Through the Bible - 2 Kings 25 - 2 Chronicles 2, John 7:53-8:11
Good morning,
For today's verse we go to 2 Corinthians chapter 5 which deals with being "reconciled" to God. It's not something that we can do on our own.
Verse 19 speaks of "the word of reconciliation", the Greek word for "word" indicated a true and trustworthy message, as opposed to the many false messages that were going around then and now.
2 Cor 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. NKJV
If we have believed this true word, the gospel message then we are His children and as His children "ambassadors for Christ.
Can you think of any stronger words that Paul could have used in verse 20 than "pleading" and "imploring"?
J.I. Packer writes, "the gospel is a message about the person and work of Jesus Christ- an interpreted story of the earthly life, death, resurrection, and reign of God's Son.
Again, the gospel is a message about new birth, telling us that our plight in sin is so great that nothing less than a supernatural renewing of us can save us.
And the gospel summons us to faith, repentance, and discipleship. Faith is credence and conviction regarding the gospel message, as well as a casting and resting of ourselveson Christ and His promises. Repentance is a changed attitude of heart and mind leading to a new life of denying self and serving the Saviour as king. And discipleship is a matter of relating to the living, exalted Christ and to the rest of Christ's disciples."
Websters defines "reconcile" in simple terms as "to make friendly again".
As ambassadors what are we doing to be "friendly again" with someone? How did Jesus do this? Can you think of examples?
Perhaps personal reconciliation with a friend or relative might be what God will use to reconcile that friend or relative to Himself, becoming "a friend of God".
Who has been on your heart?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
2 Cor 5:11-6:1
Becoming Friends with God
11 Since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to help people accept the truth about us. God knows what we really are, and I hope that in your hearts you know, too. 12 We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again, but we are telling you about ourselves so you will be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those who are proud about things that can be seen rather than what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we have our right minds, it is for you. 14 The love of Christ controls us, because we know that One died for all, so all have died. 15 Christ died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from the dead so that they would live for him.
16 From this time on we do not think of anyone as the world does. In the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks, but we no longer think of him in that way. 17 If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him. 19 God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins. And he gave us this message of peace. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is as if God is calling to you through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God.
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