(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Purpose of scripture --- RECONCILE MAN AND GOD “Word of reconciliation.” “Reconciliation” = “Restoration to favor” (Strong’s) Reconcile = “To be brought back to friendship, to be harmonized, reunion” (Webster’s) Who is reconciled to whom? God has not left --- MAN HAS (Isaiah 59:1-2) (Romans 3:23) We cannot be saved IN our sins. We must be saved FROM our sins.
A. God loves us (John 3:16)
B. Jesus is the means to access God (John 14:6)
C. Reconciliation involves:
1. Willingness to forgive
2. A Mediator
3. Removal of cause of enmity
A. Man made in “likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26) to GLORIFY God (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
B. Sin entered the world through Adam and we STILL choose to sin today (Romans 3:23)
C. Sin SEPARATES us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) NOTE: The offender does NOT state the terms of reconciliation, but the innocent party. WE do not decide how to be reconciled to God, HE does. God will NOT turn from being Holy to be reconciled to US. We must turn from sin and be reconciled to Him.
A. We CANNOT be the agent of our reconciliation to God, we are the OFFENDERS.
1. Jesus made it possible (Hebrews 2:9-18)
B. Barrier of sin removed by sacrificial offering of Jesus’ blood on the cross (Colossians 1:13-23)
C. But WE have to “change” our way of thinking and living.
1. Jesus revealed “repentance” is necessary to be reconciled (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30-31)
2. But we CANNOT be “friends” with this sinful world and “friends” with the God of heaven (James 4:1-10)
A. Not ALL will be reconciled (Matthew 7:21)
1. Even though ALL are “called” by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
B. Reconciliation takes place “IN” Christ (Ephesians 1:7) (2 Corinthians 5:17)
C. The penitent believer is baptized INTO Christ (Galatians 3:26-27)
1. Where ALL spiritual blessings are (Ephesians 1:3) NOTE: WE do not decide when we are “IN” Christ, God does. We cannot depend on “feeling” that we are reconciled to God, we must know we are reconciled Because we have followed the Bible in being “IN” Christ.
A. Willingness to forgive (2 Peter 3:9)
B. A Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
C. Removal of Cause of Enmity (Acts 22:16)