The Power Of Reconciliation Series

The power of reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Introduction-

We continue in our series “connecting to God and others.”

We have taken a look at God as seen through the Ten Commandments.

The first 4 our relationship with God and the other 6 dealing with each other.

Last week looking at the Church and our relationship with each other as the body of Christ.

This morning were looking at reconciliation. Our reconciliation with God and with each other.

Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 (read later)

Paul is talking to believers here.

He is stating the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

He is telling them that they have to live in the realm of faith and dependence on God.

That as long as we are in this fleshly body, we will have challenges.

Then he swings into the text today.

Paul is telling us that we have to reconcile our differences with God and our problems that we have with each other.

2 Corinthians 5:11-15 (read from Bible)

(14) Christ love compels us… How? To live a life for God!

If out of my mind, crazy! it is for Christ, because we are crazy for Jesus! Sold out for Jesus!

If we are in our right mind, it is for you, so that you can tell others what Christ has done for you.

If you believe what Christ has done, you will be compelled to live that way also.

You will also live that way with each other.

Genesis to Revelation, the Bible Is God trying to reconcile with mankind.

What is the goal of the Christian life?

What is it that we are to become? What does that look like?

It is simply that we should be conformed to the image of Christ.

To become Christ-like.

To become Christian.

Last week we said that you are not born Christian.

You are not adopted to be Christian. To be Christian is to be a Christ-follower that has made a determined decision to follow the ways of the Lord.

Reconcile by definition means “to restore to friendship or harmony, to resolve your differences, to submit to a cause of harmony.

Reconciliation is the action of being reconciled.

There has to be a determined action to bring harmony back to a relationship.

Example:

The Catholic Church believes that reconciliation between God and man happens in a confession box, where the priest is on one side of the box, and the sinner on the other. The sinner shares his sins and the priest forgives the sin and restores relationship between God and man.

The Christian believes that reconciliation happens between God and man in a different way. That Jesus Christ is the bridge between God the Father and man.

1 Timothy 2:5- “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all man.”

That when we understand the love that Christ has for us, and we understand the debt that He paid for us, (14) “Christ love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all and that those should no longer live for themselves, but for him.”

If we really believe and are thankful for what Christ did for us, if we truly believe that Christ bridged the gap to reconcile us to God. That this same Jesus expects us to reconcile with others because of what Christ has done for us.

Picture the Lord on one side of a deep trench, extending his hand out to us, and the only way to get across is to take hold of His hand. The only way of reconciliation with each other is to live out that kind of Christ love.

“Forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Not easy to do, in fact, nearly impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

Illustration-

Vince Lombardi was in practice with his lineman, and he turned to one of them and said, you are a lousy football player, you cannot block, and you are not giving me 100 percent. If fact, you are done for the day. Hit the showers. 45 minutes later, Vince returns to the locker room to find this player un-showered and weeping by his locker. Vince Lombardi walked up to him and said, “What I said to you was the truth, you are not a good football player, you are unable to block properly and you have not given me 100 percent., but I am telling you today, I will work with you to become the player that I know is inside of you. That day Jerry Kramer changed his life and practice as football player. He became a hall of fame player for the Green Bay Packers and is now considered one of the best guards to ever play the game.