The Ministry of Reconciliation - 08/14/2022

Manate our minds and souls to the truth in Jesus Romans chapter 12

I Appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice

Holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind

That by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect For by the grace given to me

I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think But to think with sober judgment each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned

For as in one body we have many members and the members do not all have the same function

So we though many are one body in Christ and individually members one of another

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Let us use them if prophecy in proportion to our faith if Service in our serving the one who teaches in his teaching the one who exhorts in his exhortation the one who contributes in generosity

The one who leads with zeal the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness

Let love be genuine Abhor, what is evil hold fast to what is good?

Love one another with brotherly affection Outdo one another in showing honor

Do not be slothful and zeal be fervent in spirit serve the

Lord Rejoice in hope be patient and tribulation be constant in prayer

Contribute to the needs of the Saints and seek to show hospitality Bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse them

Rejoice with those who rejoice weep with those who weep Live in harmony with one another

Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly Never be wise in your own sight

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all

If possible so far as it depends on you live peaceably with all

Beloved never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for it is written Vengeance is mine.

I will repay says the Lord To the contrary if your enemy is hungry feed him if he is thirsty give him something to drink

For by doing so you will heat burning coals on his head Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

Let's pray Our Heavenly Father we thank you for this wonderfully encouraging passage the applications of the book of Romans Lord, how are we now to live?

We are to love one another with a genuine love We are to abhor what is evil we are to hold fast to what is good

We are not to be overcome by evil, but we are to overcome evil with good

Lord these things are impossible to do without Jesus Christ And so we thank you

Lord that you have saved us that you have redeemed us that you have reconciled us To yourself through the work of Christ And we pray

Lord that in light of Christ and his tremendous work and who he is his nature his character

We pray that we would strive to live these things out Help us Lord not to be conformed to this world, but help us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds

Help us to prove. What is the will of God that which is good and acceptable and perfect?

Lord we thank you for all of these things We thank you for these blessings that are found in Christ And as we open up your word and as Lars proclaims your truth

We pray that we would hear the truth that the Spirit would take it from our ear to our heart and that we would be changed

Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen Let's turn in our

Bibles, please the 2nd Corinthians 5 In a couple weeks, it's our desire and intention to start a study of the gospel of Luke which is going to take us a while, but I'd say the gospel of Luke is probably my favorite book of the

Bible If there is one if you can say that I don't know but It was the object of my study in my

PhD dissertation. So I gave a lot of attention to it For a handful of years and so I'm looking forward to the series we preach through Matthew and and John but but Luke has its unique message that the

Lord has for us And so we'll work our way through that Lord willing but in the next few weeks, we've got a few things that we want to address and So today

I wanted us to consider the ministry of reconciliation and this is in 2nd

Corinthians chapter 5 and So, let's let's give our attention to this 2nd

Corinthians Really in my mind is probably the one of the most difficult

Books of the New Testament to understand rightly certainly to teach rightly

But it may largely be understood as Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry to the church at Corinth The Lord had used

Paul to establish this church at Corinth the Apostle labored for 18 months

Evangelizing the city before departing and so he left behind a significant local church in his very wicked city

Corinth and So the Lord had blessed his ministry But after Paul's departure there arose some in the church who had denigrated the

Apostle Turned against him and turned the church against him the very one the

Lord used to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ And later the church repented of the manner that they had disregarded and rejected

Paul's apostolic ministry among them perhaps this epistle 2nd Corinthians written by Paul Helped greatly in persuading them of their error resulting in their thorough repentance before the

Lord now we wish to give our attention to this passage in which

Paul described the nature of his gospel ministry and This is 2nd

Corinthians 5 And in this passage, he set forth principles that are really true of all gospel ministers

But also in Paul asserting his primary calling to proclaim the gospel by which Sinners may be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

He speaks of important details and aspects of the gospel and of how

Christians should regard it and how they should regard one another in the light of the gospel and as I Was listening to Pastor Jason read

Romans 12 I thought how how fitting it dovetails with what is being stated here in this passage

From 2nd Corinthians 2 14 through chapter 7 verse 14 Paul set forth the excellence of the gospel ministry and Here in 2nd

Corinthians 5 actually beginning with verse 11 all the way through chapter 6 verse 13

Paul gave emphasis of his gospel ministry is offering reconciliation of sinners to God Now we're going to give attention to verses 11 through 21

But we want to read verses 6 through 10 because it it kind of sets the stage for the passage

And so here's 2nd Corinthians 5 verses 6 through 21 So we are always of good courage

We know that while we are at home in the body. We are away from the Lord For we walk by faith not by sight

Yes, we are of good courage and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord and So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ So that each one may receive what is due for what he's done in the body whether good or evil

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

We are not commanding 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 For if we are beside ourselves it is for God If we in our right mind, it's for you for the love of Christ controls us

Because we have concluded this that one has died for all and therefore all have died

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

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 and Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation

The old has passed away and behold the new has come All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

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 and Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ God making his appeal through us

We implore you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin

So that in him we might become the righteousness of God As we give attention again to verses 11 to 21.

We'll do so in in three Ways three subjects first the compelling and controlling love of Christ in Paul's ministry verses 11 to 15 and Then we'll give attention and focus on true

Christians or the new creation Verses 16 and 17 and then we'll conclude with Paul's ministry of reconciliation

And so again in these verses Paul defended his own apostolic ministry and we read glorious statements of the nature of salvation in Jesus Christ and how we should view one another as ones having been reconciled to God by him by Jesus Christ So let's consider first the compelling and controlling love of Christ in Paul's ministry in The verses prior to verse 11 and following which we read verses 6 through 10

Paul expressed his courage and confidence in the ministry to which the Lord had called him

Although he would have preferred to pass from this world in order to be with the Lord He believed that he could best please his

Lord by pursuing his faithful ministry of the gospel Paul knew that he was accountable to the

Lord for how he lived He also knew the people whom he served were also accountable to the

Lord for one day There would be a general judgment of mankind when all people everywhere will be judged by Jesus Christ He wrote so whether we are at home or away in other words with the

Lord we may get our aim to Please him for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ So that each one may receive what is due for what he's done in the body whether good or evil

Here we read of the general judgment of all mankind according to their works

I Mean this concern and knowledge of the future judgment of mankind we read in verse 11 a therefore knowing the fear of the

Lord We persuade others Now some might read these words and perceive a measure of dread on the part of the

Apostle and Although this is a common thought it is a mistaken thought

It was Theodore Beza who was a disciple and really the follower of Calvin and Geneva Whose interpretation filtered into the

King James Version that reads this verse in this way knowing therefore the terror of the

Lord We please men Well, this can set forth the wrong notion

That because God was of such a terror to Paul He therefore preaches the gospel to others and that's not what

Paul was stating Paul was expressing the fact that due to his great reference for God That is that he feared the

Lord It was his desire to please the Lord and be faithful to him. And this is the reason he persuaded men

In other words the expression should be translated the fear of God rather than the terror of God As one wrote on the translation knowing how terrible the

Lord is But this is contrary to the constant use of the phrase. He's talking about the Greek phrase

The fear of the Lord is that fear or reverence which the Lord excites or which is the object?

Hence it is so often stands in Scripture for true religion The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and so acts 931 walking in the fear of the

Lord Romans 3 18 The fear of God is not before their eyes And chapter 7 verse 1 of this epistle perfecting holiness in the fear of God in all these cases fear means pious reverence

There's no reason from departing from this sense in this place In other words, it's never translated terror of the

Lord. It's always translated fear of the Lord And it has to do with one's reverence for God not a sense of being terrorized by him

And so the Apostle stated that his primary concern and motivation for his missed ministry Was does his desire to please the

Lord who had called him to this glorious work? Paul stated that God knew that this was his true motivation

God knew it and he further expressed his desire that the Christians at Corinth would know that this was his motivation that the fear of the

Lord Was the source of his motivation and dedication? And so he wrote in verse 11b, but what we are

That is moved by the fear of the Lord. What we are is known to God and I hope it's known also to your conscience

It's the desire of true ministers that the people to whom they serve on behalf of Christ will be convinced of the purity of their motives and The sincerity their commitment for their

Lord and his service to them That was Paul's desire and that's the desire of every true minister of the

Lord But the Apostle wanted to assure them that he was not commending himself before them in order to impress them

Or to promote his influence or authority over them but he had hoped that what he had said of his motivation for ministry would enable them to counter the

False charges of the enemies of their souls who are attempting to discredit him before their eyes

And so we read in verse 12. We're not commending ourselves to you again But giving you a 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

He was motivated by the fear of the Lord the Lord knew it he wanted these people to know it why

Not that somehow they would congratulate him but that they might be able to better repudiate those who were decrying

Paul and Diminishing his his apostleship and influence among them

He wanted the people to be able to say to his detractors. No. No Paul is sincere

He's moved by the fear of the Lord to serve us not because he's trying to exalt himself

As one wrote his object and thus speaking of himself was not self praise Nor to secure the confidence of the

Corinthians which he already possessed but to give them materials for a vindication of his character against the aspersions of his enemies and there are always enemies to the gospel and there are always enemies to gospel ministers and I'm sure that we could testify

That it's a common experience Now it's interesting that these false teachers gave much attention and credibility to outward appearance rather than to inward character

False teachers often commend themselves to that which is visibly impressive But superficial and non spiritual it's a show and it's rather external outward

Paul's detractors must have been accusing Paul of inappropriate zeal or intensity in his proclamation to the people

Paul declared that even if he did seem to act or speak beyond propriety It was because he was very concerned about being faithful to God and he was very concerned for their spiritual well -being

He declared in verse 13 for if we are beside ourselves, it's for God. And if we are in our right mind, it's for you

And what was it that motivate Motivated Paul most verse 14 a the love of Christ controls us

Paul declared that the love of Christ is what moved him to be so vehement and persistent regarding his proclamation

Now when you look at that phrase the love of Christ Grammatically, it could be understood in one of two ways.

It's Paul talking about his love for Christ Or is he talking about Christ's love for Paul?

Of Christ can mean either thing either way. I Believe that Charles Hodge was right when he said that it was

Christ's love for Paul that motivated him not his love for Christ, although certainly that was on his heart and So Hodge wrote these words the love of Christ here means

Christ's love for us Not the love of which he Christ is the object

This is obvious because the Apostle goes on to illustrate the greatness of Christ's love to us not our love to him

There's no better version for it in this passage and that adopted by our translators the love of Christ constraineth us

It coerces or presses and therefore impels It is the governing influence which controls the life

Christ's love for us It is the trait of Paul's experience as a Christian and is therefore common to all

Christians a Christian is one who recognizes Jesus as the

Christ the Son of the Living God as God manifested in the flesh Loving us and dying for our redemption and who is so affected by a sense of the glory of Christ the great end for which he lives

The man who does this perfectly is a perfect Christian The man who does it imperfectly and yet with sincerity

Sincere desire to be entirely devoted to Christ is a sincere Christian On the other hand the man who lives supremely for himself for his family for science for the world for mankind

Whatever else he may be is not a Christian Who's whoever loveth father or mother son or daughter more than me saith the

Lord is not worthy of me He that hateth not his own life cannot be my disciple

So the great question is what constitutes a Christian? It is being so constrained by a sense of the love of our divine

Lord to us that we consecrate our lives to him Amen Our knowledge of the love of God for us in Christ Jesus is that which moves us and keeps us in our devotion and dedication to him and his work

Nothing more affectionately keeps ministers or other believers in the work and service of their Lord or more strongly

Obliges and constrains them to a cheerful discharge of their duty to him and one another than his love displayed in his covenant

Engagements in his assumption of human nature and particularly in his dying for them

Which is the instance given in the text wrote John Gill And so this is what

Paul declared motivates Christians Because we have concluded this that one has died for all

Therefore all have died 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

Christ love for us should constrain us and motivate us To devote ourselves to live for him

He did this for us What could we possibly do for him? Now notice the word all in this passage

We've concluded this that one has died for all and therefore all have died

He died for all that those Who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him the word all is a pronoun

A pronoun is used in the place of a noun Which would be the antecedent of the pronoun every pronoun has an antecedent either stated or implied within the context

Many read the word all and assume it must refer to all people everywhere all humanity But it's in the clear.

It's quite clear in the context all refers to all Christians For only they live for him for who their sake died and was raised

Paul stated that because Jesus Christ died for all of them. They all died with respect to themselves

That one has died for all therefore all have died We were in union with him when he died when he died we died and therefore we are to die to ourselves

Christian Christians no longer live for themselves principally But their desire and motivation are to live for Jesus Christ Paul expressed his truth in Galatians 2 20, which we referred to last week.

I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who lives But Christ lives in me and The life which

I now live in the flesh I live by the faith and the Son of God and here it is who loved me and gave himself for me

There again, you have the love that Christ has for his for Paul Constraining him motivating him.

This is what drove him Christ died so that we might die to ourselves

He was raised that we might live before him and on to him just Matthew Henry wrote They were under the sweetest and strongest constraints to do what they did

Love has a constraining virtue to excite ministers and private Christians to their duty

Our love to Christ will have this virtue and Christ loved to us Which was manifested in this great instance of his dying for us will have this effect upon us if it be duly considered and rightly judged

For observe how the Apostle argues for the reasonableness of love's constraints

No, we should not make ourselves But Christ the end of our living and actions and it was one end of Christ death the cures of this self love and to excite us always to act under the commanding influence of his love a

Christian's life should be consecrated to Christ And then do we live as we ought to live when we live to Christ who died for us?

Amen, I think that Paragraph that passage is also probably a good means of assessing ourselves as to whether we're thinking rightly and We have the proper kind of motivations in our lives

We're living for Christ Well, the Apostle next declared that true

Christians are of the new creation Verses 16 and 17 This love of Christ towards sinners resulted in Paul viewing all

Christians in a new and noble light This is incredibly important Paul declared 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 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation

The old has passed away and behold the new has come Let me just make this word at this point

Paul himself, of course realized he was a part of this new creation, but that's not his principal

Statement here. He's saying he no longer regards other people According to the flesh, but he regards other people as new creatures in Christ as a new creation

And that's how we ought to regard others That's how we ought to regard every other

Christian You're a new creation in Christ Jesus, and I'm gonna regard you that way and treat you that way

That's what Paul declared in Romans 12 that pastor Jason read for us a little while and that's what

Paul is stating here When Paul wrote from now on therefore he was alluding to how he wants viewed people before his conversion

Which had been according to the flesh in other words Paul before his conversion assessed and evaluated people based on an external criteria the

Assessment of worth or stature of another person was determined as to whether or not he was

Jewish or Gentile rich or poor Devoted or not or connected or not

That's how he assessed people and that's how the world assesses people. That's not how we should assess one another in the church

But the love of God in Christ in saving sinners Ones who thereafter live not for themselves

But for him who redeemed them changed Paul's manner of viewing and valuing others I don't regard anyone now who's a

Christian according to the flesh Now take note of Paul's personal pronouns

He did not write from now on therefore I regard no one according to the flesh Even though I once regarded

Christ according to the flesh. I regard him. That's no longer No, he wrote with plural pronouns first -person plural pronouns 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 and so it is that all Christians are No longer to regard any

Christian according to the flesh We are to see other Christians as well as ourselves as being of a new creation

We ought to have a high regard for our brothers and sisters in Christ Paul made the statement even though he wants regarded

Christ according to the flesh some have taken this and They assume

Paul must have personally seen and heard the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry Before Christ would try it and crucify it in Jerusalem But there's no suggestion anywhere in any of Paul's writings or the book of Acts that Paul experienced a visible witness of Jesus Christ during our

Lord's earthly ministry Paul here is describing how he had formally regarded

Christ up until the day. He was converted on the road to Damascus Paul prior to that viewed

Jesus after the flesh in other words after his outward appearance Paul had despised and hated him because he judged him only according to his outward appearance as a poor suffering man

Yet claiming to be the Christ the son of the Living God his Jewish notions of what the

Messiah was to be led him to regard with indignation the claims of Jesus to be the

Christ But when he was converted that all changed It all changed when the

Lord revealed himself savingly to the Apostle on the Damascus Road From that converting moment

Paul no longer regarded Christ after the flesh But saw him as he was in truth the once crucified but now risen and glorified

Lord of heaven and earth as one wrote Prior to his conversion his knowledge of Christ had been after the flesh formed in accordance with external and mistaken standards but his conversion had meant the transformation of his knowledge of Christ a

Man in Christ is a creature entirely renewed for whom the old judgments after the flesh have become a thing of the past He now knows

Christ as he truly is And Moreover from that moment

Paul became one who would no longer live unto himself But rather unto him who had loved him and died and rose who has to redeem him from sin and death unto life everlasting

But further Paul's encounter with Christ changed Paul's way of not just the manner that he evaluated

Christ But he changed the manner in which he assessed all people particularly those in Christ he was on his way to arrest in prison

Christians and Then he was seeking them out in order to preach the gospel to them and pray with them and serve them

His whole attitude and outlook toward Christians underwent a change

No longer did he evaluate and elevate others because of their race their social status and connections their wealth

Their titles their achievements those in Christ were of a much higher and nobler distinction

They are in Christ. They are a new creation in Christ Jesus and Once again, that's how we are to regard one another who are

Christians You are a noble creature if you're in Christ And we should regard each other in that way not after the flesh

And so Paul declared from now on therefore we regard no one according to the flesh

This is how we're to perceive and regard Christians But sadly all too many

Christians seem to continue to regard others according to the flesh. They continue to assess or judge other people based on external physical

Characteristics what they look like what they do what they've achieved what they failed to do People have special regard for those who are wealthy or educated good -looking

Athletic they've achieved a measure of success in the world But that's not how the Christian should view other

Christians In fact James declared that when Christians think and relate to others in this manner, it's a serious problem

It's sin my brothers show no partiality as You hold the faith in our

Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly and a poor man and shabby clothing

Also comes in and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say you sit here at a good place

While you say to the poor man you stand over there and sit down at my feet Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

They were judging externally rather than viewing

Christians in Christ Listen my beloved brethren There's not

God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom Which he has promised to those who love him

But you have dishonored the poor man are not the rich ones who oppress you the ones who dragged you into court

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbors yourself.

You're doing well But if you show partiality, you're committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors

Do we elevate some in the church above others? Because of who they are what they achieve how old they are the

Lord Whether male or female or rich or poor or whatever. We're not doing well.

We're not doing right You're in Christ You might have been in Christ for two weeks but you are a new creation as much as the person who's been in the

Lord for 70 years and We regard you and treat you the same We're in Christ Now Paul stated therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation

The old has passed away behold the new has come we want to say a few words about the common expression in Christ and Then we'll address the idea of the new creation

First the expression in Christ. It ought to be familiar to you because it's so frequently found

Therefore if anyone is in Christ It speaks of course of the mystical union with Jesus Christ The Phrase in Christ is a phrase frequently used in the

New Testament. It's found in 85 verses of the New Testament That's not including the verses in the

Lord. This is just in Christ Aside from one place in Acts and two places in first Peter all other occasions of the phrase in Christ or in Paul's epistles

It was one of the Apostles favorite most used phrases to describe the

Christians relationship with God in Christ and Here in 2nd Corinthians 517 Paul wrote therefore if anyone is in Christ He's a new creation

Joe beaky rightly wrote that all aspects of our Christian life must be viewed in our

Inseparable union with Jesus Christ. I've given this quote in the past, but it was so good.

I thought I'd repeat it Union with Christ is the foundation of our entire spiritual life

Union with Christ became such an important doctrine to Paul that he mentioned it on nearly every page of his epistles

He used such phrases as in Christ and in the Lord 164 times in his epistles 16 times in Ephesians alone in Ephesians 1

Paul tells us that union with Christ in a vast all Embracing truth for his people a truth that runs from eternity past to eternity future and spans all the time between Union with Christ is all embracing because it encompasses all divine blessings in Christ In Ephesians 1 3

Paul declares how all embracing this really is Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Paul is not saying that all blessings are made available to us in such a way that Christ only parcels them out piecemeal

With a little wisdom here and a little bit of strength there rather Paul stresses that Christ gives us himself

He is our wisdom he is our strength he is our compassion He is our sanctification The secret of the

Christian life is to more intimately know the Christ to whom the believer is bound forever If we're true believers

We know that every spiritual blessing that he possesses he will share with us because we are by grace united with him

And that's why it's important never to separate the benefits of Christ from his person

Union with Christ in Christ And here's another good statement about this phrase the expression in Christ sums up as briefly and as profoundly as possible the

Inexhaustible significance of man's redemption It speaks of security in him who has himself born in his own body the judgment of God against our sin

It speaks of acceptance in him with whom alone God is well Please it speaks of assurance for the future in him who is the resurrection in the life?

It speaks of the inheritance of glory in him who has the only begotten Son is the sole heir of God It speaks of the participation in the divine nature in him who is the everlasting

Word It speaks of knowing the truth and being free in that truth in him who himself is the truth

All this and very much more than can ever be expressed in human language is meant by being in Christ No wonder that the

Apostle describes it in absolute terms as a new creation Redemption in Christ is nothing less than the fulfillment of God's Eternal purposes in creation so radical in its effects that it is justly called a new creation in the experience of this new creation the standards and pretensions of this world sink into insignificance

We ought to view one another and assess one another as in Christ It ennobles us and should

Move us to have the highest regard for a fellow Christian Granted we've got sin, but we're a new creation.

We're Christians with bad sin problems But we're a new creation.

Well, let's give a little attention to this phrase a new crit new creation Of course the

Word of God Declares it when Adam had sinned that the effects of sin were not limited to Adam and his wife

But rather when Adam fell into sin the entire world became defiled and corrupted Romans 8 20 21 for the creation was subjected to futility chaos confusion disorder disruption

Not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God Paul declared that one day when the children of God are delivered from death through the resurrection that God would also renovate the creation

Purging it of its defilement and corruption due to the entrance of sin by Adam This new creation is mentioned in the

Old Testament Particularly in Isaiah 65 for behold I create new heavens and a new earth

And the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind But be glad and rejoice forever in that which

I create for behold I create Jerusalem to be a joy and that's speaking about the heavenly Zion the

New Jerusalem Entered people to be a gladness.

I'll rejoice in Jerusalem be glad in my people no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress a new creation and And then in the next chapter the last chapter of Isaiah The new heavens and the new earth are also foretold

For as a new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me says the Lord So shall your offspring in your name remain?

From new moon to new moon from Sabbath to Sabbath all flesh shall come to worship before me declares the

Lord And you come into the New Testament and the new creation is mentioned also

Peter Foretold the second coming of Christ when the created order would pass away Be replaced by the new creation a new heavens and a new earth second

Peter 3, but the day of the Lord will come like a thief That's not speaking about a secret quiet rapture

It'll be anything but quiet But the day of the Lord will come like a thief and then the heavens will meld away with a roar

It's not a secret rapture The idea of coming as a thief is sudden and unexpected like a thief

Not quiet like a thief slips in and slips out as so many falsely

Teach the rapture will be the rapture of the second coming of Christ and when he comes

He snatches his people out his world and the creation is

Disintegrated and a new heavens and a new earth are created Which will be our eternal home the day of the

Lord will come like a thief and then the heavens will pass away with a roar and the heavenly bodies will Be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed

Peter reasons since all these things are thus to be dissolved What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?

waiting for it hasten in the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be set on fire and Dissolved and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn but according to his promise

We're waiting for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells The reason and cause of the new creation will one day come into existence.

It's a death and resurrection of Jesus Christ That's the center of history

Jesus Christ died with regard to this old world But when he was raised he came forth on the new life and it was the onset it was the beginning of the new creation

That's why he rose on the first day of the week the seventh -day Sabbath look forward look forward

Backward at the old creation Jesus coming forth on the first day of the week. The eighth day was with you to the new creation

When people come to faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior, they do enter and dwell in this new creation that will one day be manifest and So we read in Galatians 6 15 for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation and And again the

Apostle stated in the passage before us therefore if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation

The old has passed away behold the new has come and then of course the most complete portrayal of the new creation of the eternal state is contained in Revelation 21 and 22 the last two chapters of the

Bible here the first eight verses of chapter 21 John Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven first earth passed away and the sea was no more

She was regarded as the place of confusion chaos and death and fear

No more of that in the new heavens and the new earth And I saw the

Holy City New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying behold the dwelling place of God is with Man, he will dwell with them.

They will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God He'll wipe away every tear from their eyes and death

She'll be no more and neither shall there be mourning nor crying or pain anymore for the former things have passed away the old creation and He who is seated on the throne said behold,

I'm making all things new Also, he said write this down for these words are trustworthy and true

And he said to me Here's the glorified Jesus saying to John it is done.

I Am the Alph and the Omega the beginning and the end to the thirsty I will give him from will give from the spring of the water of life without payment

The one who conquers will have this heritage and I will be his God and he will be my son But as far as the cowardly the faithless the detestable is for murderers the sexually immoral sorcerers

Idolatrism all liars their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and silver, which is the second death

Now in this passage of Revelation 21 Though John speaks of having seen a new heaven a new earth.

The emphasis is really on the people of God Rather than on the place that they will in which they will dwell

Greg Beal pointed this out in his wonderful commentary on Revelation The part of the new creation that John focuses on is the redeemed

Saints The vision in 21 to and following is thus dominated by various figurative portrayals of the glorified community of believers

Moreover 3 verse 14 has indicated that the illusion of the new creation prophecy of Isaiah 43 at 65

Had begun to be fulfilled in the physical resurrection of Christ In line with this the same

Isaiah illusions in Revelation 21 are applied to the same community and plausibly referred to that community in its resurrected glorified state

But the new creation includes more than the resurrected community as is apparent from the word in the new heaven than the new earth

I create all things new When we become

Christians our citizenship is transferred from this world to our heavenly

Zion From which Jesus Christ reigns as our King We are citizens of another kingdom another realm

We're to live accordingly and we're to show due regard for our fellow Christians as fellow citizens of this same heavenly kingdom

Brothers join in imitating me Paul wrote in Philippians 3 Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

You ought to follow good and godly people The reason why for many of whom

I have often told you now tell you even with tears Walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

I think he's talking about hypocrites Professing believers who have not ordered their life according to the cross of Christ Their end is destruction.

Their God is their belly. They glory in their shame with mindset on earthly things

But that's not how we are to be our citizenship is in heaven and from it

We await the Savior Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power?

That enables him even to subject all things to himself Here's a description of what

Paul meant by the words of verse 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ is a new creation the old has passed away behold the new has come

What was true in Paul's case must be true in all? analogous cases

If the revelation of Christ the apprehension of his glory and love had wrought such a change in him the same

Illumination must produce like changes in others He therefore says if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature

The proposition is general it applies to every man every Christian, of course To be in Christ is the common scriptural phrase to express the saving connection or union between him and his people

They are in him by covenant as all men were in Adam They are in him as members of his body through the indwelling of his spirit

They are in him by faith which lays hold of and appropriates him as the life and portion of their soul

This union is transforming. It imparts a new life. It affects a new creation

This expression indicates not only the greatness and radical nature of the change affected but also its divine origin

God created you a new It's a divine work One due to the mighty power of God.

It's therefore called a creation the commencement of a new state of being In Galatians 6

Romans 8 elsewhere. The same effects are ascribed to union with Christ If we're united to him so as to be interested in the merits of his death.

We must also be partakers of his life This is the foundation on which the

Apostle Bill's his whole doctrine of Sanctification is developed in the 6th and 7th chapter of his epistles of the

Romans the word kinda that's the Greek word for new or unimpaired or Uncontaminated.

It's an epithet of excellence a new song a new name new heavens new earth

The New Jerusalem the new man a new creature are scriptural expressions, which will occur to every reader

And Matthew Henry wrote no Regenerating grace creates a new world in the soul

All things are new The renewed man acts from new principles by new rules with new ends and in new company

Paul wrote that in Christ the new has come But in doing so he brought to an end and replaced the old order.

He wrote the old has passed away behold the new has come We're heavenly citizens living in a fallen world

Our destiny is in heaven with our Lord and his people To us for us the old world has passed away and we live new lives in Christ If we're thinking rightly

Amen Well, lastly, let's consider what

Paul said regarding his ministry. It's a ministry of Reconciliation. What a wonderful word

Again, I want to read these verses All this is from God Who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation 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

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ God making his appeal through us we implore you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God Obviously the major theme of these verses is reconciliation.

I don't know. What is it mentioned five times? I think in these few verses Reconciliation involves a change of relationship with God from one of enmity and hostility to that of friendship and harmony

We were born into this world the objects of God's wrath because we were born sinners Coming forth as fallen creatures into a fallen world.

We were at enmity with God His wrath was upon us And as we grew up living according to our own will

We lived in disregard of God who made us and many times we were in flagrant

Living in flagrant transgression of his laws by which he governs his world Transgressions that compound our guilt and aggravate

God who made us I'm presently reading a book of sermons by Jonathan Edwards apparently formerly unpublished sermons and they're printed this year 2022 by Northampton Press Don Kistler in Florida and It's entitled

The wrath of God Wrath against the day of wrath and the first sermon sets forth this doctrine

Unawakened sinners people who are oblivious to the gospel to what the

Word of God says Unawakened sinners heap up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath as men who are want or desire to heap up treasures

Fallen men want to heap up treasures for themselves in this world Those who are unconverted are heaping up wrath

Which will be Administered to them in the day of wrath we cannot truly fathom the weight of guilt and the degree of wrath that God has upon all those who live in disregard of Him and in defiance of his laws

The point is that every person is in need of being reconciled with God We are powerless to affect this reconciliation you can't do it

Before God's work of saving grace in our souls. We were without strength It stated which is really a literary device of understatement declared our helplessness

We were ungodly having no desire to know the true God or be related to him We were enemies in him or to him and his kingdom living in disregard of him and really in defiance of his claims upon us and So if we were to be reconciled to God God himself would have to act toward us in Reconciling us to himself

Arthur pink wrote a book the reconciliation on reconciliation

Before God the word reconciliation means to unite two parties who are estranged it denotes that one has given offense and the other has taken umbrage or is displeased by it in Consequence of which there is a breach between them

Instead of friendship. There's a state of hostility Existing instead of amity friendship.

There's enmity which results in separation and alienation between them This it is which makes manifest the need for peace to be made

Between the estranged parties that the wrong may be righted the cause of displeasure be removed

The old feeling cease the breach be healed and reconciliation accomplished the parties at various are man and God Man has grievously offended the most high he's cast off allegiance to him

Revolted from him despised his authority trampled upon his commandments the enormity of such an offense

It is impossible for us to fully conceive The heinousness of it can only be measured by the exalted

Dignity of the one against whom it's committed. It has been committed against the Almighty against one who is infinite majesty infinite excellency

Infinite in his sovereign rights over the creature of his own hands and therefore it is an offense of infinite magnitude interpretive

The Apostle stated that God was the cause and the source of all we have received and enjoyed in Christ All this is from God is what

Paul stated There you have sovereignty of God in salvation.

Don't you it's all of God or it wouldn't have happened It was

God who acted so as to reconcile us to himself We could not affect our own reconciliation with God he had to act in order for it to occur

And so again, this sets forth the sovereign grace of God in our salvation had God not acted on our behalf

We could never have been reconciled to God as Simon Kiss to Mater Rightly wrote the astounding statement reveals

God's infinite love We offended God by breaking his command sinning against him and therefore the initiative for reconciliation should have come from us

But we were the offending party Instead we read that God as the offended party reached out to us to achieve restoration of relationships

God took the initiative and completed the work of reconciliation before we as sinners began to respond to God's gracious Invitation to be reconciled to him in brief

God restored the relationship between himself and us so that this new creation for us could be fully realized

And then after Paul declared that God had reconciled us at his Christians unto himself

Paul declared that God had entrusted to him Paul a God had entrusted to Paul a ministry of reconciliation

And so Paul was to serve God by representing him to fallen creatures in need of reconciliation

And so Paul wrote all this is from God Who now God through Christ reconciled us to himself notice?

It's God who's doing this not we And that he gave us the ministry of reconciliation

That is in Christ. God was reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and trusting to us the message of reconciliation

Paul Had set forth his Responsibility in verse 20. Therefore. We're ambassadors for Christ God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God Of course, it's not only set forth

Paul's ministry, but it sets forth the work of all true ministers of the gospel We were ambassadors for Christ Sent with a message his message to reconcile the sinful people to God We're as ambassadors entrusted with a message a ministry and a message

The message was entrusted to us by God But it was entrusted to us with a purpose and that's to make it known to a fallen world

God was making the appeal, but he would do so through us Paul said This is a high calling

With a great responsibility and a great accountability before God. Let's not just put it on ministers.

Let's put it on churches You know this church is an ambassador for God and we have a message

That sinners need to be reconciled to God and it's only going to take place through Jesus Christ May we be faithful to this

And Paul concluded this section of this epistle I could have made the whole sermon out of this Asserting the manner in which

God has reconciled sinners on himself for our sake. He that is God the Father Made him

Jesus Christ to be sin Who knew no sin for what purpose so that in him in Christ we might become the righteousness of God God forgives us of our sins to the sacrificial death of Christ on his cross and God regards and treats us as righteous through Christ obedient life credited to us as our own

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift Again, may I just close with this word?

May the Lord help us To truly have the highest regard for our brothers and sisters in Christ Your new creation and We highly value you because of that Christ has made you as such and therefore again the the commands of Romans 12 or an application of this and How we are to regard and we are to treat one another in Jesus Christ.

May the Lord help us do so. Amen Thank you father for your word

Thank you God for this wonderful privilege that we have and yet we're aware of our great

Responsibility our God to be faithful and true to this calling Help us our

God as a church help us as pastors our Lord to be faithful to you and to your people and Most of all our

God help everyone here to truly be reconciled to you father through coming to Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior Putting our full faith and trust in him to do for us that which we could not do for ourselves

To reconcile us to you our God We recognize that he can do so our

Lord because of his life and his death on the cross And because of his resurrection and the fact that he's enthroned with you freely able to forgive and to Enliven those who come to him in faith for we pray these things in Jesus name.