Reconciled and Reconciling

2 Corinthians 5:1-21, especially verse 14-15, "14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

This is a reminder of the beauty we have found in our reconciliation to our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He died so we could die to our sin and live for Him.

Our sin put a death mark upon us that called for our death, because we couldn't be in the presence of God and live with the stench of our sin. Jesus Christ took the cost of our sin by dying on the cross the sinners death we deserved. This was done to give us the ability to be reconciled to our Father, the great I AM, and for us to be taught by Holy Spirit.

What we now do with this precious gift of reconciliation is on us. 2 Cornithians 5:10-11 says: "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he hm7.as done, whether good or bad. 11) Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences."

Paul was crying out for us to hear him and only allow those that follow Jesus fully to lead us. There is still a judgement that Christ looks upon us for our deeds whether good or bad, and we have to choose what we do in this life. To die to our flesh so we can live for Christ, or to let our fleshly actions dictate our life.

We are called to have a healthy fear of our Lord, a respect for what Jesus did on the cross and to honor that.

Mathew 10:28; "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

This was Jesus speaking. He was calling us to a complete respect of our Lord, to not take for granted the grace God has given us through forgiveness.

I heard a story about a father and a son. They were in a big boat surrounded by alligators. The father warned the son not to take out the smaller boat while he took a nap because the alligators would knock it over and they would kill him.

The boy was good for a little bit but then became restless. He decided he could go out for just a bit on the little boat and his dad would never know.

He did well with his little boat at first but then the alligators started bumping the boat until the boy fell in.

Later, the boy woke up with the sun shining in his face on a sandy beach. He was wondering how bad he was injured and how he survived. He started checking himself for injuries and to his surprise, he had no injuries. He started looking around and that is when he saw his dad. His dad was mangled and bloody. His dad gave himself for his son.

Now, what kind of son would he be if after he saw the sacrifice of his father for him to get back in that small boat and go back to the alligators. It would make the dad's sacrifice worthless. He would have died in vain.

That boy, is us. We needed someone to save us from ourselves. That boy was saved by his father, but we have been saved by Jesus Christ. Instead of Jesus being dead, He is more alive then we are. He reconciled ourselves to Him, our Father, and Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:18 is a powerful verse that encapsulates the heart of the Gospel: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” This verse paints a beautiful picture of God’s love and grace. It highlights two key points:

1. Divine Reconciliation “God reconciled us to himself through Christ.” Before Christ, humanity was estranged from God. Our sin separated us from Him, creating a chasm that we could not bridge on our own. However, God, in His infinite love, initiated the process of reconciliation. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are reconciled to God. The barrier between us and Him is broken, and we are restored to a right relationship with Him.

2. The Ministry of Reconciliation “And gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

As believers, we are not merely recipients of God’s grace; we are also called to be agents of reconciliation. God has entrusted us with the privilege of sharing the message of reconciliation with others. We are ambassadors of Christ, called to invite people to come to Him and experience the forgiveness and peace that He offers.

This ministry of reconciliation is not about condemnation or judgment. It is about extending love, compassion, and the hope of the Gospel to a world that desperately needs it. It is about sharing the good news that God loves us, forgives us, and offers us eternal life.

How can we participate in this ministry of reconciliation?

Share your testimony: Share your personal story of how God has transformed your life.

Pray for others: Pray that God will open their hearts to the Gospel. Live a life worthy of the Gospel: Let your actions reflect the love of Christ. Be a listening ear: Be willing to listen to others and offer words of encouragement and support.

Share the Gospel: Boldly proclaim the message of salvation. Let us embrace the privilege and responsibility of being ambassadors of Christ. May we faithfully carry out the ministry of reconciliation, drawing others to the love and grace of God.