Reconciliation Series

RECONCILIATION

II CORINTHIANS 5:14-21

INTRODUCTION: What’s all this talk about reconciliation? Note the following.

I. The Meaning

“Regeneration” comes from the maternity ward (born again). “Redemption” comes from the slave market. “Reconciliation” comes from the judicial system. All three are used synomously in the N.T. Reconciliation means a changing of places, coming over from one to the other side. It means to cause to conform to a standard.

II. The Message

Why do we need to be reconciled? Because of sin (Rom. 3:23). The world is out of balance. It doesn’t conform to God’s standard. See Rom. 5:6-10; “Without strength” – weakness, unable to conform to His standard.

III. The Measure

To what are we to measure up? What’s the standard? God Himself. The standard is absolute and inflexible. It is not God who is reconciled but man. God is not out of harmony.

IV. The Manner

How does it happen? How does it work?

A. The world is reconciled (II Cor. 5:19): This does not mean God has saved all or all will be saved. Jesus laid the foundation, built the bridge whereby God could reach out and whereby we could cross over to His side and standard. Jesus’ death is the basis for reconciliation.

B. The individual is reconciled (5:20): Man, individually, must cross the bridge and come to God.

C. It is through Christ (5:18): See Rom. 5:10-11; Eph. 2:16. It is through His finished work at the cross.

D. It is by the blood: Rom. 5:11.

E. Jesus took our place (II Cor. 5:20-21: He became sin for us. He took our sins and bore them on the cross. He was the acceptable substitute.

V. The Messengers

II Cor. 5:18-20. We have a story to tell. “Ambassadors” = a personal representative. He has given to us a message, ministry and mandate. He didn’t give it to the angels but to us. Tell them the “what” and “how”.

CONCLUSION: Are you reconciled? If not come to Jesus by faith in His work at the cross. If so, what kind of ambassador are you?