FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST
A MESSAGE SERIES FROM COLOSSIANS
The Work of Reconciliation – Chancing One’s Arm, Col 1:19-29
INTRODUCTION:
A. The oldest Christian site in Ireland is said to be St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. (Slide Of St Patrick’s)
1. It is a beautiful edifice as you can see behind me, but it also has a interesting piece of history involving the door you see to the right – it is known as the “Door of Reconciliation.”
2. Notice, if you would the rectangular hole hacked out of its center.
a. In 1492, two prominent Irish families, the Ormonds and Kildares, were in the midst of a bitter feud.
b. As the feud grew and turned into an all out fight, the Earl of Ormand was besieged by the Earl of Kildare.
c. The Earl of Ormand and his family and followers took refuge in the chapter house of St. Patrick’s cathedral and bolted themselves in.
3. However, as the siege wore on, the Earl of Kildare concluded the feuding was foolish.
a. Here were two families worshiping the same God, in the same church, living in the same country, trying to kill each other.
b. So Kildare called out to the Earl of Ormand and pledged that he would not seek revenge or indulge in villainy — he wanted the Ormands to come out and the feud to be over.
c. But the Earl of Ormand was convinced that it was a scheme full of treachery and refused to come out of the cathedral.
d. So Kildare grabbed his spear, chopped a hole in the door with it, and thrust his hand through.
4. There was a tense moment until his hand was grasped by another hand inside the church. The door was opened and the two men embraced, thus ending the family feud.
B. What a wonderful picture of reconciliation
1. Reconciliation is beautiful in any form
2. Whether it be the reconciliation of two opposing families, two lovers or life long enemies – reconciliation is grand
3. Of even greater significance, however, is the reconciliation of God and man
4. And that is what our message is about this morning.
C. Our scripture passage for this morning can be divided into roughly two equal parts
1. First verses 19-23: The Work of Reconciliation By Christ
2. Second, verses 24-29: The Work of Reconciliation Through Us.
3. Lets go to the Lord and ask Him to give us a wonderful picture of reconciliation and help us to be about our parts in bringing this ministry of reconciliation to the world.
PRAY
The first thing we must consider is
I. THE WORK OF RECONCILIATION BY CHRIST, Col. 1:19-23 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled: In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
A. We begin with the Provision For Reconciliation
1. Dictionary.com gives one definition of “reconciliation” as the act of bringing into agreement or harmony;
2. Jesus Christ is the God’s provision for our reconciliation – He brings us back in to agreement, back into harmony with God!
3. Primarily, His shed blood - …having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
4. So What does this have to do with us? – well that brings us to
B. The Need Of Reconciliation - And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1. This is further defined by Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
a. In our natural state, without Christ, we are at war with God
b. Our sinfulness and carnal mind is set on violating His law and usurping His authority
c. For this rebellion we have received a death penalty (Rom 6:23), unless reconciliation takes place and that is what salvation is about!
2. Jesus Christ came to bring reconciliation.
3. Remember the introductory illustration: just as the Kildare’s had to carve a hole for reconciliation in the wooden door thus the term “door of reconciliation, so Christ broke through time and space to provide for us a door of reconciliation – He died on the wooden cross and spilt His blood that we might grasp the hand of God! (GOSPEL)
C. The Goal of Reconciliation - Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
1. Holiness – something we cannot find outside of Jesus Christ and we desparitly need, for Heb 12:14 states Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
2. Present us blameless and unreproveable before God!
3. Sin removed, guilt gone, purity instilled!
4. All this that we might live for Him in this present world with the
D. Evidence of Reconciliation, Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1. The evidence of our reconciliation with God is seen in
a. Living in a grounded and settled faith
b. Having a steadfast hope given to us by the gospel
2. These are the things that bring peace and joy into our lives
3. Reconciliation at all levels is necessary for a life that pleases and glorifies God – would you be reconciled to God today?
It is at this point that we come to the second part of this passage, which is very personal – its about Paul’s work in the world and ours as well. It is
II. THE WORK OF RECONCILIATION THROUGH US, Col. 1:24-29 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
A. Before we look at his portion of scripture lets first go to 2 Cor. 5:18-20 which states, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. 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.
1. Here Paul, writing the Corinthians, lets them know that we are all to be ambassadors for Christ.
a. As such, we have the message of reconciliation – the word from our sovereign King to the world.
b. The message is the gospel: how that Christ died for our sins (according to the scriptures) , was buried and rose again three days later (according to the scriptures).
2. Our main business while on this earth is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of reconciliation to a lost, dying and doomed world!
3. Are we up to this task?
So as we come back to our passage though Paul is speaking about Himself, it should also be our thinking.
B. Please notice some Aspects of this Ministry of Reconciliation found in four words:
1. SUFFERING – now there is a word we do not want to find ourselves in association with.
a. Paul certainly had more than his share: beatings, stonings, ship wrecks, travels, robbers, assassins, and much more – all because of his love and commitment to the message of Reconciliation!
b. But to the Romans he testifies, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
c. And to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2. REJOICING. It was this attitude toward suffering that allowed Him to Rejoice!
a. Even in the midst of it all – the ministry of reconciliation was so grand that any situation seem a good one to proclaim it!
b. He understood the context of his suffering, Jesus had said, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. John 15:18-21
c. Hence the words found in our text, …fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
3. MAKING KNOWN (one word in the Greek) – Paul endured his sufferings and found joy in the privilege of making known a mystery which had been hid for ages, mainly – Christ in you!
a. What a thought “Christ in us”
b. The God of creation come down to reside in us!
c. The Jew dreamt of God’s glory in the temple – we have the reality of God’s glory dwelling within us! Praise God!
d. What a glorious Ministry of Reconciliation we have!
4. And beyond that there is one more aspect to look at HOPE!
a. If this world needs anything right now it is hope.
b. We have the tools: the power of God and the gospel of the resurrected Christ, and the leading of the Holy Spirit
c. This ministry of reconciliation is the primary purpose of Christ establishing and empowering the church.
5. This is the reason for life!
CONCLUSION: As we close, I want you to know
A. The Scottish have a saying, maybe you have heard it, “Chancing one’s arm”
1. It came about from the incident at St. Patrick’s – it means to “take a chance” especially in reaching out to someone in reconciliation
2. Chancing one’s arm” - Are we ready to reach out to the lost in our community – to take a change of possibly suffering for Christ?
B. It all begins with our personal reconciliation with God by Christ and continues FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
