Christ, Our Reconciliation II

Last time, we talked about Christ’s work of reconciliation. He came not only to appease God’s wrath but also to change our hearts that we may love the Father back by His grace.

Francis Turretin writes how important this work of reconciliation is, He cannot be called ours except as appeased; and from an angry judge is made a merciful Father who not only deigns liberally to bestow his goods upon us, but gives himself to us that we may be able afterwards to glory in him as our God and portion.

II Corinthians 5:17-20 talks about the ministry that we have as a reconciled sinner. We are not reconciled to God to simply sit back and watch other sinners die in their sins. We were given a ministry and a mandate that must be carried out.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

…God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ (v.18). We can find three foundational truths in this phrase. First, the believer’s reconciliation is an accomplished reality. Secondly, reconciliation is a work of God that He initiated and accomplished—man has no power to bring about reconciliation. Finally, reconciliation is brought about only through the person and work of Christ (the ground of reconciliation – Rom 5:10).

And gave us the ministry of reconciliation (v.18).Those who have been reconciled to God have been given a great stewardship or responsibility to share the gospel with others, so that they also might be reconciled. God has chosen to reconcile men to Himself through the preaching of the gospel.

Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them (v.19). We see the impossibility of Reconciliation apart from Christ’s great work of sacrifice. He died for our sins, propitiated the Father, satisfied the demands of God’s perfect justice that we may have peace with God.

And He has committed to us the word of reconciliation (v.19). The word “committed” comes from the Greek word títhemi, which means, “to appoint, commit, or ordain.” the ESV used “entrusting”, hence the redeemed have been entrusted by the Redeemer with a big task of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us (v.20). God uses men to make His work of reconciliation known to others. It is a royal calling. Those who preach the gospel are dignitaries communicating God’s appeal to men.

We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (v.20). The word “beg” comes from the Greek word déomai, which means, “to entreat, implore, beg, ask, or pray.” In imploring men to be reconciled to God, we are calling them not merely to put away their hostility toward God, but to take advantage of God’s offering of reconciliation through the person and work of Christ. Paul was not ashamed to beg men that they may be reconciled to God. This highlights his compassion for the lost as the Lord is. We must also do the same if we truly understood and experienced the reality of being reconciled with God.

But the offer will be withdrawn at the death of every man and at the second coming of Christ. There should be great urgency in our pleading with men to come to Christ.

The gospel call is a call to respond “now”.

“Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold now is ‘the day of salvation’” (II Corinthians 6:2).

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (3:15; 4:7).

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

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Note: This lesson is from our weekly Youth Bible Study Based on Paul Washer’s Discovering the Glorious Gospel.

References:

• Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Vol. 2: Eleventh through Seventeenth Topics. Edited by James T. Dennison and Jr.  P & R Publishing (February 1, 1994)
• Washer, Paul. Discovering the Glorious Gospel. New Albany, Mississippi, Media Gratiae, 2016.