And, Having Made Peace Through the Blood of His Cross, By Him to Reconcile All Things Unto Himself, By Himself -- Part 1315

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:17-20)

In Christ's stead, delivering the apostolic doctrine to us as Jesus did, "until the day in which He was taken up, after that -- He THROUGH the Holy Ghost -- had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen." (Acts 1:2; Acts 2:36-47)

And then after reconciling us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and no longer imputing our trespasses against us, He commits us unto the Word of reconciliation, giving us the ministry of reconciliation so that we can be ambassadors for Christ.

Jesus said, "I have chosen and ordained you." (John 15:16)

While dwelling on earth, we saw a glimpse of God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. The visible image of the unseen God. Whereby God Himself who knew no sin translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son, whom He hath appointed in these last days heir of all things. (Hebrews 1:1-13) The Word made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18) God coming forth as a "mighty man" so that we might have forgiveness of sins, and be clothed in His righteousness. (Isaiah 42:13) Jesus telling His disciples, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30)

So, before getting sidetracked too far, what does the ministry of reconciliation mean? Or, "to wit that God was in Christ" reconciling the world unto Himself? Often, when we read scriptures, we read passed the words and underlying meanings that we do not understand, digesting only the portions that are easy and straightforward. This is akin to eating only the food on a dinner plate that we like, eating just enough to grow. In that context, we are similar, growing in the Lord without necessarily being pushed beyond the stated text for His wisdom and knowledge.

But what happens when we approach the Word of God from this singular lens? I would suggest that we end up missing the very things of God who reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ for a reason. (II Corinthians 5:18) 

Miriam-Webster dictionary defines "reconciliation" as -- "the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement" and/or "the process of finding a way to make two different ideas, facts, etc., exist or be true at the same time."

Jesus wholly satisfied both definitions. First, Jesus brought both the Jews and the Gentiles together, declaring that there is no difference between them. "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." (Romans 10:12)

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." (Colossians 3:11)

Second, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, and the Holy Ghost fell upon them like cloven tongues, the people from surrounding nations heard them speaking in their own language. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance ... now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and heard them speak in his own language, and they were all amazed and marveled ..." (Acts 2:1-21) 

After repenting and being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, these were found to be in one accord, "continu[ing] steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers ... and they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people." (Acts 2:36-47)

Indeed, the reconciliation message that we see emerging in the new testament was a consequence of the Lord declaring peace and good will to all.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)

(Gentiles, for those who may not know are those who are not Jewish in decent, or to be more specific, non-Israelites.)

"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)

All the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)  He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. (John 1:10-11)

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10)

As in water baptism, we are buried with Christ and resurrected too when we come out from the water. (Romans 6:3-4)

But there is another component of the scripture above which is rarely highlighted. That is, "all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us." (II Corinthians 5:17-20)

When we are reconciled to our Lord God and Saviour by Jesus Christ, we are not only given the ministry of reconciliation (according to this specific passage of scripture) but He also commits unto us -- as believers in Jesus the Christ by faith -- the Word of reconciliation so that we become ambassadors for the good news gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [Him] that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:1-6)

Why? Because "he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more. Death has no more dominion over him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once, but in that He lives, He lives unto God." (Romans 6:7-10)

Are you thinking about what message you might want to proclaim? I found this scripture which may be helpful toward that endeavour. Let's look at the fourth chapter of I Peter 4:

"For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things "have fervent charity among yourselves" for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God ..." (I Peter 4:6-10)

All this today so that each and every one of us would realize how truly thankful we should be -- that Almighty God was willing enough to reach down to us, in order that we might receive by faith His miraculous gift of salvation,. 

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost -- which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 3:11) 

And hopefully, also looking for that glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13-15) 

Stand in the offering plate.