin, then you don’t understand that your sin has been paid for and you have been reconciled to God, or restored to right relationship with Him. Sin consciousness has been ground into us by religion and by the world. The world does not operate by grace- it operates by performance alone. If you do good, you get rewarded. If you do bad, you get punished. But this is not how God relates to us in the New Covenant.  Most Christians don’t have a good understanding of their righteousness in Christ. The effectiveness of our faith is directly related to our understanding of all the good things that are in us in Christ. We have to understand who we are in Christ and how God sees us.  that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 God is not counting your sins against you! We can therefore, be tender and compassionate to others who are in a similar condition. And we also know something of the sweetness of peace with God through Jesus Christ, for we are living in the enjoyment of it. We know too, what are the struggles of a poor soul seeking to get that peace, for we struggled into peace through the rich mercy of God. I hope, therefore, that you will see the wisdom and the grace of God in choosing one like yourself to plead with you on His behalf, and that God will be pleased to bless that instrumentality, and make it effectual in your reconciliation unto Himself. Notice particularly that the ministers of God are not sent to reconcile God to you. That great work is already done. As the righteous Judge, He was angry with all sin, but now, seeing that an acceptable sacrifice has been presented, He is able to meet you with forgiveness in His heart. We are not even sent to find out a way of reconciling you to God, for He “hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” as well as “the ministry of reconciliation,” so that all we have to do is, as it were, to translate into today’s language that which God Himself has written in this Book. We have to speak out in simple, earnest, living words, the message which has been dictated to us— not to make up a message, but to act as the mouthpiece of God. Oh, that He might make me that to many a heart here now! Now let us go to this solemn work, and may God the Holy Spirit help us in it! First then, we wish to state the objective of true Gospel ministry. Next, we will declare the word of reconciliation, and then, we will beseech you to agree with it. God grant that these points may strike home! I. First then, let us inquire—WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF TRUE GOSPEL MINISTRY? It is that men should be reconciled to God. My unconverted hearer, you are at enmity against God. I know that you do not always believe that. You say, “I have not yielded my heart to Him, but still, I am not at enmity against Him.” Listen. You do that which displeases Him, and you do it without any grief over it, or whatever compunction you may feel for a time, you do the same thing again and again, and you continue to do it. What does this prove? When a subject constantly rebels against his sovereign, does it not prove that he is disloyal at heart? “By their fruits ye shall know them,” is our Lord’s own test. Look, you unconverted ones, see what your fruits are, do not your wicked works prove that you are at enmity against God? Is it not certain that you do not like to hear much about Him? Am I speaking untruly when I say that you count the Bible very dull reading—that some of you say that Sabbaths spent as Christians ought to spend them are very dreary days? You want something more cheerful, God’s house is too weary a place for you, and to think about Him is too much of a task. I put it to your conscience whether it is not so with you. Do you not regard religion as being a very gloomy affair? If you wanted what you call, pleasure, would you think of seeking it in drawing near to God? No, you would be happier if there were no God at all, would you not? And if all the arrangements of divine justice, by which God governs the world, should be abolished, would you not be pleased? If you could sin without being checked in it, or threatened with punishment for it, would you not be glad? All this proves that you do not love God, the real English of it is that you would destroy God, if you could, in order to have liberty to act according to your own devices. You do not find pleasure in Him, you must admit that your pleasure is found elsewhere. But when we truly love a person, we find pleasure in being in his company, we are glad to receive letters from him, in fact, anything that the hand of the loved one has touched becomes interesting or even sacred to us. Seeing that it is not so with you, but that you have said to God, “Depart from me, I desire not the knowledge of Thy ways,” does not this prove that your heart is at enmity against God? Ah, young people! you may scarcely think that this accusation is a just one, but the more you come to search and look, the more you will find that it is true. If it is not true, I am indeed glad that I need not ask you to be reconciled to God, for you are reconciled already. A New Creation in Christ (5:16-17) Because Christ died for all, Paul now sees each person in a different light. "16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (5:16-17) So often we judge people according to the various categories we have set up "� male / female, hetero / homo, black / white /Asian / Hispanic, white collar / working class / unemployed, married / single / living-together, conservative / moderate / liberal, Republican / Democrat / Independent, child / teen / young adult / middle aged / old. We pigeon-hole people into our own categories and then can't see beyond them to what actually defines them as people. This is a worldly point-of-view.[203] Jesus sees them differently. He sees God at work in them. Paul once regarded Christ as a heretical Jewish rabbi, thankfully executed for his sins, and his followers as dangerous subversives who must be stopped at any cost. But outside Damascus everything changed. Paul cried out, "Who are you, Lord?" And the answer he received turned his world upside down: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:5). Paul had what is called a "paradigm shift." That is, the working hypothesis by which he evaluated his world was dramatically altered. Now he saw everything in a new light. In the same way, Paul says, "16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view..... 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (5:16a, 17) People who find Jesus and are rescued by him don't just "get religion." They are changed in some fundamental way. Paul calls them "a new creation." "Creation/creature" is ktisis, "the result of a creative act, that which is created."�[204] The New Testament uses several other words to describe this, including: Born again/anew/from above (John 3:3, 5; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9; 5:18) Made alive, quickened (Ephesians 2:5; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) Regenerated, rebirth (Titus 3:5) Washed (1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5) Renewed (Ephesians 3:10) Sealed (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30) We Christians believe that when Jesus saves us and puts his Holy Spirit in our hearts that a life-altering change has taken place. A new life has been formed by the Creator, which is being nurtured by the Holy Spirit. If you are discouraged at the little fruit in your life or the little change, look to your Creator! He has put his life within you and set you on a new course. You have changed on the inside. Now just cooperate with him so that the inward change begins to affect and alter your outward life as well. It is a process. It takes time. But the beginning creative work of the Holy Spirit has begun. This verse brings to mind a simple chorus: "I'll never be the same again, oh no, I'll never be the same again, oh no, Since I found the Lord, I am not the same, And I'll never be the same again!"�[205] Q1. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) What does verse 17 teach us about the nature of a new believer? What changes in a person when he puts his faith in Christ? Why don't old habits disappear immediately if everything has become new? https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1095 Reconciliation (5:18-19) We Christians are not members of an exclusive "born again" club. Far from it! We have a message that he can change anyone! Jesus can rescue and renew anyone! There is hope in Jesus! Now Paul points us to our own personal mission. "18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (5:18-19) To reconcile means to exchange hostility for a friendly relationship.[206] To restore to friendship or harmony.[207] Families sometimes have a falling out. Sisters no longer speak to one another. Husbands leave, wives and children are abandoned. Adultery and alcoholism and greed alienate people. Reconciliation is needed, to take what was broken and mend it, to heal a relationship. That's what God has done. The problem is that many times it isn't just an unfortunate misunderstanding. It is caused and exacerbated by grievous sins. Unless the man is willing to forsake his philandering ways, his wife is unwilling to take him back. Unless the woman deals with her drug addiction, her relationship with her children can never be healed. Now look at what God did about the sin that was at the root of our estrangement from God. "God ... reconciled us to himself through Christ.... that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." (5:18b-19a) The reason that God could justly stop counting our sins against him is because he had laid those sins on Christ, "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In two other letters, Paul discusses this act of reconciliation that centers on the cross. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:10) "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." (Colossians 1:22) Ambassadors of Reconciliation (5:18-20) God is the chief Reconciler by sending his Son to bear our sins. But now he delegates to us a role in this reconciliation process. "All this is from God, who ... gave us the ministry of reconciliation[208].... And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (5:18-20) Paul discusses three roles that we have in his reconciliation program: Ministry of Reconciliation. "Ministry" is diakonia, "functioning in the interest of a larger public, service, office."�[209] We have an official capacity to fulfill. In America, the government usually has departments or agencies. But in Europe they're often called ministries. Instead of America's Secretary of State, England has a Foreign Minister. In the same way, we are official representatives, ministers of God's Ministry of Reconciliation. Message of Reconciliation. "Message" (NIV, NRSV), "word" (KJV) is logos, here, "a communication whereby the mind finds expression, word."�[210] This word or message has been "committed" (NIV, KJV) or "entrusted" (NRSV) to us.[211] The Message puts it this way: "God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing." (5:19). Ambassadors of Christ. "Ambassador" is the verb presbeuō, "be an ambassador/envoy, travel or work as an ambassador."�[212] (We get our words "presbyter" and "Presbyterian" from this root.) Literally, this phrase would read, "On behalf of (hyper) of Christ we serve as ambassadors...."� Hyper is a preposition indicating that an activity or event is in some entity's interest, "for, in behalf of, for the sake of someone or something."�[213] An ambassador in a country's foreign service lives in a foreign country, but is charged with communicating clearly his president's or prime minister's words and positions. An ambassador cannot operate in silence, but is a constant voice who bears his kingdom's message. See how personal and direct this communication can be: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (5:20) "Appeal" (NIV, NRSV), "beseech" (KJV) is parakaleō, which means here, "to urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage,"�[214] and is used in this strong sense also in 12:8. The word could be translated, "to beg." It's that strong! Dear friends, we may not be foreign missionaries like the Apostle Paul, representing Jesus abroad. But we are very clearly Jesus' personal representatives in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, in our schools, in our families. There is a sense, when we share the good news with people, that we are conveying Jesus' own personal love for that person. We also convey his authority. This delegation of love, authority, and message is indeed awesome! "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)  "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16; cf. Matthew 10:40) "I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." (John 13:20) Perhaps we would prefer to be quiet rather than take upon ourselves this kind of responsibility. But if we remain quiet, then the Kingdom of God has a faithless representative in the workplace, in the family, in the community. We cannot bear the name of Christ with authenticity unless we are willing to represent him as his ambassadors, as inadequate as we may feel we are for this task. Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) How have we humans been reconciled to God? What did God do so that reconciliation could take place? In what sense are you an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God? In what sense are you a Minister of Reconciliation for Jesus Christ? https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1096 Substitutionary Atonement (5:21) Now Paul shares part of the essential message of reconciliation, that our sins no longer need to be a barrier between us and God. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (5:21) This verse is one of the clearest statements in the entire Bible of the Doctrine of the Substitutionary Atonement (also known as penal substitution or vicarious atonement). This refers to the Bible teaching that Jesus bore the penalty for our sins and took our place, so we didn't have to die for our own sins. A "substitute," of course, is "a person or thing that takes the place or function of another."�[215] Let's examine this verse carefully. Jesus had no sin. In a number of places, the Scripture affirms that Jesus did not sin and had no sin in himself to atone for (Hebrews 4:5; 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; 2:1; John 14:30; 1 Peter 3:18). This alone sets him apart from any other human, from any other founder of a religion. He uniquely is sinless.[216] "God made him to be sin."� God is the subject of this sentence.[217] God "made"�[218] Jesus to be sin. That is, Jesus became the bearer of sin, as would a sacrifice under the Mosaic Law. "For us" (NIV, KJV), "for our sake" (NRSV) represents the preposition hyper (that we examined in verse 20), "for, in behalf of, for the sake of someone or something."�[219] "So that is the conjunction hina, a very common marker used to denote purpose, aim, or goal, "in order that, that," in the final sense.[220] God's action was for the expressed purpose to free us from sin. "In him."� We are now looked at by God as fused to Jesus Christ. We are united to him. "We might become the righteousness of God."� The verb is ginomai, "be, become," here in the sense, "to experience a change in nature and so indicate entry into a new condition, become something."�[221] The verb is in the Aorist tense which suggests a sudden event, not a gradual process. "Righteousness" is dikaiosynē, here, the "quality or state of juridical correctness with focus on redemptive action, righteousness."�[222] Because Jesus took our sins upon him, we take upon us his righteousness which comes from God. It was this righteousness that Paul sought. Righteousness obtained by obeying the law could do nothing to atone for sins. Paul expressed the desire to: "... be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ "� the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Philippians 3:9) Though our passage teaches the Doctrine of the Substitutionary Atonement quite clearly, it is taught throughout the New Testament. Some of these passages include: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, alluding to Isaiah 53:5) "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18a) "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:21) In what sense did Jesus "become sin" on our behalf? In what sense do we "become righteousness"�? https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1097 Today Is the Day of Salvation (6:1-2) You can hear Paul the Preacher in this passage. He is appealing to the Corinthian believers directly. Two verses previous he had said: "... As though God were making his appeal (parakaleō) through us. We implore (deomai) you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (5:20) Now he continues this appeal: "As God's fellow workers we urge (parakaleō) you not to receive God's grace in vain." (6:1) To "receive God's grace in vain" would mean that though they had been pardoned and cleansed by God and had been given a responsibility to share the good news of this reconciliation and atonement, but that they did nothing with it. They stayed silent. Paul isn't implying that the Corinthians had received God's grace in vain. He only exhorts them that there should be good fruit through their ministry to others. What's more, this is an urgent matter. "For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (6:2) We aren't to put off sharing the good news to a more convenient time "� or resist God's speaking to us for another time. Paul cites Isaiah 49:8 here to underscore his appeal. "Now" is the time. "Today" is the day. We aren't to put it off, or God's work in us could be in vain. This has been a rich chapter. Paul has exhorted the Corinthians of the urgency of Christ's love to see people become Christians, and to experience the new creation of the Holy Spirit. This reconciliation was God's purpose in sending Christ and we are ambassadors of this message. It is a strong message, an urgent message, and one that God is still speaking to us today. Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2) If you, then, are called to be an urgent agent of reconciliation, how is this likely to affect your daily life? How will it affect how people perceive you? How will it affect how God perceives you? https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1098 Also available in e-book and paperback Prayer Lord, put in our hearts the compelling love for Jesus that will share his message, speak his words, become ambassadors and reconcilers on his behalf. Thank you for the great price you paid through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Use us, we pray, in your grand plan of salvation for those around us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Key Verses  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19) "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20) "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2b) End Notes [203] "Worldly/human point of view" (NIV/NRSV) is literally "after the flesh" (KJV), the preposition kata with the noun sarx, "flesh," here used in the sense of "the outward side of life" as determined by normal perspectives or standards. (BDAG 916, 5). [204] Ktisis, BDAG 573, 2a). [205] Author unknown. [206] "Reconciled" is katallassō, "the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship, reconcile" (BDAG 523, a). [207] Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary. [208] "Reconciliation" is katallagē, "reestablishment of an interrupted or broken relationship, reconciliation" (BDAG 523). [209] Diakonia, BDAG 230, 3. [210] Logos, BDAG 598, 1aβ. [211] This is the common verb tithēmi, "put, place," with meaning, "fix, establish, set," here, "as he established among us the word of reconciliation"  = "entrusted to us" (Tithēmi, BDAG 1003, 4b). [212] Presbeuō, BDAG 862. [213] Hyper, BDAG 1030, A1aδ. [214] Parakaleō, BDAG 765, 2. [215] Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary. [216] The Roman Catholic Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception teaches that the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain and therefore free of original (hereditary) sin or personal sin. This was declared a dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854. The doctrine goes back as early as the fifth century in Syria, but was not embraced by the Eastern Church. This doctrine is not based on Scripture, but elevated Mary and was thought to protect Jesus from the transmission of original sin. [217] The subject of the verb "he made" is clearly God by context. The end of the previous verse is theos, "God."� [218] The verb is the very common poieō, "do, make," here (with a double accusative), "make someone or something (into) something" (BDAG 840, 2hβ). [219] Hyper, BDAG 1030, A1a. [220] Hina, BDAG 475, 1a. [221] Ginomai, BDAG 198, 5a. [222] Dikaiosynē, BDAG 248, 2. What is the message of reconciliation? How can a person be reconciled to God and have eternal life? In the church of Colosse there were teachings attacking the truth of the gospel. They said Christ was not God and that further revelation was needed for salvation. Paul writes this letter to the Colossians to defend the supremacy of Christ. He said in the previous passage that the fullness of God dwells in Christ (v. 19). Essentially, he said Christ is God. He also said it is through Christ that all things shall be reconciled (v. 20). Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. The word reconciliation means to renew a friendship or to restore to a right relationship. Paul told this church that if anybody was going to be saved—reconciled to God—it must be through Christ. He is the only one who can renew our relationship with God.              In fact, Christ taught the same thing. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me” (John 14:6). There is no salvation apart from Christ. In considering Paul’s defense of Christ and the gospel in the current passage, it must be noticed that he calls himself a “servant” of this gospel. In Colossians 1:23 he says, “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Because Paul was saved and transformed by this gospel, he became its servant. This is the natural response for someone who has truly been changed and reconciled to God. He wants to serve this gospel by sharing it and enduring whatever cost that may come in the process of its dissemination. This is the only appropriate response for someone who is truly convinced of the gospel’s innate worth. Here is a story from the 1900s that illustrates Paul’s response to the gospel and how it should be ours as well. While on a three–story scaffold at a construction site one day, a building engineer tripped and fell toward the ground in what appeared to be a fatal plummet. Right below the scaffold, a laborer looked up just as the man fell, realized he was standing exactly where the engineer would land, braced himself, and absorbed the full impact of the other man’s fall. The impact slightly injured the engineer but severely hurt the laborer. The brutal collision fractured almost every bone in his body, and after he recovered from those injuries, he was severely disabled. Years later, a reporter asked the former construction laborer how the engineer had treated him since the accident. The handicapped man told the reporter: ‘He gave me half of all he owns, including a share of his business. He is constantly concerned about my needs and never lets me want for anything. Almost every day he gives me some token of thanks or remembrance.’1 That engineer who was saved became a servant of the man who saved him. In the same way, Paul, who was saved by the gospel of reconciliation, became a lifelong servant of it. Wherever he went, he preached it. He traveled to nations throughout the ancient world to tell them about what changed his life. This should be true of us as well. Second Corinthians 5:18–20 says this: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Yes, if Christ saved you, you are also called to be a servant of the gospel. You have a specific ministry. It is called the “ministry of reconciliation.” God is reconciling the world to himself and he chose to make his “appeal” through you. Not only was this Paul’s ministry, but it is equally ours. Now if we are going to be ministers of this gospel, we must first thoroughly understand it. We must understand the message of reconciliation so we can better share it. In this lesson, we will be studying the “message of reconciliation” so we can more effectively apply its truths to our lives and teach its richness to others. As we teach and spread this message, we do our part in declaring the supremacy of Christ as Paul did. Big Question: What are the elements of the message of reconciliation as seen in Colossians 1:20–23? The Message Of Reconciliation Means That All Of Creation Has A Serious Problem “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). Interpretation Question: Why do “all things” need to be reconciled unto God (Col. 1:20)? What do “all things” include? Why does creation need to be reconciled unto God? A crucial part of the message of reconciliation is that man is separated from God. Something happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned. Scripture teaches that man experienced spiritual death—a separation from God. Man Hides From God Right after Adam sinned, we see his new relationship with God. God came looking for him in the garden and instead of revealing himself, Adam hid (Gen. 3:8). This is a picture of man’s relationship to God since the inception of sin. Man, now, is in a state of hiding from God. Sin has so infected man that it caused him to separate from God. Listen to what Isaiah 53:6 says about man: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” All mankind has gone away from God as a result of sin. In fact, Paul declares that no one truly seeks him anymore. Romans 3:11 says, “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” In the same way that Adam hid from God, man today hides from God as well. Man does seek, but he seeks a god made in the image of man or any other imagination he prefers. Man cannot stand the God of the Bible. Consider what Paul says in Romans 1:21–23: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Although man has an inward witness of God in his heart and the clear witness of creation (cf. Rom. 1:19–20), man still chooses to not acknowledge him. Instead, he creates his own god. Man’s Sin Suppresses The Truth Of God Here in Colossians, Paul further explains man’s depravity and natural tendency to separate from God. He says, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” (Col. 1:21). Sin in man makes him hide from God and alienate himself from him. Man is alienated “because” of his “evil behavior.” Just as sin caused Adam to hide from God, sin causes man today to hide and deny God. Romans 1:18 describes this: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” When man is living in sin, he wants to push away the reality of a holy God. Man’s evil behavior compels him to. Jesus taught something similar about his first coming: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19–20). Because man practices evil, he hates the light. He wants to suppress the idea of a holy God, lest his deeds be exposed. Mankind wants to suppress the truth of God. Consider how Paul describes man’s thinking in relationship to God and his law. Romans 8:7 says, “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Man’s natural mind is at enmity with God. It suppresses him; it doesn’t want to believe in him. It doesn’t want to follow the laws of God. In fact, it cannot follow them. Man is a slave to the cravings of his sinful nature. He is controlled by sin. Jesus said, “He who sins is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Nature determines action. A lion will always eat meat instead of a carrot because it’s his nature. Similarly, a sinful nature only yields sinful behavior. This is the natural state of man. He is at enmity with God. He will not seek him. His mind cannot understand him. The teachings of Scripture are foolishness to him (1 Cor. 2:14). He runs away from him. He is dead in his sins—separated from a holy God (Eph. 2:1). He suppresses the truth of God because he would rather live his own life apart from God’s lordship. Man, by nature, despises authority or anything that restricts or constrains him. He wants his own unbridled freedom. In his eyes this is right, and anything or anyone that interferes is not welcomed (Ps. 2:1–3). God Is At Enmity With Man But, this situation gets even worse. It is not just that man is at enmity with God and needs to be reconciled to him, but that God is at enmity with man. Yes, this is a far worse picture than man simply running away from God. It is not a big thing for an ant to be angry at a lion. What is drastically worse is that God is at enmity with man. Look at what Paul says about man in his natural state apart from God: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). Scripture proclaims that men by nature are “objects of wrath.” We as sinners abide under the wrath of an angry God. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” God is so holy that he cannot stand sin. He is so just that he must judge it. And therefore, because of his sin, man is under the judgment of God. This is the condition of all men. They are separated from God and at enmity with him. The writer of Hebrews says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Because God is holy, man cannot have a relationship with him. The requirement of being in God’s presence is a holy life. Well, one person might ask, “What if man works really hard and practices righteousness and good deeds? Can he then have a relationship with God and have eternal life?” This is what the religions of the world advocate. But they don’t fully understand: the gravity of man’s sin and that God is just. Imagine for a second this happening in a human court. Imagine a man on trial—a convicted murderer of thousands of people, as well as a rapist and thief—asking the judge if he could get off “scot-free” by promising to do good works for the rest of his life. If this judge exonerated him, would he be a just judge? There would be an uproar in society if this happened. Righteous deeds are what we are supposed to do. It doesn’t pay back for the sins we already committed. The judges in our judicial systems may not always be just, but we can be sure the God of Scripture is just and that there is no amount of good works that can amend for the sin of man. There is no amount of religious devotion, prayer, or giving that can atone for one’s past sins. Scripture says that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The just punishment for one sin, one bad thought, earns death (cf. Matt. 5:27–28). Man is in a terrible predicament under the wrath of a just God. In fact, Scripture says that man apart from God’s grace can do no good works at all. Listen to what Isaiah 64:6 says: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Even our righteousness is as filthy rags before God. Sin has so tainted man that he can do no good work that is pleasing to God. One might say, “How is that? There are plenty of good things that people do.” Sure, there is no doubt about that. But God’s standard is so high that even our greatest good deeds are filthy in his sight. This is true in part because God requires not only good deeds, but a right heart. More important than one’s deeds is the heart that they are committed with. Scripture teaches that the greatest commandment is this: “To love God with your whole heart, mind and soul.” This is often called the doctrine of total depravity. There has never been a moment in my life when I have “loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul.” Even my good deeds are tainted by motives to be approved by others and sometimes to be better than others. I fall far short of God’s plan for my life. Again, Paul says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Creation’s Plight Now we have talked about man, but what about the rest of creation? Why do “all things” need reconciliation with God? Scripture teaches that even creation no longer honors God in the way it should. Moreover, I believe Scripture teaches that even heaven is in need of redemption. When man sinned on the earth, Scripture says that God cursed the ground (Gen. 3:17). It from that point on bore weeds and thorns instead of the fruit it was supposed to. No doubt, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the like are part of the curse. Romans 8:20–22 says this: For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Like man, creation is also in frustration and bondage to sin. It is groaning, waiting for the time it will be set free from sin and changed into what God originally planned. Some have said maybe we see creation’s frustration every year. It blooms in the spring, only to die in the winter. But again it should be noted that heaven also is affected by sin. Consider what the book of Job says: “If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes” (Job 15:15). Eliphaz, one of Job’s accusatory friends, spoke this statement, and therefore, it must be tested by the rest of Scripture. However, there seems to be support for this. One of the things many people do not understand about heaven is that there is a current heaven where God dwells, and that one day he will create a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Theologians call the current state of heaven the “intermediate heaven.” Why is there a need for a new one? Consider what Scripture says about the “intermediate heaven:” In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man–made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence (Heb. 9:22–24). The writer of Hebrews is talking about how the tabernacle on earth was a copy of the tabernacle in heaven. The articles of the earthly tabernacle needed to be cleansed with the blood of a lamb, but the writer says the articles in the heavenly tabernacle needed to be cleansed with a better sacrifice. What was that better sacrifice? It was the blood of Jesus. Well, hold up. Why does the tabernacle in heaven need to be cleansed in the first place? It seems that after the fall of the angels in heaven, heaven is no longer as God originally intended. We see Satan having access to heaven, speaking with God several times in the book of Job. In 1 Kings 22, we see demons having access to heaven. One demon says he would go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets of the king of Israel to lead him into destruction (v. 22). We even see a future battle in heaven with angels and demons in Revelation 12. It is the new heaven and new earth in which nothing bad or corrupt will be able to enter (Rev. 22:14–15), not the current intermediate heaven. For this reason, Jesus also had to cleanse the tabernacle in heaven. I personally believe that when Scripture talks about there being no crying, weeping, or mourning in heaven, that again it specifically is only referring to the new heaven in Revelation 21:4. In Revelation 6:10, we see martyrs in the intermediate heaven who died during the tribulation period mourning and asking God when he will bring vengeance on the people of the earth. It says, “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”‘ There seems to be mourning in the present heaven as people cry out for God to bring his justice on the earth. There is no clear biblical reason to think there is no mourning in the intermediate heaven. Scripture says that even the Holy Spirit mourns and groans inside of us with words that cannot be expressed (Rom. 8:26). If God mourns, certainly the saints in heaven who are closer to and more like God mourn as well. Heaven and earth are not the way God originally intended. That’s something we all should mourn and pray about. Do we not see how bad creation’s predicament is? Man is at enmity with God and incapable of obeying him or seeking his face. Creation is in frustration and bondage because of sin. Even heaven has been affected by sin. This is the bad news. Everything is far from where it should be. This is the bad news everybody must be aware of. In order for a person to be saved, they must first realize why they need to be saved. They must understand the gravity of their problem. They are sinners in the hands of an angry God. They are apart from their Creator. This is a necessary element of the gospel—the message of reconciliation. It is necessary for every person who will be saved to first feel the sting and conviction of their sin. This is the offensive part of the gospel that Christians must not be afraid to share. Why should a person be offended at a God who wants to save? Actually, it’s the reason God wants to save them that is offensive. Their sin separated them from God, and that is why they must repent and turn to God for salvation. Every person on earth must feel the weight of their sin and realize that Christ wants to take that burden and draw them to himself (Matt. 11:28–30). Are you willing to declare to mankind the gravity of their situation? Are you willing to teach that God is angry at sin all day long and that we need a savior? (Ps. 7:11). Application Question: Do you feel that the reality of man being a sinner, under the wrath of God and in need of repentance, is the hardest part of sharing the gospel and a major reason why people do not share? Why or why not? The Message Of Reconciliation Does Not Mean Universal Salvation “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:19–20). Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean when he says “all things” will be reconciled unto God? Does this teach universalism, the salvation of all mankind? Why or why not? In order to understand reconciliation we must also understand what it does not mean. It does not mean universal salvation. This verse has been used by many prominent teachers to teach that eventually every person will be saved. That is not what Colossians 1:19 teaches, nor does it fit into what the whole of Scripture says. Scriptural Evidence Scripture clearly teaches that not all people will be saved, not even all people who profess Christ. Listen to what Jesus said: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21–23). Many who profess Christ as Lord will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead of living for God, they lived a life of evil. They will be separated from Christ for eternity. If not all who profess Christ will enter into the kingdom, how much more those who deny Christ totally? Listen to what Matthew 25 teaches: Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matt. 25:41–46). Scripture clearly declares that at Christ’s coming he will separate the sheep from the goats. The goats will go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels while the sheep will go into eternal life. Scripture does not teach that all will go to heaven. When Paul says “all things” will be reconciled, it must be limited to those who follow Christ and the restoration of the heaven and earth as the rest of Scripture teaches. It should also be noted that clearly the devil and his angels will not be reconciled. They will be eternally condemned. We see this taught in Revelation 20:10: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” When Scripture speaks of reconciliation, it does not include the unbeliever, nor Satan and his angels. Universal salvation is not a Scriptural doctrine, though it certainly appeals to man’s nature. God is a just God. He is not only a God of love but of justice. “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day” (Ps. 7:11). Christians must be clear on this, for many popular teachers teach this today. This is a false gospel that we must be aware of. Rule With An “Iron Scepter” Some might still ask, “Is there a sense in which God will reconcile all things to himself?” It must be noted that though this cannot refer to salvation, there is a sense in which unredeemed man and fallen angels will be reconciled to God, but only in judgment. All creation will bow down to him as Lord. Listen to what Philippians 2:9–11 says: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. One day everyone will bow down to Christ, but some will bow down only because they must. Psalm 2:9 says the Son will rule with an “iron scepter” (cf. Rev. 12:5), and he will “dash them like pottery.” One day all will submit at the second coming of Christ because they must. The Lamb will return as a Lion. He will judge the earth, and in that sense unredeemed men and fallen angels will finally be forced to submit to Christ as Lord. In this sense, God will reconcile all things to himself, but this reconciliation will not change their eternal destiny. Application Question: Have you met Christians who believe that all will eventually be saved? Why do you think this perversion of the gospel is growing in popularity? (For further information, research the “Wider Mercy Doctrine.”) The Message Of Reconciliation Is That Christ Is The Reconciler “By making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:20–22). We considered the problem: man and all of creation have been affected by sin. Man is separated from God because of sin. He cannot obey God and will not seek God. Here is the next question. How then can man be reconciled to God? Interpretation Question: What does Paul teach as the source of reconciliation? Paul says: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22). He declares that through Christ’s death, redeemed man has now become without blemish and free from accusation. How can this be? How can a sinful man be holy in God’s sight? This teaches a truth seen throughout Scripture called substitution. Under the Mosaic Law, God set up a sacrificial system to instruct man about this. Man understood that “without the shedding of blood there was no remission for sins” (Heb. 9:22) and that the “wages of sin was death” (Rom. 6:23), and therefore there had to be a just punishment. However, God symbolically punished the sins of man on a sacrificed lamb so that the people could enter his presence and worship him. In fact, many scholars see “substitution” implied in the very first death. After Adam sinned, God immediately killed an animal and clothed Adam and Eve. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and therefore someone had to die for Adam’s sin. From the beginning, God showed mercy to man by allowing a substitute. However, the sacrificial animal never took away the sins of the world; it only symbolized a future reality. When John the Baptist saw Jesus on the earth, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). The lamb in the Old Testament was only a picture of substitution. The lamb without blemish was a picture of being without sin. The people symbolically received the sinless life of the lamb, and the lamb bore the sins of the people and died for them. This symbolized the perfect lamb that would die for the sins of the entire world: Jesus Christ. What happened with Jesus, however, was not a symbol; it was the reality. There, literally, was a substitution when he died on the cross for the sins of the people. He took the sins of every person in the world and bore the wrath of God for them. Those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will have his work on the cross applied to their account. He bore our sin and the just wrath of God and we took on his perfect righteousness. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” He took our sin and we received his righteousness. This is what Paul means when he says we are to be presented holy, blameless, and free of accusation in his sight. Listen again to what he says: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22). The only way for man, and therefore creation, to be reconciled was by the substitutionary death of the perfect lamb. We are now acceptable to God because he sees us as his perfect Son. His righteousness is now applied to our account. Application Question: What are some applications from the fact that we have become Christ’s righteousness and are now holy, without blemish, and free from accusation? 1. Because We Are Now Christ’s Righteousness, We Must Practice Righteousness In Our Daily Living. Those who are truly born again will naturally desire to live a righteous life. In this substitution, a person truly becomes a new creation in Christ. Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). We are now God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). He changed us so that we can glorify him through the new life and the new righteousness he has given us. True salvation will always result in good works. “Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:13b–14). Are we living out our new reality in Christ? We are his righteousness and we must seek to live this out daily. 2. Be Cause We Are Now Christ’s Righteousness, We Must Not Accept The Condemnation Of Satan, Ourselves, Or Others. One of Satan’s tactics is to accuse the believer when he falls or makes mistakes. He will condemn the believer for his failures and seek to use this condemnation to draw us away from God. There is a difference between conviction and condemnation. A true believer should feel conviction when he sins. This happens because of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. True conviction draws us to God and away from sin. However, condemnation will draw us away from God and into sin. Condemnation will bring depression and anger and will often cause believers to go into seclusion or into worse sin. Do not accept any condemnation from the devil. Christ knew and paid in full for each sin we would commit when he died on the cross. This does not give us license to continue in sin. But it should give us confidence to accept his forgiveness and turn from it. Listen to what Paul says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). He also said this at the end of the chapter: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Rom. 8:33–34). Who can rightly bring a charge against a believer? It is God who justifies. The word “justifies” is often explained as “just as though I never sinned.” Who is he that condemns? No one can rightly condemn us—not Satan or ourselves. Christians must start to live on the basis of who we are “in Christ” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 6:11; Eph. 1:3). Because we are “in Christ” and we are his righteousness, we must live in accordance with this reality. When we fail we must seek forgiveness and continue to walk according to what Christ has done in our lives and who we are in him. Listen to Paul’s words on this one more time: In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:11–14). Jesus makes us holy through his death (2 Cor. 5:21) so that we can continually approach God (Heb. 4:16). Therefore, we must reject condemnation that comes through our flesh, the devil, or others. This is an important truth we must actualize to continue to walk in Christ’s victory, especially when we stumble. Application Question: In what ways does Satan commonly come against you with condemnation? How do you discern these lies and battle against them? The Message Of Reconciliation Is That Reconciliation Comes Through Faith “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Col. 1:22–23). Interpretation Question: What is the condition Paul gives for man to be reconciled? How does a person take this step? How does a person receive reconciliation with God? How do they have their friendship renewed? Paul teaches in this text that a person is saved through faith in Christ. Look again at what he says: But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel (Col. 1:22–23). Scripture everywhere would teach that salvation, and thus reconciliation, is by grace. It is by unmerited favor that anyone is saved. We cannot earn it; we cannot work for it. It is a work of grace, but this grace gives us the faith to put our trust in Christ. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” A person receives this grace from God through an act of faith, an act of trust. We get a good picture of this in how Paul responds to the jailer who asks, “How can one be saved?” Let’s look at their interaction: “He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household’” (Acts 16:30–31). Belief in Christ or faith is the means to be saved. Interpretation Question: What are the characteristics of this faith in Christ that brings reconciliation to those who trust in him? 1. True Faith Believes The Content Of The Gospel. Paul declares that in order for a person to be saved he must have belief or faith. However, faith is only as good as the object. We don’t believe in faith; we believe in the object or the content of our faith. What is the content of the gospel? The content is an admission that one cannot save one’s self. One cannot work for it, nor can he earn it. Everyone is totally lost because of sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Because of our sins we are totally separated from a holy God. We will ultimately be separated from him eternally in a burning fire that will not be quenched. The writer of Hebrews says, “Without holiness no one will see God” (Heb. 12:14). It is this reality that drives a person to come to Christ and be saved. He realizes that he needs a savior. The content is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world. Paul says, By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:2–4). This is the content of the gospel. Before recognizing the gospel, we must again understand the bad news. We are separated and under the wrath of a just God because of our sins. But the good news is that God’s Son came to earth and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that one day those who believe in him will rise again. This is the content of the gospel. But it must be noted that intellectual belief is not enough. 2. True Faith Is Committed To The Lord Of The Gospel. The word “faith” used here in Colossians 1:23 is more than just intellectual belief. In Greek this word can be translated as “trust,” “commit,” or even “obedience.” The word in classical Greek is used of those in a contractual relationship.2 There is a commitment of the will and not just the mind. This is important to say because there are some in Christianity who would say intellectual belief is enough, but James says even the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19). Simple belief that Jesus is God and Savior isn’t enough. It has to do with a commitment of the will in following and obeying him. Romans 10:9–10 says, That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. To believe means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our life. It also includes an element of repentance as a person ceases to live his former life and accepts Christ as Lord of his life. A transference of leadership takes place. This is important because many make false confessions. Christ warned about this in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to what he said: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21–23). Many in the church have only belief, only profession. They have right doctrine. They know that Christ is Lord, and they even serve him in the church but are not truly saved. Christ says true faith leads to doing the “will” of the Father in heaven (v. 21). We have too many Christians in the church who claim to follow Christ but their profession doesn’t change their language. It doesn’t change how they treat someone who offends them. They have just as much unforgiveness and bitterness as the world. Christ responds to these people and says, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” Let’s say a man goes through an elaborate wedding ceremony and marries a wonderful woman. However, after the ceremony this man never sees the lady again. He wears a ring and tells people he is married, but he has no relationship with this wonderful woman. He even has relationships with other women. Is that a marriage? Similarly, lots of people come to church and put on a display before people, but they have no real relationship with Christ. Christ will one day respond to them, “I never knew you.” The message of reconciliation is that we are reconciled to God by faith in the Son. This faith has a doctrinal element: believing in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the world. But it also has an element of commitment and obedience to him. When you really believe something it should affect how you live. This is the problem with much of Christianity. Application Question: In what ways have you seen “professions of faith” abused in churches and among believers? Do you think there is an overwhelming lack of true saving faith in the church? 3. True Faith Perseveres In Following Christ As Lord. It also should be noted that this faith in Christ that brings reconciliation with God has more to it than a committed belief. Paul gives a conditional clause. Look again at what he says: If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Col. 1:23). Perseverance of true saving faith is taught throughout Scripture. True faith will last and spurious faith—false faith—will not. We see a good example of false faith in the Parable of the Sower. Look at the stony ground: The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away (Matt. 13:20–21). Jesus taught that many would hear the word of the gospel and even receive it with joy. However, they didn’t have any true root. A plant without roots will die when the wind or the storm comes. It has nothing to sustain it. This root represents true faith. Many in the church who have emotional displays when they accept Christ fall away and never return after they face peer pressure from friends or family, their faith starts to cost something, or God allows some trial to happen in their life. This type of faith has no root—it’s false. Let’s see how John handles a similar scenario with people who initially professed faith but ultimately fell away. In the church of Ephesus a Gnostic cult attacked the church and many members fell away from Christ. John said, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19). John said if they belonged to us, meaning if they were truly saved, they would have remained. He is not simply dealing with members leaving the church. This was a deeper issue. They were leaving the church to follow a false gospel that attacked the deity and humanity of Christ. He says that their falling away proved that they had no real root—no real faith. He says, “Their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Jesus said something similar about believers in the end times. He said: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:12–13). In the end times, wickedness will increase. The world will be a loveless place, and in that context Christians will be persecuted because of it. No doubt, many Christians will fall away because of this persecution. They would prefer career, acceptance by friends and family, wealth, or comfort, and therefore they will not be willing to take up their cross to continue following Christ. Christ said, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Those who fall away in the end times will fall away because they had a false faith. Christ taught the same doctrine as Paul and John. True faith perseveres. He doesn’t say they lost their salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that those who are Christ’s sheep he will not lose. In fact, it is one of the very things God sent the Son to do. Listen to what Christ said: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day (John 6:37–39). Jesus came to do the Father’s will, and Christ cannot fail at this because he is God. If he failed at doing the Father’s will, he could not be our Savior because he would have “fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Our Savior is perfectly righteous, and because of this, he can give you his righteousness. He does not fail at keeping his elect. He puts his elect in the Father’s hand and in his own so he loses none (John 10:28). He holds the temperature gauge on every trial (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13; John 18:9) because he will not put you into a trial that the faith he has given you cannot ultimately handle. God will never lead you where his grace cannot keep you. He prays for his elect so he can save them to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25). He works all things for the good of them who love the Lord. God predestined you before you were born to be made into the image of his Son and nothing can separate the elect from his love: not life, not death, not angels or demons, sin or anything else, for we are convinced that nothing can separate the believer from the love of God (Rom. 8:28–39). God gives the elect a measure of faith (Eph. 2:8–10), and the Son keeps that faith so that he may please the Father. A savior who failed to keep the elect could not be a savior at all because he could not perfectly do the will of God. He, therefore, could not be God. Thank you, Lord, that Christ is our Savior and God, and nothing is impossible for him! The way that each person can be reconciled to God is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith believes in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is committed to the Lordship of Christ, and finally, it always perseveres. Application Question: Many orthodox Christians believe that true faith does not always persevere, meaning that a person can be saved and then lose their salvation. How did they come to this interpretation? What do you think the whole counsel of Scripture says about this? Conclusion What are the elements of the message of reconciliation? We must understand this because all who are true believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Like Paul we have become its servants (Col. 1:23). We are called to let God speak through us as he reconciles people to himself. But this is also important for us to know because many false gospels are attacking God’s church and trying to lead people astray. We must know this message, we must protect it, and we must share it. The message of reconciliation is that all creation has a serious problem. All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and because of that creation is far from where God desires it to be. The message of reconciliation is not synonymous with universal salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that those who refuse to accept Christ will be judged eternally by him. It also teaches that no grace was afforded to Satan and his angels. They will spend eternity separated from him in a burning fire (Matt. 25:41). The message of reconciliation is that Christ is the reconciler. It was through his death that the wrath of a holy God was appeased. At the cross there was a substitution: we received the perfect righteousness of the Lamb and he received our sin and judgment. We can have peace with God because of this (Rom. 5:1). The message of reconciliation is that salvation comes through faith. This faith believes in the resurrected Lord. It is committed to his lordship and it perseveres. We must continue to follow this Christ. Those who do not persevere have never truly known the Lord (Matt. 7:23). Every person who has been born again into the kingdom of Christ has been given a ministry that they are to fulfill. We are a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:3) and ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5). The mantle of “minister” in the Christian faith is not held only for those whose vocations are building up the body. Every follower of Christ is a minister filled with the Holy Spirit and ordained for a specific ministry in this life. At the conclusion of his letter to the church in Colossae, the apostle Paul tells the believers, “say to Archippus, ‘See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.'” Many Christians today, like Archippus in Paul’s time, need a reminder of the ministry that they have been appointed to. A Received Ministry If you’re a follower of Jesus you have a ministry. Note well, this is a received ministry. Archippus didn’t appoint himself to it. He didn’t see a need and realize that he had the perfect skill set to meet that need. He didn’t demand a role. He didn’t take authority. Instead, he received his ministry as a gift from the Lord. Just like Paul mentions in 1 Timothy (and in most of his epistles), every ministry that a believer has is an appointment from their Lord. Whether it is a joyful or a painful ministry, a successful or a struggling ministry, an easy or a seemingly impossibly ministry, the ministry that God has called you to is where he will empower you. Don’t seek to go beyond the Lord’s appointed place until he calls you. Ministry in the Lord Secondly, Archippus’ (and our) ministry is in the Lord. All ministry, whether it be preaching, sweeping floors, working faithfully as an executive at Microsoft, or as an at-home parent, is a ministry to be done in the Lord. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2, we are saved by grace through faith. Then, and only then, do we proceed to “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we might walk in them.” Ministry is the natural outworking of grace within us, not the desperate upworking of faith. Anytime we minister “out of the Lord,” we will inevitably be burned out and fail. When we labor from our position “in the Lord,” we will bear much fruit. Brothers and sisters, we like Archippus and every other disciple of Christ, have received a ministry in the Lord. We are to bear witness of the truth of the Gospel and display in our day-to-day lives the surpassing glory of our savior. Are you fulfilling your ministry, or abdicating the Lord’s call  for the sake of comfort, and excusing ourselves for lack of understanding or experience? We are commanded by our king to make disciple as we go throughout this life. Can you point to specific places in your life where disciple-making is taking place? Let us be men and women who examine ourselves to see whether or not we are fulfilling the ministry we have received. Ministry as Community However, we must not stop with simply examining ourselves. Paul writes to the entire church at Colossae and tells them all the remind Archippus to fulfill his ministry. Like Archippus, we need a community of people around us who will regularly call us back to the path that the Lord has set before us. Are we as fellow workers in Christ reminding each other of our call? My prayer for Threshingfloor and for every body of believers is that we would become communities that encourage and empower each other for ministry. Rather than sarcasm we need sincere encouragement; rather than bitterness, ready forgiveness; rather than masks, total honesty. That is a truly powerful community. As we become that I am convinced that God will do amazing things in our midst. When we as believers begin living in the ministries we have been called to in the Lord, our Lord will show himself to be mighty and begin to work wonders. For our small community here in Fargo, I have no doubt that if we each build our lives soundly upon Christ and allow his grace to move us in disciple-making we will be able to radically shift the 97% of non-believers in our metro area. I believe we will see communities of believers rise up across the city to bear powerful witness to the risen Christ, and that risen Christ will prove himself as we fulfill the ministries we have been given. Let us be faithful to do so, my friends. Our God will not fail us. “Fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:5 Looking Timothy straight in the eye, so to speak, with irresistible moral authority, Paul passes the baton to the next generation of Christian leadership.  What does Paul want Timothy to understand and accept at this defining moment? Fulfill.  There is a grandeur to every man’s ministry.  It is a massive opportunity not to be diminished but to be exploited every day, to the end.  Let all small thoughts of gospel ministry be put out of our minds.  The world, and even the church, may not grasp how much is at stake.  But we can fill our minds with this awareness: “I have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:4).  I don’t minister for his approval; I minister with his approval.  I can go for it.” Your.  Not, “Fulfill my ministry.”  But, “You have your own calling from God.  A new era of blessing can dawn through you.  Offer yourself to God, and reach for your destiny.” Ministry.  That is, service.  “Be mastered by One Great Thing.  It will cost you.  But if you’ll give yourself to it, you will help people, in Jesus’ name and for his greater glory.”  Audio   Crossref   Comment   Greek  Verse  (Click for Chapter) New International Version All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: New Living Translation And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. English Standard Version All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; Berean Standard Bible All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: Berean Literal Bible Now all things are of God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and having given to us the ministry of reconciliation: King James Bible And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; New King James Version Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, New American Standard Bible Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, NASB 1995 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, NASB 1977 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, Legacy Standard Bible Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, Amplified Bible But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], Christian Standard Bible Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Holman Christian Standard Bible Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: American Standard Version But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; Aramaic Bible in Plain English And everything has become new from God - he who reconciled us to himself in The Messiah, and he has given us the Ministry of the reconciliation. Contemporary English Version God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. Douay-Rheims Bible But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. English Revised Version But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; GOD'S WORD® Translation God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. Good News Translation All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. International Standard Version All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, Literal Standard Version And all things [are] of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of the reconciliation, Majority Standard Bible All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: New American Bible And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, NET Bible And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. New Revised Standard Version All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; New Heart English Bible But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; Webster's Bible Translation And all things are from God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; Weymouth New Testament And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation. World English Bible But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; Young's Literal Translation And the all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and did give to us the ministration of the reconciliation, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ambassadors for Christ …17Therefore 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 reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.… Berean Standard Bible · Download Cross References Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Romans 5:11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 1 Corinthians 11:12 For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Ephesians 2:16 and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence-- Treasury of Scripture And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; all. John 3:16,27 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: who. Leviticus 6:30 And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire. Ezekiel 45:15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. hath given. 2 Corinthians 5:19,20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation… Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. Jump to Previous Appointed Christ Jesus Making Ministration Ministry Peace Reconciled Reconciliation Serve Work Jump to Next Appointed Christ Jesus Making Ministration Ministry Peace Reconciled Reconciliation Serve Work 2 Corinthians 5 1. That in his assured hope of immortal glory, 9. and in expectation of it, he labors to keep a good conscience; 12. not that he may boast of himself, 14. but as one that, having received life from Christ, 17. endeavors to live as a new creature to Christ only, 18. and by his ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile others also in Christ to God. The video player is currently playing an ad. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (18) And all things are of God.--The presence of the article in the Greek indicates that he is speaking, not of the universe at large, but of the new things belonging to the new creation of which he had spoken in the previous verse. The line of thought on which he has now entered raises him for the time above all that is personal and temporary, and leads him to one of his fullest and noblest utterances as to God's redeeming work. Who hath reconciled us to himself. . . . and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.--It is worthy of note that this is the first occurrence, in order of time, in St. Paul's Epistles, of this word "reconcile" as describing God's work in Christ, and that so applied it occurs only in this Epistle and in Romans 5:10, written shortly afterwards. The idea involved is that man had been at enmity and was now atoned (at-oned) and brought into concord with God. It will be noted that the work is described as originating with the Father and accomplished by the mediation of the Son. It is obvious that the personal pronoun is used with a different extent in the two clauses: the first embracing, as the context shows, the whole race of mankind; the last limited to those who, like the Apostles, were preachers of the Word. More accurately, the verbs should run: who reconciled. . . . and gave. The word translated "reconciliation" is, it should be noted, the same as that rendered "atonement" in Romans 5:11. Pulpit Commentary Verse 18. - And all things are of God; literally, but all things (in this "new creation") are from God. Who hath reconciled us; rather, who (by Christ's one offering of himself) reconciled us to himself. We were his enemies (Romans 5:10; Romans 11:28), but, because he was still our Friend and Father, he brought us back to himself by Christ. The ministry of reconciliation. The ministry which teaches the reconciliation which he has effected for us. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek All this [is] πάντα (panta) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. God, Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. who τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. reconciled καταλλάξαντος (katallaxantos) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2644: To change, exchange, reconcile. From kata and allasso; to change mutually, i.e. to compound a difference. us ἡμᾶς (hēmas) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. to Himself ἑαυτῷ (heautō) Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. through διὰ (dia) Preposition Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. Christ Χριστοῦ (Christou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. gave δόντος (dontos) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. us ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. ministry διακονίαν (diakonian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 1248: Waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration. From diakonos; attendance; figuratively aid, service. of reconciliation: καταλλαγῆς (katallagēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 2643: Reconciliation, restoration to favor. From katallasso; exchange, i.e. Restoration to favor. The purpose why God instituted the ministry of reconciliation 1. To act as the essential link of God’s reconciliation plan Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John14:6 NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 The purpose why God instituted the ministry of reconciliation 1. To act as the essential link of God’s reconciliation plan Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John14:6 NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV) Jesus’ words that no one comes to the Father except through him denotes that is impossible for anyone to be reconciled with God because he is the only way or the link to God’s fellowship. God provides his Son to be the connection of the broken relationship ruined by the sinfulness of man. Paul proclaimed Christ as God’s link to God’s reconciliation plan through the ministry of reconciliation whom he has received from God.) Jesus’ words that no one comes to the Father except through him denotes that is impossible for anyone to be reconciled with God because he is the only way or the link to God’s fellowship. God provides his Son to be the connection of the broken relationship ruined by the sinfulness of man. Paul proclaimed Christ as God’s link to God’s reconciliation plan through the ministry of reconciliation whom he has received from God. 3. To serve as a saving or soul-winning channel of God from the penalty or punishment of sin For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NIV) Death is our sin’s wages. Sin does not only ruin the fellowship and creates enmity between God and man but also brings God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3), judgment (Romans 2:5-6), and it will give birth to death (James 1:15). Sin caused spiritual and eternal death (Revelation 20:14). How can a sinner escape from the death penalty brought by his sins? Paul tells us that a sinner can escape from the death penalty through the gift of eternal life from God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Salvation is a pure grace coming from God. It is only possible when a man is reconciled to God through the death of Christ on the cross ( Romans 5:10-11). A man must break ties with sin to escape death and respond to God’s reconciliation plan. Christ’s reconciling works on the cross provide righteousness as a basis for reconciliation and it is carried out by the ministers of reconciliation ( 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). The in-depth purpose of God for instituting the ministry of reconciliation is to save or win soul away from the penalty of sin and be reconciled to him in complete and intimate restored fellowship. It serves as a channel of the continual saving and soul-winning task of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25). The ministry of reconciliation serves as saving and reconciling hands of God (1 Corinthians 9: 19-23) (James 5:20) (Jude 1:23). It is a working ministry for the great harvest of souls (Matthew 9:37-38). The workers of the ministry of reconciliation Since a ministry of reconciliation is a ministry of works and labor, it should have workers to undertake and carry out its works and plans. Ministers or ambassadors must be deployed to transmit the divine plan of reconciliation to the alienated world (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). 1. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the team leader of the ministry of reconciliation and the ultimate carrier and doer of the divine plan of restoring the broken link between God and man. He is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5) (Hebrew 9:15). He is the great reconciler between God and man. His death on the cross redeem the world from sin and death, justifies anyone who believes in him, and provides reconciliation with God. He is the only link and way to the Father’s presence and fellowship (John 14:6). 2. The Called, The Chosen, and The Saved Souls God’s great love, mercy, and grace are offered free to all sinners but not all people are qualified to be a minister or worker of the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus called and appoint apostles, gathered disciples, taught, trained, and commissioned them to continue his work of saving and reconciling the world to God (Matthew 28:18-20) (Mark 16:15-18). The qualification to become a member or worker of the ministry of reconciliation is a called, selected, and saved by the grace of God (1 Timothy 1:12-17) ( 1 Corinthians1:26-31). The called, chosen, saved, and served policy is God’s way of putting members in the ministry of reconciliation. A blind can't guide a blind or both of them will fall into a pit (Luke 6:39). The unsaved or unreconciled soul is not capable or worthy to save or reconcile the alienated mankind to God but only those who are called, appointed and saved (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). What Is Our Role On Planet Earth? Find Out What the ‘Therefore’s Are There for 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (KJV) 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. We can start by looking at the first word in this section of verses, the word ‘therefore’. A good rule of thumb when it comes to understanding scripture is when you see the word ‘therefore’ find out what it’s therefore. If you read the entire fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians you will find four layered ‘therefore-s’. ‘Therefore’ if anyone is in Christ in verse seventeen. ‘Therefore’ we regard no one according to the flesh in verse sixteen. ‘Therefore’ all have died in verse fourteen. ‘Therefore’ knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others in verse eleven. Looking at it all together. 2 Corinthians 5:11–17 (ESV) 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. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 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. The layered ‘therefore’s’ take you back to verse ten. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) 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. In verse ten, the verse starts with a ‘For’ instead of a ‘therefore’ which, in English, is the same thing, a conjunction. And so now we have to go back one more verse to find the beginning of the thread. In verse nine, the verse starts with a ‘So’ which is again a conjunction and so now we have to go back to verse eight. Verse eight is the last statement on Paul’s discussion of our glorified bodies. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Since it’s the last thought, you will find that you have to go back to verse one to get at Paul’s original point about the Ministry of Reconciliation. The Ministry of Reconciliation and Our Glorified Body The Ministry of Reconciliation finds its root in the promise of our glorified body. In verses one through five, God has put within the heart of man a hunger and a longing for our heavenly body. We are prepared for this and the Spirit of God is in us to witness this. Because of this news, we are of good courage (verse six). We need to be. There is a whole lot in life we will encounter which will cause us to be tempted to be discouraged and to lose focus on the heavenly prize. And so in order to avoid losing that focus, verse seven reminds us that this walk is a faith walk. 2 Corinthians 5:1–7 (NKJV) 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. We walk by faith, not by sight. Walking by faith, not by sight is focal point one. Believers in Jesus shouldn’t walk by the things they see. All of which means, stay in your Bibles because there’s a lot of things in the world which present themselves to the senses. Nevertheless, despite what we see, we refuse to be moved by them because we know a glorified body is waiting for us. However, we have a second point of focus. And here we meet up with this first conjunction in verse nine. 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NKJV) 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. These conjunctions are conclusions you should come too because of the promise in the first eight verses. Second Corinthians five is a spiritual trail. It’s a thought progression. And the thought progression is this: ‘because we have this promise of a glorified body, there are certain ways we as believers choose to conduct themselves. We make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. The Greek word ‘aim’ means to aspire to a cherished desire or a lofty goal. Our lofty goal is to live to please Him. How do we please Him? One way is of course ‘walking by faith’. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. But the next verse in Second Corinthians five gives us a second reason why we want to live to please the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) 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 want to please Him because we are ALL going to stand in front of Him and give an account for our life. Above all else, we want that meeting to go well. Therefore… now we get to it in verse 11. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV) 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. In next week’s post, we will continue on with what it means to walk out the ministry of reconciliation. Call to Action: Our future is bright. Our future in Him is great. Get all in in your devotion to Jesus and to fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Question: What are thoughts and expectations of the glorified body Jesus has waiting for you? Please leave your comments in the comments section below. A story of estrangement The book of Genesis tells us that humans were created in the image of God, walking in perfect harmony with Him and each other. Because we distrusted God’s authority and goodness, we severed that relationship. This resulted in hostility with God and creation. But it also created enmity among all humankind. This is what prompted Paul to declare, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It’s not just that humans were guilty of sin, but they fell short of the very thing for which they were created: revealing God’s glory. The Old Testament tells the story of God fashioning a nation called Israel. This nation would serve as missionaries to the world, demonstrating God’s goodness and character to the surrounding nations. But the relationship between God and Israel was often a tug of war. God’s law helped provide the necessary guardrails to keep His relationship with the Jews functional, but they still demonstrated a tendency to go their own way and do their own thing. This created a constant cycle of disobedience, judgment, and repentance throughout the Old Testament. God’s relationship with His people was maintained by His patient commitment to Israel and not by the depth of their faithfulness. Forgiveness in the Old Testament The estrangement between God and humankind was a problem that needed to be solved. As early as Cain and Abel, offerings were being made to bridge this gap (Genesis 4:3-5). And Job offered burnt offerings on behalf of his children in case they needed to be forgiven for some unknown infraction: When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning, he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom (Job 1:5). Within the law of Moses, some provisions provided forgiveness for sin. They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven (Leviticus 4:31). While those sacrifices dealt with the offense of sin, they were never entirely able to take them away. The writer of Hebrews wrote about the limitations of the law when it came to sin: The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). Here, the writer of Hebrews points out that sacrifices under the law were never able to adequately deal with our sins and alienation from God. This is demonstrated by the fact that Israel was caught on a treadmill requiring them to offer the same sacrifices over and over again. The writer calls them “an annual reminder of sins,” meaning that not only were these sacrifices insufficient to deal with our problem-they were a constant indication that the problem was there. The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation When we look at the relationship between God and humanity in the Old Testament, we see a vast difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Through a system of sacrifices, Israelites received forgiveness, but their relationship with God was never fully restored. And while forgiveness is a necessary component of reconciliation, it’s only part of the solution. We see this in our own relationships. We may forgive what someone has done to us, but that doesn’t necessarily restore the relationship. In human relationships, reconciliation requires both parties to bring something to the table in order to fix the relationship. God was in the unique position of wanting to make peace with humankind when we were neither interested in nor capable of reconciliation. This is where Jesus comes in. God’s plan to reconcile the world Paul does an amazing job of revealing how Jesus fulfilled God’s plan: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:15-20). Jesus wasn’t just another person trying to reconcile other human beings to God. As Paul explains it, Jesus is God Himself. He was there when the world was formed, and not only did He play a part in the creation of everything, but He’s also responsible for holding everything together. Jesus was, in fact, God in the flesh, and the sacrifice He provided changed everything. Paul describes what Jesus accomplished that every other sacrifice was unable to achieve. It made peace, and this peace is a fundamental component of reconciliation. The apostle goes on to explain: Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Colossians 1:21-24). This helps to explain the problem the children of Israel ran into with the law. While the sacrificial system allowed them to maintain a working relationship with God, it never fixed the underlying hostility. This became evident in Israel’s cycle of disobedience. But Jesus’s one-time sacrifice was able to accomplish some essential work: It made us holy before God. The word “holy” literally means “set apart.” Like the holy temple furnishings, we’re made holy for the sole purpose of loving and serving God. It made us without blemish. When God looks at us in Christ, He sees us through the lens of Jesus’s ample sacrifice. It made us free from accusation. As we apply Jesus’s sacrifice to our lives, we’re set free from charges that could be leveled against us. Our enemy, the devil, hurls accusations at each of us to discredit us before God. Jesus’s redemptive sacrifice puts us out of the reach of those allegations. In fact, Revelation promises us that “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night” will be hurled down (Revelation 12:10). Becoming ministers of reconciliation Jesus’s sacrifice was the beginning of God’s great work to make peace with His creation. Those who decide to follow Jesus become part of this process. This is what Paul tells the Corinthian church: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). When we come to Jesus, we’re transformed and equipped to become ministers of reconciliation. What that means is that we don’t just receive the gift of peace with God, but we also inherit the responsibility to share that gift with others. As Paul says, God is at work reconciling the world to Himself in Christ. And the church is His ambassadors, inviting the world to come and be reconciled with the King. This is why the church has been commissioned to fulfill the Great Commission. It is through us that God makes His appeal to the world to come and live in harmony with God. Demonstrating reconciliation in the body of Christ This call to reconciliation extends beyond humanity’s relationship with God and impacts our relationship with one another. Obviously, life is just better when we’re able to live at peace with one another, but living in agreement and fellowship serves another purpose, too. It reinforces the validity of our reconciliation with God. This is why Jesus tells the disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Paul communicates this beautifully in his letter to the Ephesians. Here he talks about the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles, but the implication extends beyond these specific groups: For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:14-22). In our separation from God, humanity devolved into a million warring factions. Instead of trying to resolve all the things that divide us, God makes one new harmonious structure out of all of these disparate pieces-making peace. Reconciliation lies at the heart of the gospel The word “gospel” means “good news.” And it’s good news that while we were enemies of God, He was hard at work devising a plan to repair our broken relationship. We must demonstrate our gratefulness by inviting others to discover what it means to be reconciled with God. On top of that, we must be living in harmony with one another. When the world sees God’s people living at peace, it awakens the deep hunger we all have to love and to be loved. As the church models what reconciliation looks like in practical ways, it adds to the gospel message’s validity.

Becoming out of mind for God (v.13)

For the world, Christians are out of their mind. Here are just some of the things that the world doesn’t understand.

• Why would someone bless an enemy?
• Why would you give money when you yourself need it?
• Why would someone cry in prayer?
• Why would someone raise their hands to praise God?
• Why would someone give back 10 percent of his income back to God? Was it sort of tax?
• Why would someone suffer to serve others?
• Why would someone give up his possession in following Christ?
• Why would someone give up his career for religion?
• Why would someone say NO to drinking alcohol and other pleasures?

These are only some of the things that the world does not understand. For the world, Christians are indeed out of their minds. As Paul said, “If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God.” The reason is very simple; it is because we are doing it for the Lord.

“If we are in our right mind, it is for you.” We do things for the Lord, and we do things to share it to others, that they too will also take hold of the gospel that we have received, and that they too will receive salvation.

Driven by love of Christ (v.14-15)

We work in the ministry because of our love for Christ. Sometimes though, we feel tired of serving others. Sometimes, we feel like giving up everything. Sometimes, we feel like going back to where we came from. But the message of God is very clear; we are to do the ministry out of our love to our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Paul said, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” The “compels us” here is “constrained us” (συνεχω)  in some of the versions. The word means, to hold together, to press together, to shut up then to press on, to urge, to impel, or excite (Barnes). Paul was actually driven by the excitement and compassionate labor for God’s people because of Christ’s love, so as how God demonstrated such love to the world of giving his only begotten Son.

3. To serve as a saving or soul-winning channel of God from the penalty or punishment of sin

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23

Living As Ambassadors (v.20)

Now that we are convinced that each one of us has to live in Christ, then we can now start living as Ambassadors of Christ.

“Ambassador” means a representative of. He is the one who brings the message of the one sending him, he is the one who implements and protects the dignity of the one he is representing. This is very similar in the case of our international ambassadors. They are diplomats who represent the country in our nation in the implementation of various negotiations between the country that he is representing and the country where he is.

Grasping the new view of godly wisdom (v.16-17)

There are two kinds of wisdom, wisdom that is coming from the world and the wisdom that is coming from God. There are times that we Christians are mistakenly identifying wisdom from the world to be godly wisdom. We have to remember that there is good wisdom of the world, yet wisdom that is coming from God is totally different and does not work so well with the wisdom of the world.

One test that we can do in identifying godly wisdom is by asking, who is being benefited? Was it God or was it man? Who is glorified with particular actions? Was it God or was it ourselves? Now talking about godly wisdom is a huge topic. We will only try to concentrate concerning “reconciliation” for the purpose of staying on our topic.

What does godly wisdom has to do with being ambassador of Christ? Usually an ambassador to other countries possesses the knowledge of the country he is representing. He knows well the economic policy, the security policy, the laws, how the nation is being run, the chain of command etc. Similarly, an ambassador of Christ has to know first and foremost Christ. He also has to know how God works and definitely understand the standards of living a righteous life.

James 3:17-18 tells us a strong definition of godly wisdom; “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace loving, considerate, submission, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

Earlier, we talked about living in Christ. And Paul made it clear in verse 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” Before we are futile minded, now, we are lovers of God. Before we live and work for ourselves, now, we work in the name of the Lord. This is why as Paul said, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view…”

Not Imputing Their Trespasses to Them- What Does This Mean? 

Before Jesus came to earth as a man, there was wrath from God against mankind for his sins. It wasn’t the full extent of wrath, though. Even in the Old Testament, we see God’s mercy and grace toward people all the time. 

But the Old Testament Law was a ministry of wrath (Rom. 4:15, 2 Cor. 3:7 and 9). People’s sins were held against them. They could not be fully cleansed from sin until the final sacrifice had come. 

When Jesus came, He showed us the truth about God. He showed us that it is not God’s heart to hold sin against us. This is exactly what 2 Corinthians 5:19-  21 says:

that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.The sin that had brought hostility, shame and division between man and God has been dealt with in the work of Jesus. God is not imputing sin to you. David prophesied about this in the Old Testament. 

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:2

It’s nearly too good to be true news. In fact, that’s what the word gospel means. It’s nearly too good to be true! 

Jesus has taken your sin and given you His righteousness as a gift. You have been reconciled to God. You have complete right standing with God, both now and for eternity. Receive what He has done!  

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Death is our sin’s wages. Sin does not only ruin the fellowship and creates enmity between God and man but also brings God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3), judgment (Romans 2:5-6), and it will give birth to death (James 1:15). Sin caused spiritual and eternal death (Revelation 20:14). How can a sinner escape from the death penalty brought by his sins?

Paul tells us that a sinner can escape from the death penalty through the gift of eternal life from God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Salvation is a pure grace coming from God. It is only possible when a man is reconciled to God through the death of Christ on the cross ( Romans 5:10-11). A man must break ties with sin to escape death and respond to God’s reconciliation plan. Christ’s reconciling works on the cross provide righteousness as a basis for reconciliation and it is carried out by the ministers of reconciliation ( 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).