Ambassadors Of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2, Isaiah 49:5-9)
Rev. William L. Barron, January 28, 2024Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Our God brings reconciliation to us and to the whole world--the planets, the cosmos and to everyone who has ever lived. Here and now, He offers reconciliation to believers around the world. In Paul's letter to the Colossians, we learn that by Christ, all things are created, by Him and for Him. In Christ, the fullness of the Godhead is pleased to dwell. He is the creator and the re-creator, and the reconciler. God seeks us and reconciles us to Himself and each other. In this, He makes us a new and different person. We then are part of this ministry of reconciliation; we are ambassadors for Him. In this ministry, we must make sure that we know the truth of the Scriptures. We are called to be peacemakers between God and men. God makes His appeal for reconciliation through us when we implore with persistence.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « The Narrow Way | None | More Than The Call! » |
2 Corinthians 5:16–6:2 (Listen)
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. 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 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 to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
(ESV)
Isaiah 49:5–9 (Listen)
5 And now the LORD says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him—
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
7 Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,
the servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise;
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
8 Thus says the LORD:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
(ESV)