As Christians, we have a purpose and a duty. We have been given a charge during our life here on earth. We are to minister before God.
How many believers understand what our ministry consists of?
Apostle Paul told Corinth they were to be ministers of reconciliation. Since we have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, God has made us ministers of reconciliation to the world.
Jesus commanded his disciples, of which we are also disciples, 15 …Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
In this passage, we see the command to preach reconciliation and to reconcile believers by baptism into Christ.
Gal. 3:27 says, 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Putting on Christ reconciled one to God. It has brought man into favor with God having been alienated by sin. That is the definition of reconciliation–brought into favor with. When two or more are at odds with one another, to return to being in favor with each other, is to be reconciled one to another, again.
As ministers of reconciliation–teaching the way to be restored in the favor of God to sinners who repent–we fulfill the command of Jesus Christ to his disciples. Being ministers and teachers of the life and purpose of Jesus, we convert a sinner from destruction in a painful hell–we change their plight (direction).
Why do we have to be these ministers?
All have sinned and fallen from God. (Romans 3:23; 5:12) Because of the sin of Adam, all now sin. When one sins, their sin separates them from God. Therefore, reconciliation is necessary to rejoin man with God.
Notice the ways of man. Man has separated himself from God and wonders why he does not hear their cries. God can hear; he has turned from their iniquity and refuses to hear unless they repent. Isaiah 59:1-8. 59 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 5 They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. 6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Isaiah 59:2 said your iniquities have separated you from God. Thus God has hid his face.
Those who do not believe in God are ‘the children of wrath’; estranged from God. (Eph. 2:3)
Preachers (ministers) are to warn sinners of their plight and turn them from the wrath of God, if they can.
Romans 10:12-14. …the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Man must be taught about the Lord (hear the Word); they must believe in the Lord and recognize their sin; they must confess the Lord (call upon the Lord); they must repent (Stop doing sinful acts of unrighteousness); the believer should strongly desire to complete the salvation process by putting their faith into action–become baptized into Christ to wash away their sin. (Acts 22:16).
None of this is possible without a preacher. (How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Vs. 15)
Who is sent? Ministers of reconciliation; ambassadors of Christ; members of the body of Christ. No righteous saint is exempt from being a minister of reconciliation. Yes, that means women can be examples of reconciliation. No, that does not mean a woman can be a public preacher in the assembly. (1 Cor. 14:34-35; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Tim. 1:11-12) But, women can minister to children and women as written in Titus 2.
What happens to man when he is reconciled to God? What does reconciliation look like?
Man is brought back into favor (reconciled) with God and is presented as a new creature.
2 Cor. 5:17-21.17 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.
What happened?
Man must become ‘IN” Christ–been baptized
Man becomes a new creature–he put to death the old sinful man to rise a new man
Romans 6:3-4. 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Old is passed; all becomes new–man is reconciled by Jesus Christ and gets a second chance to live righteously before God.
God gives man the ministry of reconciliation–ability to testify what God and Christ has done for him–through Jesus Christ–vs. 18
Man, who lives for God, has their tresspasses nolonger held to their account
Man becomes a minister of reconciliation–ambassador for Christ (vs. 20)
Be and remain reconciled to God–vs. 20
Righteous man becomes the righteousness of God.
How important is it for us to try to attempt to reconcile as many as possible to God?
2 Cor. 6:1-2. NIV. 6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 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.
Believers become co-workers for God teaching now is the time to return to the favor of God. Now is the day of salvation. Noone knows when time will expire for themselves, or for all humanity.
As we get closer to the Day of Judgment, each precious moment is to be taken advantage of. Not for the pleasures and greed of life, but for obtaining reconciliation with God.
As ministers of reconciliation, are you warning all people of the impending doom? Are you being a satisfactory minister of reconciliation? Are you doing the Lord’s will while he is away?
I ask you to pay attention to this story.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
What happened to these two servants? (I suggest they were ministers of reconciliation). 1. They each did as the master asked. (they ministered for their Lord) 2. They gained more people being reconciled to the Lord.
AND, the Lord blessed them.
Let us continue with the story!
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt. 25:14-30)
What happened to the third servant? (one who should have been a minister of reconciliation) 1. He was found to be wicked and slothful. 2. His duty of reward was removed from him. 3. He was cast into outer darkness (eternal hell) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Which servant are you going to be? Or, which servant are you now?
Do you need forgiveness for your actions as a minister of reconciliation? Or, can the Lord praise you and give you more responsibility to minister before the Lord?
