2 Corinthians 5:11–21

Recurrent Thought

• The essence of the Gospel is simple yet profound: God in Christ Jesus reconciles the sinner, makes them new, and sends them out as ambassadors of reconciliation.

The essence of the Gospel is to show the steps God took in reconciling humanity to himself. We find the word reconciliation or its equivalent five times between v18-20. To reconcile means to restore harmony. This may be used in money matters when you are reconciling accounts and also in restoring broken down relationships. In this context the Gospel is a message that facilitates the restoration of harmony between God and human beings.

The critical breakdown happened when our Federal Parents trespassed and sinned against the boundaries set by God. And from that time onwards Sin was imputed to all humanity (Rom. 5:12). Paul in this context explains what God has done to bring harmony in this relationship. The passage shows that the Gospel is not about human achievement but about God’s act in Christ, reconciling sinners to Himself.

God healed the brokenness through the cross of the Christ.

• Col 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 
• Col 1:22  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 
• Rom.5: 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 

What was broken in the Garden was reconciled on the Cross

Definition of Biblical Reconciliation

• Reconciliation is the restoration of friendship and fellowship after separation (death), gained for us with God through Christ Jesus.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21, KJV).

 Here are three big truths that relate to the blessing of Reconciliation

1. God Initiated Reconciliation through Christ (18–19)
   • Human beings sinned against the precepts of God and thus destroyed the very relationship that bound them together. The Gospel of God is the message that explains how God went about in bringing the broken sinner to himself
     • The Gospel shows that God is the Source of Reconciliation (v.18)
       • The Gospel begins with God, not with man. The Gospel is God’s initiative to restore broken fellowship between himself and humanity
       •  “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (18)”
     • Reconciliation is not man reaching to God, but God reaching to man.
       • “When you cannot climb to heaven, remember: heaven came down to you in Christ.”
     • Christ is the Means of Reconciliation (v.19)
       •  “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (19)”
       • The cross is not plan B, but the central act of God’s eternal purpose. At the cross, enemies became friends. Are you living as a friend of God or still resisting Him?”
       • At the center of reconciliation is Jesus at the Cross. Religion with it, has no fellowship with God
     • The Gospel reveals that Sin is only Removed through Substitution (v.21)
       • “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (21).”
       • Substitutionary salvation means Christ took our place; He bore what was ours, so we could receive what is His. Christ wore our rags, so we can wear His righteousness.”
     • At the heart of the Gospel stands the greatest exchange in history: Christ became sin so we might become God’s righteousness.
     • The Sinless suffered for the sinful; he who was Peace gave it to human beings who deserved Punishment, the righteousness was exchange for the unrighteous
     • When we accept by Faith and believe in our hearts that God died and was raised on our behalf then we are reconciled to God
       • “that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (v19)
2. God Creates a New Life in Christ (14–17)
   • The Gospel is not only forgiveness of past sins but transformation into a new creation.
     • The Gospel is in essence the Love of Christ compelling Us (v.14)
       • “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died.”
       • The driving force of the Christian life is not fear, but love. It is essential to accept that “If Christ’s love moves us, we will stop living for ourselves and start living for Him.”
     • The Gospel gives us a New Perspective on Life (v.16)
       • “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer
       • In Christ, we see people not by worldly standards, but as souls for whom He died.  We see others not as competition, but as candidates for reconciliation. People need to come to God
     • Through faith in the Gospel we become New Creation in Christ (v.17)
       • Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (17)”
     • The heart of gospel is creating new species of life. The Gospel produces transformation, not reformation.
     • Transformation is a change and shift in the core being of human life, the heart and soul; while reformation involves making improvements and changes to existing way of doing things.
     • Transformation is a deeper, more radical change, while reformation is an improvement within the existing behavioral framework.
     • In essence the Gospel does not patch up the old life. It makes all things new!
   • The Case for Discipleship (Math. 28:18-20)
     • But why do we still have brokenness in the Kingdom of God?
     • When people are born into the Kingdom, they must grow. Transformation is enhanced and sustained by one’s growth in the Lord
     • A Christ-devoted follower is one who grows by allowing the Word of God take root in them and impacts their total life: Body, Soul and Spirit (1 Thess. 5:23)
     • If this does not happen, we have carnal believers; one who has not grown spiritually and practice sin in some areas of their life. Their lives are not distinguishable from those that are not saved
     • The call placed on us by Jesus is to Win Souls and Disciple Believers
3. God Entrusts Us with the Ministry of Reconciliation (v. 18–20)
   • The reconciled are called to be reconcilers; the Gospel is a message to proclaim, not to hide.
     • This ministry of is God–given (v.18)
       • All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 
     • Reconciliation is both a gift received and a mission entrusted to Us. Every believer is a minister, because every believer is a reconciler.
     • Our work is Ambassadorial in Nature. We Are Ambassadors for Christ (v.20a)
       • “ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God 2Co 5:20 . 
       • An ambassador represents another kingdom and speaks on behalf of the King. We are heavens’ representative in an earth that has forgotten its King.
     • The Electoral process of Malawi always shames the Church in its role as an ambassadorial community who out to represent God in Malawi. We follow tribes, instead of righteousness, we don’t represent God as his ambassadors.
     • In this ministry, God Appeals Through Us (v.20b)
       • “. . . God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God
     • Evangelism is God pleading through human lips. Your voice may be human, but the invitation is divine.”
     • This is the Gospel’s essence—substitution, reconciliation, transformation and proclamation

Conclusion

• If you are far from God, the message is, be reconciled.
• If you are reconciled, then ensure to live as a new creation.
• If you are a new creation, the call is for you to fulfill your mission as Christ’s ambassador.