The Gospel Brings Reconciliation!
2 Cor 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 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.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Here are some wonderful truths about God’s Reconciliation. The Good News is that Reconciliation is Unlimited. When we sin, we can come to Him and He will instantly receive us, reconcile us, and restore us to Himself.
1. Reconciliation is offered to all who will believe God.
Romans 4:21-24 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
2. Reconciliation means that God restores us to what He created us to be.
Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
A. God has called us to be His Children.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1. John declares the unique love of God toward us, in making us His children
1 John 3:1-2 what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3. Restoration comes in a day, not over a long period of time.
Read Isaiah 12 2
A. God does a quick work in our lives if we let Him.
4. Reconciliation is offered to all and every kind sin.
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Integration forced some people to change their behavior. Reconciliation invites the changing of hearts. -- Spencer Perkins
5. Reconciliation is based on the "Great Exchange".
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
A. We bring a sinful life of shame and guilt.
He brings a righteous life of purity and strength.
B. We bring depression, anger, resentment, murder and strife.
He brings joy, peace, love, faith and goodness.
C. We bring broken relationships, promises, and deep wounds.
He brings faithfulness, promises tried in the fire seven times,
with the healing balm of Gilead, the anointing that heals every disease.
D. He offers an exchange. Praise the Lord! That is Good News!
All we have to do is believe and receive. We give Him our righteousness, which is like filthy rags, and He gives us His Righteousness, which shines forever like the noonday sun.
6. Reconciliation is without limits.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
A. God’s grace abounds much more.
1. Literally in the Greek it means that God’s grace has super-abounded towards us. In other words, God’s supply of grace is so great that when we have used all that we need, there plenty left over. He is the God who is more than enough.
B. We cannot get to the limit where God says, "That is enough, no more forgiveness."
2. The only thing we have to do is believe and receive. We just need to lay down our guilt and shame and come to Him.
C. He will in no wise cast us off.
1. He is not like people. His grace is to all and for all.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
D. He taught us to forgive in the Lord’s Prayer and to restore.
God does not receive the sacrifice of a person who is in disagreement, but commands him to go back from the altar and first be reconciled to his brother, so that God also may be appeased by the prayers of the peace-maker. Our peace and brotherly agreement is a greater sacrifice to God--and a people united in one in the unity of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
When someone is willing to repent and come for forgiveness, like God He wants us to forgive and to put away the sins of others that have offended and hurt us. To not do so is sin. The Good News is that Reconciliation is unlimited. When we sin, we can come to Him and He will instantly receive us, reconcile us, and restore us to Himself.
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