Embracing Reconciliation: The Gift of God's Presence
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of reconciliation with God through Christ. Paul emphasizes the concept of reconciliation, repeating it five times to underscore its significance. This reconciliation means that we have been brought near to God, restored to a relationship with Him that was broken by sin. Through Christ, who became sin for us, we have been made righteous and can now stand before God, blameless and spotless. This is the essence of the gospel: the good news that we can be with God, just as Adam was in the beginning.
We delved into the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice, which broke down the dividing wall of hostility between us and God. By His blood, we have been brought near, and through His resurrection, we have been given His righteousness. This access to God is the greatest gift we could ever receive, surpassing any earthly treasure. It is a call to live in the fullness of this gift, to press on to know the Lord, and to not be distracted by the temporary things of this world.
We are reminded of the story of Martha and Mary, where Mary chose the good portion by sitting at Jesus' feet. This illustrates the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. We are encouraged to seek God diligently, believing that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This pursuit is not for material rewards but for the ultimate reward of knowing God Himself.
In conclusion, we are called to dig deep, to seek God with all our hearts, and to believe in His promises. He is near to us, and His love is steadfast and unfailing. Let us embrace this reconciliation and live in the joy and peace that comes from being in His presence.
Key Takeaways:
1. Reconciliation with God: Through Christ, we have been reconciled to God, restoring the relationship that sin had broken. This reconciliation is the heart of the gospel, allowing us to stand blameless before God. It is a profound reminder of God's love and grace towards us. [11:17]
2. Christ's Sacrifice: Jesus became sin for us, taking our punishment and giving us His righteousness. This exchange allows us to be viewed as righteous before God, granting us access to His presence. It is a powerful testament to the depth of Christ's love and sacrifice. [13:34]
3. Access to God: The dividing wall of hostility has been broken down, giving us access to the true and living God. This access is the greatest gift we can receive, inviting us to live in the fullness of joy found in His presence. [19:02]
4. Pursuing God: We are called to diligently seek God, believing in His existence and His promise to reward those who seek Him. This pursuit is about knowing God more deeply and experiencing the joy of His presence. [23:54]
5. God's Steadfast Love: God's love is constant and unfailing, unlike human love. His mercies never end, and He is near to us through the blood of Jesus. We are encouraged to believe in His love and draw near to Him. [27:16]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[10:40] - Ministry of Reconciliation
[11:17] - Brought Near to God
[12:23] - Christ's Sacrifice
[13:55] - Righteousness Through Christ
[14:30] - Mount Zion and God's Presence
[15:06] - Christ's Blood Speaks Better
[16:45] - Ephesians 2: Reconciliation
[18:02] - Breaking Down the Wall
[19:31] - Access to God
[20:12] - Unlimited Access
[21:35] - Choosing the Good Portion
[22:32] - Faith and Seeking God
[23:37] - Pleading God's Promises
[24:48] - The Greatest Treasure
[26:40] - God's Nearness and Love
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - This passage emphasizes the ministry of reconciliation and how through Christ, we are reconciled to God.
2. Ephesians 2:13-18 - This passage discusses how Christ has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, granting us access to God.
3. Hebrews 11:6 - This verse highlights the importance of faith in seeking God and believing in His rewards.
#### Observation Questions
1. How does Paul describe the concept of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, and why is it significant that he repeats it five times? [11:00]
2. According to Ephesians 2:13-18, what has Christ accomplished for us, and how does it affect our relationship with God? [18:02]
3. In Hebrews 11:6, what are the two conditions mentioned for drawing near to God, and why are they important? [23:16]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be reconciled to God, and how does this reconciliation change our identity and relationship with Him? [11:34]
2. How does the story of Martha and Mary illustrate the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God? What can we learn from Mary's choice? [21:57]
3. In what ways does Christ's sacrifice demonstrate the depth of His love for us, and how should this impact our daily lives? [13:34]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel distant from God? What steps can you take to embrace the reconciliation offered through Christ? [11:34]
2. How can you prioritize your relationship with God in the midst of daily distractions, similar to how Mary chose the good portion? [21:57]
3. Consider the concept of access to God as the greatest gift. How can you make use of this access in your spiritual practices this week? [19:31]
4. What are some practical ways you can diligently seek God, believing in His existence and His promise to reward those who seek Him? [23:54]
5. How can you remind yourself of God's steadfast love and mercy in moments of doubt or struggle? What specific actions can you take to draw near to Him? [27:16]
6. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take to minimize this distraction this week? [21:18]
7. Think of a person in your life who may not know about the reconciliation offered through Christ. How can you share this message with them in a meaningful way? [11:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Reconciliation Restores Our Relationship with God
Through Christ, we have been reconciled to God, restoring the relationship that sin had broken. This reconciliation is the heart of the gospel, allowing us to stand blameless before God. It is a profound reminder of God's love and grace towards us. The concept of reconciliation is emphasized repeatedly by Paul, highlighting its significance in our spiritual journey. This restored relationship is not just a return to a previous state but an invitation to a deeper, more intimate connection with God. As we embrace this reconciliation, we are called to live in the joy and peace that comes from being in His presence. [11:17]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel distant from God? How can you actively embrace the reconciliation offered through Christ today?
Day 2: Christ's Sacrifice Grants Us Righteousness
Jesus became sin for us, taking our punishment and giving us His righteousness. This exchange allows us to be viewed as righteous before God, granting us access to His presence. It is a powerful testament to the depth of Christ's love and sacrifice. By His blood, we have been brought near, and through His resurrection, we have been given His righteousness. This access to God is the greatest gift we could ever receive, surpassing any earthly treasure. It is a call to live in the fullness of this gift, to press on to know the Lord, and to not be distracted by the temporary things of this world. [13:34]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: What does it mean for you personally to be seen as righteous before God? How can you live out this truth in your daily life?
Day 3: Access to God is Our Greatest Gift
The dividing wall of hostility has been broken down, giving us access to the true and living God. This access is the greatest gift we can receive, inviting us to live in the fullness of joy found in His presence. The transformative power of Christ's sacrifice broke down the barriers that separated us from God, allowing us to draw near to Him. This nearness is not just a theological concept but a lived reality that invites us to experience the fullness of life in His presence. As we embrace this access, we are encouraged to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. [19:02]
Ephesians 2:13-14 (ESV): "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."
Reflection: How can you prioritize your relationship with God today, amidst the distractions of daily life?
Day 4: Diligently Seek God for True Fulfillment
We are called to diligently seek God, believing in His existence and His promise to reward those who seek Him. This pursuit is about knowing God more deeply and experiencing the joy of His presence. The story of Martha and Mary illustrates the importance of choosing the good portion by sitting at Jesus' feet. This choice reflects a heart that prioritizes God above all else, seeking Him not for material rewards but for the ultimate reward of knowing Him. As we seek God with all our hearts, we are invited to experience the fullness of His love and grace. [23:54]
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to seek God more diligently and experience the joy of His presence?
Day 5: Embrace God's Steadfast and Unfailing Love
God's love is constant and unfailing, unlike human love. His mercies never end, and He is near to us through the blood of Jesus. We are encouraged to believe in His love and draw near to Him. This steadfast love is a source of comfort and strength, reminding us that we are never alone. As we embrace this love, we are called to live in the assurance of His promises and the peace that comes from being in His presence. Let us dig deep, seek God with all our hearts, and believe in His unfailing love. [27:16]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: How can you remind yourself of God's steadfast love today, especially in moments of doubt or fear?
Quotes
Five times Paul repeats this word in a few passages five times he repeats the word reconciliation and that word reconciliation means that we have been brought near to God we have been brought back to God this is Paul's message we've been brought back to God this is his message this is his ministry we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God this is his good news this is the gospel message that he's proclaiming we can now be with God remember how Adam in the beginning was with God in his presence with the fullness of joy Pleasures forever more from his right hand U Adam was just right there with God and he disobeyed and rebelled against God and then sin into the world and they were separated God and man was separated but Paul's message was look at we didn't stay separated in Christ we have been brought near to God we have been brought back to God. [00:11:00]
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin that in him we might become the righteousness of God God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God God became a man Jesus Christ and he lived the perfect life without spot he fulfilled the law in its entirety and he went to the cross and when Jesus hung on that cross our sin and our punishment for our sin was taken off of us and was poured out on Jesus the Spotless lamb it was poured out on him and he died but 3 days later he rose from the dead and gave us and transferred to us his righteousness our sin on him his righteousness on us so that now we are viewed as and treated as righteous before God Only The Righteous come before God only the Spotless only the blameless and Christ has made us righteous before him so that we can now know him and we can come into His presence we can be with him and it's all because of the blood of Christ. [00:12:45]
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ 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 the place of two so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross thereby killing the hostility do we see what we've been given here there was this great wall that separated us from God God who is Holy who dwells in unapproachable life who has pure eyes that can even look upon evil and here we are sinners against him this Great Wall was put up between us and God and Christ came Victorious and broke down that wall so that we now have access to the true and living God who is awesome we have access to him in his presence is the fullness of joy we have access to him we have been given the greatest gift we have been given the ultimate good God himself. [00:17:34]
Let us know let us press on to know the Lord let us press on to know him and to be with him and to be in his presence we can't let this world distract us we can't be distracted by these things of this world I think of Martha and Mary we know the story where Martha's so busy and serving and and she starts complaining Jesus says Martha Martha you're troubled and anxious about many things but one thing is necessary and Mary has chosen the good portion Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus she has chosen the good portion that will not be taken away from her one thing is necessary he says and she's chosen it sitting at my feet you can be so distracted with this life things that don't matter as much good things but they just don't matter like being with him this is where it all comes from. [00:21:01]
Hebrews 11:6 says if anyone I mean uh without faith it's impossible to please him for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him and I knew the beginning of that verse but that last part it's always the last part he must number one if anyone draw near to God he must number one believe that God exists and number two must believe that he will will reward those who seek Him and man I would just go out and I just spend time with the Lord I try and come out once a week and just be in his presence and I'd be pleading This Promise Lord you said you said if I Seek You you said I must believe that you will reward me you will reward me as I diligently seek you I would just plead that promise and not being rewarded with things like health or wealth or Prosperity but being rewarded with the greatest GI him you said Lord that you will reward me with yourself and almost every single time believing that promise I was able to meet with God and I was rewarded in that time we must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him. [00:22:47]
He is near church he is near to us through the blood of Jesus he is near he loves loves us Isaiah was saying like he loves us we don't understand that his love isn't like ours it's not fickle like ours his Mercy isn't fickle like ours he's just constant he's steadfast in his love his compassions fail not his mercies never end God loves us you have to believe that so near to us and there's a verse that's just coming to my mind it's a verse that man I wake up almost every morning and I just like repeat this verse to me because I need to be reminded. [00:26:49]
How much greater a treasure do we have in God how much more should we keep on digging after him keep on seeking his face until we find him he he's promised us you seek me you'll find me if you search for me with all your heart if you diligently seek after me I will reward you in his Pres presence is the fullness of joy do we want that so many promises he's given to us but maybe we're not believing he exists or believing that he will reward those who seek Him. [00:26:59]
We have been given the greatest gift we have been given the ultimate good God himself so how then shall we live if we have been given this great gift how then shall we live if we have complete access to God how shall we live I was raised in SoCal and right there by Disneyland right the the happiest place on Earth and everyone would get these year passes everyone I knew had a year pass you know they had unlimited access to the happiest place on Earth but they wouldn't use them they would never go they'd have it right there in their wallet in their back pocket but they would never go you can't be that way Christ has given us access to God we can't neglect that. [00:19:25]
Christ's blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel and when you remember that story with Cain and Abel Cain jealous of his brother kills his brother Abel and God comes to Kan it's like Hey where's your brother K said what am I My Brother's Keeper and God says this your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground Abel's blood was crying out to God it was crying out to God guilty it was crying out to God guilty Cain is guilty but Christ's blood speaks a better word for us Christ blood cries out to God righteous righteous Abel's blood Cried Out guilty for mankind but Christ's blood cries out to us righteous we have a right standing before God now we can now be with him and know him he's not far off he's not far off we can know him in Jesus Christ. [00:15:16]
Rachel and I were looking at Hebrews 12 the other day and talking about how we have not been br brought we don't come before this mountain Mount Si where it's just trembling and there's clouds and there's thundering and there's trumpets it's just this terrifying sight says we didn't come to that mountain we've come to Mount Zion the city of the Living God we've been brought into these hosts of angels and and brought unto God and to Jesus and at the very end it says we've been brought to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word in the blood of Abel. [00:14:24]
Ephesians 2 beginning in 13 just listen to these words but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ 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 the place of two so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross thereby killing the hostility. [00:17:34]
Let us know let us press on to know the Lord let us press on to know him and to be with him and to be in his presence we can't let this world distract us we can't be distracted by these things of this world I think of Martha and Mary we know the story where Martha's so busy and serving and and she starts complaining Jesus says Martha Martha you're troubled and anxious about many things but one thing is necessary and Mary has chosen the good portion Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus she has chosen the good portion that will not be taken away from her one thing is necessary he says and she's chosen it sitting at my feet you can be so distracted with this life things that don't matter as much good things but they just don't matter like being with him this is where it all comes from. [00:21:01]
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