Ministry and Word of Reconciliation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 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. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

How compelling is the love of Christ!  During our mid-week Bible study at church, we spent time discussing them together.  The overwhelming theme of scripture is Jesus Christ and how man can only be reconciled to God through faith in Him.  The Bible teaches us of our perfect Creator and God, how man has been estranged and alienated from God through our rebellion and sin, and that God has made a way for man to be reconciled to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  When we repent and trust in Christ, receiving His love and forgiveness, we are born again through the indwelling power of the the Holy Spirit.

Consider the overwhelming theme of reconciliation in the above passage.  God does not need to be reconciled to man, but man has a great need to be reconciled to God.  What amazing love and grace we see in God, that the Almighty would desire to have reconciled to Him such sinners as we!  In scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ, God made flesh, we see a divine revelation of love so pure, merciful, and good.  It is a love which never grows old, a love confirmed again and again through our Risen LORD and Saviour.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new.  One thing I have been considering of late is the fact that God has committed two things to all Christians:  the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation.  God has commissioned all believers as His ambassadors to all people alienated from God through sin, doubt, unbelief, and rebellion so they too might be reconciled to God.  This is the truth:  God the Father made Jesus who never sinned to become sin for all, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Amazing, incredible truth!

How do we effectively labour in the ministry of reconciliation?  Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:  "Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God." (On Being a Servant of God, pg. 3)  The most basic of all human needs is to be reconciled to God.  Human bodies have physical needs, and we are to meet physical needs with love to address the deepest spiritual need of forgiveness and salvation most remain ignorant of.  The ministry of reconciliation should never be divorced from the word of reconciliation.  Jesus is the Word made flesh, and God has given us the Bible, the Word of God.  Food will enter the mouth and be eliminated, but the Word of God will endure forever.  The words of Jesus are the words of life.

God has committed the word of reconciliation to us:  how committed are you to practice and proclaim the Word of God?  Scripture does not exist for us to debate and argue, to prove how we are right and others are wrong, for us to grow in spiritual knowledge and pride, to beat people up and tear them down:  God has given us the Bible so we and others might be reconciled to Him.  That is why Jesus came to earth, faced the cross, and rose from the dead!  The word reconcile basically means "to change, restore."  God wants to change us and make us new creations through His grace.  He desires to restore us to a close personal relationship with Him because He loves us.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Let us be students of the Word and use the scriptures for their intended purpose, all to the end that sinful man would be reconciled to His loving Creator.  John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."