Part Vii A Reconciling Ministry

A RECONCILING MINISTRY 2ND CORINTHIANS 5: 17-21 TO RECONCILE MEANS TO RE-ESTABLISH A FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP. THIS IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ANY AND EVERY TRUE MINISTRY, OF ANY AND EVERY TRUE MINISTER AND PASTOR. WE ARE TO RE-ESTABLISH MANS BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. VERSE 17 IT TELLS US THAT if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. BUT THIS ONLY COMES ABOUT BECAUSE ALL THESE NEW THINGS IN VERSE 17 are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. VERSE 18. VERSE 19 TELLS US THAT RECONCILLIATION IS THE MEANS TO RESTORATION, NOT COUNTING UP AND HOLDING MEN AND WOMENS SINS AGAINST THEM. FOR THE SIN THAT SEEMS MOST HEINOUS TO US IS IN US ALL. SIN SEPARATED US FROM GOD, SIN CRUCIFIED JESUS, SIN BOMBED THE TOWERS, SIN MOLESTED THE LITTLE CHILD, SIN MURDERS EVERY DAY, AND IT IS IN EACH OF US. SIN FRACTURED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THIS GOSPEL IF RECEIVED WILL RECONCILE US, IT WILL RESTORE US TO GOD. SO WE WHO WERE LOST ARE RECONCILLED BY THE SAME MEANS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN AWAY ARE RESTORED; BY LOVE. JESUS REBUKES THE CHURCH IN REVELATION 2:4-5 BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE. BUT THE FORMULA FOR RESTORATION IS THE SAME, RECONCILLIATION THROUGH REPENTANCE. THIS IS YOUR FIRST WORKS. VERSE 20 TELLS US THAT CHRIST CHOSE SOME TO BE AMBASSADORS (An authorized messenger or official representative). 20 So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. WE ARE TO BEG AND PLEAD YOU FOR ONE THING AND THAT IS TO BE SAVED, RECONCILLED TO RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. 2 Cor 5:21 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. NLT