Embracing Our Divine Calling of Reconciliation
Summary
In 2 Corinthians 5, we are reminded of the profound ministry of reconciliation that God has entrusted to us. This ministry is not just a task but a divine gift, a calling to be ambassadors for Christ in a world that often feels overwhelming and disheartening. We live in a world plagued by violence, disease, and ideologies that can make us question God's presence and our role in it. Yet, through Christ, God has reconciled us to Himself and given us the ministry of reconciliation, a message of hope and restoration.
The ministry of reconciliation is rooted in the understanding that there is a conflict between humanity and God, a conflict that began with the rebellion of Adam and Eve. This rebellion introduced a world of pain, violence, and separation from God. Despite our efforts to bridge this gap through our actions, the real barrier is the divine justice that stands as a flaming sword, preventing us from returning to God on our own. This is why Jesus Christ's sacrifice is central; He is the only one who can remove this barrier, reconciling us to God.
This ministry is from God, for the world, and through us. It is God who initiates reconciliation, not as a passive observer but as an active participant in our redemption. At the cross, God removed every barrier on His side, offering reconciliation to the world. Our role is to carry this message, to be the voice through which God appeals to others. We are called to serve with humility, recognizing our own reconciliation, and to speak with passion, knowing that God pleads through us.
Finally, embracing this ministry means seeking reconciliation with others, mirroring the reconciliation God offers us. The story of Royce Abraham, who forgave the driver responsible for his wife's death, exemplifies this. Royce's act of forgiveness and his sharing of the gospel reflect the heart of God, who holds out His hands to us in love and mercy.
Key Takeaways:
- The ministry of reconciliation is a divine calling, reminding us that despite the world's chaos, God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, entrusting us with this message of hope. [03:23]
- Reconciliation presupposes conflict, and the real barrier to God is not just our sins but the divine justice that only Christ can satisfy, highlighting the necessity of His sacrifice. [09:06]
- God's initiative in reconciliation shows His active love; He is not a passive observer but actively removes barriers through Christ, offering peace to a world under sin's curse. [19:12]
- As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to serve with humility, recognizing our own reconciliation, and to speak with passion, knowing that God makes His appeal through us. [23:36]
- Embracing the ministry of reconciliation involves seeking peace with others, as demonstrated by Royce Abraham's forgiveness, reflecting God's heart and His call to be reconciled. [35:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Series
- [01:14] - The World's Challenges
- [02:24] - The Gift of Ministry
- [03:23] - Ministry of Reconciliation
- [05:20] - Contrast with Moses' Ministry
- [06:27] - Presupposition of Conflict
- [09:06] - The Barrier of Divine Justice
- [12:28] - The Role of Jesus Christ
- [14:36] - From God, For the World, Through Us
- [19:12] - God's Active Role
- [23:36] - God Speaks Through Us
- [25:59] - Serving with Humility
- [28:20] - Speaking from the Heart
- [35:18] - Reconciliation with Others
- [37:06] - Royce Abraham's Story
- [41:02] - Call to Be Reconciled
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ministry of Reconciliation
Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
- Genesis 3:24
- Romans 5:8
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 say about the role of believers in the ministry of reconciliation? How does this passage describe our relationship with God and our responsibility to others? [02:39]
2. In Genesis 3:24, what is the significance of the flaming sword and cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life? How does this relate to the barrier between humanity and God? [11:06]
3. According to Romans 5:8, how does God demonstrate His love for us? How does this verse connect to the theme of reconciliation discussed in the sermon? [16:30]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between the ministry of Moses and the ministry of reconciliation given to us? [05:20]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for God to make His appeal through us, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:20? How does this affect the way we view our role as ambassadors for Christ? [24:09]
2. The sermon mentions that reconciliation presupposes conflict. What are some conflicts in our lives that might need reconciliation, and how can we address them in light of the gospel? [06:27]
3. How does the story of Royce Abraham illustrate the practical application of the ministry of reconciliation? What can we learn from his response to the driver responsible for his wife's death? [37:55]
4. The sermon emphasizes God's active role in reconciliation. How does understanding God's initiative change our perspective on sharing the gospel with others? [19:12]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a personal conflict or broken relationship in your life. How can you take steps toward reconciliation, mirroring the reconciliation God offers us through Christ? [35:18]
2. As ambassadors for Christ, how can you actively share the message of reconciliation in your community or workplace this week? What specific actions can you take to embody this ministry? [23:36]
3. Consider the barriers that might prevent you from fully embracing your role in the ministry of reconciliation. What steps can you take to overcome these barriers and serve with humility? [25:59]
4. How can you cultivate a heart of forgiveness like Royce Abraham, especially in situations where you have been wronged? What practical steps can you take to extend grace and forgiveness to others? [37:55]
5. In what ways can you be more intentional about speaking from the heart when sharing the gospel? How can you ensure that your message reflects God's love and appeal to others? [28:33]
6. Identify one person in your life who is far from God. How can you reach out to them this week with the message of reconciliation, and what specific words or actions might you use to convey God's love? [22:16]
7. Reflect on the idea that God is actively working through you when you speak about Jesus. How does this truth encourage you to be more bold and passionate in your witness? [25:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Calling in Chaos
The ministry of reconciliation is a profound calling that God has entrusted to us, reminding us that despite the chaos and challenges of the world, God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ. This ministry is not merely a task but a divine gift, a message of hope and restoration that we are called to carry as ambassadors for Christ. In a world often plagued by violence, disease, and ideologies that make us question God's presence, we are reminded that God has already acted through Christ to bring us back to Him. Our role is to embrace this calling and share the message of reconciliation with humility and passion. [03:23]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's ministry of reconciliation in your community today?
Day 2: The Necessity of Christ's Sacrifice
Reconciliation presupposes a conflict between humanity and God, a conflict that began with the rebellion of Adam and Eve. This rebellion introduced a world of pain, violence, and separation from God. Despite our efforts to bridge this gap through our actions, the real barrier is the divine justice that stands as a flaming sword, preventing us from returning to God on our own. This is why Jesus Christ's sacrifice is central; He is the only one who can remove this barrier, reconciling us to God. His sacrifice highlights the necessity of divine intervention to satisfy divine justice and restore our relationship with God. [09:06]
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Reflection: How does understanding the necessity of Christ's sacrifice change the way you view your relationship with God today?
Day 3: God's Active Love in Reconciliation
God's initiative in reconciliation shows His active love for humanity. He is not a passive observer but actively removes barriers through Christ, offering peace to a world under sin's curse. At the cross, God removed every barrier on His side, offering reconciliation to the world. Our role is to carry this message, to be the voice through which God appeals to others. We are called to serve with humility, recognizing our own reconciliation, and to speak with passion, knowing that God pleads through us. [19:12]
Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate God's active love and peace to those around you today?
Day 4: Ambassadors of Humility and Passion
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to serve with humility, recognizing our own reconciliation, and to speak with passion, knowing that God makes His appeal through us. This calling requires us to be mindful of our own journey of reconciliation and to approach others with the same grace and love that God has extended to us. Our words and actions should reflect the heart of God, who desires all to be reconciled to Him. [23:36]
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: How can you embody the role of an ambassador for Christ in your interactions with others today?
Day 5: Seeking Peace and Forgiveness
Embracing the ministry of reconciliation involves seeking peace with others, mirroring the reconciliation God offers us. The story of Royce Abraham, who forgave the driver responsible for his wife's death, exemplifies this. Royce's act of forgiveness and his sharing of the gospel reflect the heart of God, who holds out His hands to us in love and mercy. We are called to extend this same forgiveness and seek reconciliation in our relationships, reflecting God's heart and His call to be reconciled. [35:18]
Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV): "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to seek reconciliation with today? How can you take a step towards peace and forgiveness in that relationship?
Quotes
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [00:02:39]
The ministry of reconciliation presupposes a conflict. Reconciliation only happens when there has been a fight, a dispute, or some kind of falling out. If someone were to ask me after the service, are you reconciled to your wife, I would say what in the world are you talking about, because I've never fallen out with her. [00:06:32]
On our side, obviously, there are many issues that our sins, our doubts, our fears, our resistance to God, our distrust, our unbelief, our self-interest, our lack of faith, lack of hope, lack of love—all of these things set us at a distance from God so that by nature we don't want to talk to him. [00:07:37]
The great condemnation that lies on our world as a result of sin—the flaming sword—it's much bigger, you see, than your doubts about God, your questions about God, you're trying to make up your mind whether you want to go this way or that way in your life. [00:12:58]
Jesus is the only way because only Jesus can deal with what blocks the way, which is not simply a question of internal thoughts and feelings and decisions in me. It's on God's side. It's the flaming sword. It's that if with the best will in the world I decide that I want to come to him. [00:13:36]
The ministry of reconciliation is from God, it's for the world, and it's through us. It's from God, it's for the world, and it is through us. Number one, it's from God. Look at verse 18. All this is from God, and then notice how this runs right throughout these three very short verses. [00:14:41]
God was reconciling the world to himself. Now here is a wonderful statement about what God was doing at the cross. Here is this world, and it is alienated from God under the curse, and if it were not for God's great mercy holding back the power of sin, this world would be hell on earth. [00:19:59]
The message of reconciliation is not, hey, God hates you, but if you're really sorry and change and believe in him, then he will perhaps reconcile to you. That's not how it is. No, the message of reconciliation is much better than that. It is that God has put away every barrier on his side. [00:21:40]
How does God speak to people in the world today? How does God go about bringing people, gathering people into the joy of this wonderful reconciliation? How does he do it? The answer that's given quite clearly here in verse 20 is he does it through us. [00:23:36]
When you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you. How is Jesus going to speak into this world? When you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you. Try and take this in. It's one of the most staggering phrases in the New Testament: God making his appeal through us. [00:24:57]
It's really important for us to serve in the world with humility because we ourselves are sinners who are reconciled to God. Always remember that's who we are. That's the us. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself. [00:26:18]
God has given us, friends, the ministry of reconciliation, and try and take that in. It's for the world, and he's trusted it to us. So it is really hard to take up and to pursue this ministry of reconciliation with God, which is the one that's been trusted to us. [00:35:13]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Dec 09, 2014. Do you have any questions about it?