The Ministry Of Reconciliation

Ministry Of Reconciliation

We hear this word reconciliation used all the time but when we look around us we really struggle to see any good examples of it. We see so many people leave the church on bad terms we can see that a whole movement has been born from the inability to reconcile. I am referring to the exvangelical movement. This post is not about that movement in particular. We could do a whole other post on that and I am sure we will. So what is reconciliation? Let’s start there.

Reconciliation: The restoration of friendly relations.

To bring together.

To make new.

To restore.

Some of you reading this feel God has given up on you. Well, I got news for you. You are not alone when you believe that lie. The people of Corinth believed that Lie and Paul wrote to them destroying that lie. Maybe you like me have found yourself saying there is no way God can forgive me. I have done so many horrible things! Well God has different view of us then we even have of our self. Read this scripture and let it seep into your soul.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

1 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

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. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(It starts and ends with the heart, It’s all about the heart. Truthfully my friends it is easy for us to get caught up on how things look on the outside but to God that doesn’t matter at all.) 2 Cor 5:12

2 cor 5:17 We are made new in Jesus

Reconciliation is so important for us to understand as Christians! This literally the whole purpose of the cross is reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation the old has gone the new has come.

Greek

New = καινός (Ki nos) = Fresh or untouched

The reality is when Jesus died on the Cross He gifted us something great. That we are made new and fresh daily. The reality is this the shame we may feel is real but the price that was paid was so much more. We are acquitted of the charges. We are made free.

Reconciliation and forgiveness go hand in hand and once we realize that God has forgiven us and we have been reconciled with him we can look to other relationships in our life that need to be reconciled.

Pray, who in your life do you need to forgive and reconcile with?

Play this video while you pray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWafQOxt9tE

Reconciliation is meant to be healing but sometimes can hurt someone based upon a few things