A Crucified Life - - Carries The Message of Reconciliation

 

2 Corinthians 5:19

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.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3056

Message: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech

From the Greek word 'logos' (pronounced log'-os): preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit.

    When we hear Jesus speaking to us in the Scriptures, we see that He said He was only speaking what the Father told Him to speak. It is God expressing Himself through His only begotten Son. 

>John 8:28

>John 5:19, 30

>John 12:49, 50

    What is the Message of Reconciliation? It's the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. It's the Message of Hope.

It's the Message of Perfect Peace. It's the Message of Life Eternal In Christ. It's the Message of Agape: Divine Love of God from God for a world full of sinners, sinners like me. 

    It's God drawing us to Himself as a father wraps his arms around his long, lost son who has finally come home. It's God bringing us close in His embrace as a mother would comfort her fearful children. It's God bringing us into His family via our faith in the Message of The Cross.

    It's the Message of amazing grace through the blood which Christ shed for us. It's the power of God in action, writing His Word on our hearts, with the quill of grace. It's the Message of Someone paying our sin debts with His own Son. The Son who surrendered His own will to the will of His Father and obediently went the Way of the Cross for us.

    It's the Message of forgiveness for the iniquity into which we are born: that sinful nature that is in all of us. It's the Message of forgiveness for the sins we confess to the Father that we might be cleansed from all unrighteousness in us. It's the Message of forgiveness for the trespasses, whether we knew we were trespassing or not, we have done against God. 

    It's the Message which has withstood time and all its ravages. Though armies have tried to destroy it, the Message always wins out. Myriads of peoples in many lands and cultures across this globe are still trying to eradicate the Message of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. But GOD. But God can't be stopped by anyone. Ever. 

    It's the Message of authority and wisdom. The Message is Truth. It is the Light of God shining into searching hearts, hearts that are searching for the real, for the true. I went searching for the real, the true. And I found it in Christ Jesus. So can you.

    

THE MESSAGE

 The Gospel - Ryan Stevenson

O Come To The Altar - Elevation Worship

No Matter What - Ryan Stevenson

Come To The Table - Sidewalk Prophets

Mended - Matthew West

Same Power - Jeremy Camp

Start A Fire - Unspoken

Goodness of God - Bethel Music

God Is On The Move - 7eventhTime Down

Love Broke Through - Toby Mac

Point To You - We Are Messengers

Changed - Jordan Feliz

A Crucified Life - - Is Through Christ

 

2 Corinthians 5:18

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1223

Through: by the instrumentality of, by way of, for the sake of

From the Greek word 'dia' (pronounced dee-ah'): properly, across (to the other side), to go all the way through, "successfully across". 

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SAVES, CLEANSES US    Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

    Romans 5:15

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass (Adam's sin) the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one Man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.

    Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

    Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

    Acts 15:11

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

    1 Peter 1:1, 2

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. (NLT Bible)

    Though we cannot literally apply this blood to ourselves, for we have not in and of ourselves the power to do so, nevertheless it is applied by God Himself when we believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. Do you believe? 

    It is our Faith in Christ Jesus that gets the spiritual gears and cogs shifting and aligning. First, we believe that God is God and that His Word is Truth. Secondly, in our recognition of this fact, we realize we are sinners and have trespassed against God's Word. And thirdly, realizing now that we have nowhere else to go but God, we humble ourselves, kneeling at the altar and repenting of our sinful words and our sinful actions. We ask for His forgiveness and we receive it. 

GRACE THROUGH CHRIST

Washed By The Blood - CityAlight

Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sin - Sovereign Grace Music

Softly And Tenderly - Kristyn Getty, Vince Gill, Ellie Holcomb, Sierra Hull

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Fernando Ortega

Sinner Saved By Grace - Gaither Vocal Band

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin

    

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Ambassador of Reconciliation

 Ephesians 6:15

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2091

Preparation: prompt willingness, cheerful readiness; firm footing, foundation

*No. 4243

Ambassador: means to act as an established statesman (diplomat) – a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God's emissary (represent His kingdom)

 

Ambassadors For God

Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

1 Samuel 3:10

Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Ambassadors For Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

An ambassadorship is not granted to just anyone. It is impossible to testify of God's amazing grace unless it is first applied to our own iniquities. We must first recognize that in the holy presence of God we are an unclean, unholy, people. Isaiah met God and knew immediately that he himself was not worthy to be in God's presence, for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a holy God and His very presence, His name, demands a holy people. 

Isaiah needed to be prepared to preach the Word which God would give him; fire from God's heavenly altar touched Isaiah's mouth, making it possible for him to speak God's Word. 

We, the Spiritual Warriors, are today's Ambassadors of Reconciliation, just as the first century Christians were, just as every generation of righteous believers have been since that time. We are called to follow Christ every step of the way, even to death, if such a calling is on our lives. 

Ambassadors Are Prepared To Testify & To Suffer

Preparation

Isaiah 6:5-7

Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

Suffering

Philippians 1:20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 3:15-17

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

As Ambassadors of Reconciliation we must first be reconciled to God ourselves. 

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Romans 10:8-10

(8) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

(9) that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(10) For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

*No. 2643

Reconciliation:  reconciliation (restoration) as the resulting of Christ exactly (precisely) exchanging His righteousness (blood) for our guilt

It is only through the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross that we can be reconciled to God: there's no other way, no other name.

The Way

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

The Name

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for saving me, for dying on the cross to save me from the punishment of my sins. Thank You for reconciling me to You. I pray, Lord, that You would strengthen me with Your Strength and make me worthy in Your sight. Thank You for this new life I have in You. Mold me into the Christian You want me to be. I surrender my life, my breath, my all to You. You are everything to me. May my life shine Your light into the darkness around me, that Your name would be glorified. Speak to my heart, Lord, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness that I might be found a 'good and faithful servant' in Your sight. 

In Jesus' name, I pray,

Amen. 

Take My Life