The Ministry of Reconciliation

“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 is a new creation. The old has passed away; 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. 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.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV

The promise of the above scriptural reference is fairly simple. Through the miraculous, supernatural process of the “new birth” Christ takes the old and makes a new life. As a result of that transformation, we are new creatures, ambassadors of heaven, whose sin has been forgiven to show both the creatures of the heavenlies and earthbound humanity the glory of God.

Just what are the evidences of the “New Life”? The Bible is just full of scriptural evidences of the “New Life” in the body and soul of the believer. Take a few moments with me and review these evidences. Consider these words in terms of a “Spiritual Checkup.” How do you “check out” with these proofs of the “New Life in Christ”? The following listing is not exhaustive – but certainly can be educational!

1. Does your sin bother you? How bad does your sin bother you?

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. – Mark 9:42-43 ESV

To the believer, sin is a very serious issue, not to be taken lightly. I like what a brother said the other day to me, “If a person claims to be a Christian and is in a sinful lifestyle and they shrug or laugh it off, are they really a Christian?”

2. Have you repented of your sins (turned from) or made an effort to change through God’s help?

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus – Acts 3:19-20 ESV

Has there been a point where you sought for repentance and forgiveness from the Lord for your sins, willing to change from the path of sin to peace with God?

3. Do you obey God?

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:3 ESV

If you claim an experience with God, you will want to serve Him and obey Him – putting your wants and desires as second priority, and following Him as first priority.

4. Have you matured in your salvation?

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV

Those who are God’s children desire to grow up and mature – if indeed they are God’s children.

5. Are you doing God’s will?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 ESV

You can call Him “Lord” all you want – but those who do the will of God are His true children.

6. Can you share your story of how you came to know Christ personally? When’s the last time you shared that story?

…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect – 1 Peter 3:15 ESV

Do you have a story that shares how Christ has changed you life with another? If you do not have a story, of if you ever shared it, what good does that do you?

7. Are you more attached to things of the world or the things of God?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – 1 John 2:15 ESV

The world is filled of enticements and obstacles that get in the way of living the redemptive lifestyle. If God lives in you, then it is possible. If not….

8. Have you conformed to what the world wants you to be or are you desiring to follow God’s plan for your life?

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. Romans 12:2 ESV

Those who know Jesus desire to be renewed and tested to find and know the will of God for their lives.

9. Have you denied yourself or are you more concerned to gain what the world has to offer?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” – Luke 9:23-25 ESV

Those whose are Christ’s ultimately will be willing to forfeit, even their own lives and “happiness” to follow Him.

10. Are you active in church or a small group of believers?

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25-25 ESV

Those who are Christians desire and actively seek a fellowship and relationship with other believers of like mind.

11. Do you have a genuine love for others, even those that have mistreated you?

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:31-36 ESV

This is a tough one huh? Well, God;s helps his children do these things. How are you doing so far?

12. Is your sinful lifestyle out of control?

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14 ESV

Those whose are Christ submit themselves, their very bodies, to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. An out of control believer will not for long be allowed to continue unabated in a sinful lifestyle – or it can be a legitimate question if they truly are a child of God.

HOW DID YOU DO?

This small list are a number of sure evidences – a guideline to determine a person’s spiritual bona fides. Remember – the fulfillment of this list should not be considered a way in which a Christian obtains life. This list should merely be considered as a guide to how a believer has matured in following the lifestyle of following Christ – a lifestyle that would not be possible without the indwelling Spirit of Christ in the first place. The Holy Spirit will help us in our feeble efforts to live the Christian life, to pray, to study God’s Word, and to apply Scriptural truths in our lives.

At the same time, I must tell you – no matter where you are, no matter what you have done to stray away from Christ, it is not to late. If you have never truly made Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life, it is as simple as saying “Yes” to Him, and then following Him daily:

…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:9-10 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 ESV

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Romans 4:1-8 ESV

What are some of the ways in which people are trusting to get into heaven? The history of the world is filled with ways in which humanity of the past (and the present) have been secure in their understanding of the path to heaven. Here are just a few that are ongoing and current in our culture:

1. For the “immoral” and their supporters – universalism – the idea that there really is no place for eternal torment. A God of Love understands the dysfunctionalism of the world we are in – the injustice of racism, poverty, and social class causes widespread calamity and therefore causes people to do things they would not normally do, since all are born “good” in an otherwise unjust world. The God of Love would never condemn such creatures, even the most evil of us (see Hitler and Stalin) to eternal damnation.

2. For the “moral” and their followers – “all good people go to heaven.” If I could name one popular icon that demonstrates this theological position, that would be the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. “George Bailey” a marginally “spiritual” man (if that much could be said) is indeed “moral” in that he makes choices, often at the risk of his own happiness, to do others good. He is rewarded by having “friends” in his hour of need. Moral people rely, not necessarily on their spirituality (that is, going to church, having a “spiritual” life) but in doing good, doing the “right” thing most of the time. Indeed the god of the movie looked down favorably on George Bailey, remembering the moral choices he had made to be an alternative for the poor renters of Bedford Falls in contradiction to Mr. Potter the Banker. The moral believe that God (if there is one) will reward the doer of good in paying back some cosmic karma back to the one who is moral – otherwise heaven bound!

3. The religious believe that having faith – any faith – will make one worthy of God’s blessings, including heaven. Religious works are considered “moral” in that the end result is to please God or the gods. In fact, there are some who claim that having faith in anything is deemed worthy of the One God who goes by many names (Allah, Krishna, Jehovah, Buddah, etc.). Yet this is merely a misunderstanding of what faith is. Faith is the rope that a climber throws down the mountainside to scale it. He selects what the rope is tied to with great care, for that anchor will have to hold his weight and not slide as he goes up and down the mountainside. Not anything will do – only what is “true” will protect that climber in his journey. Faith is only as good as what it is anchored to. “Truth” is what makes “faith” matter, not what is “false.” All the religious are doing anyway is “believing” in something and working around that belief, hoping that what they do in their belief will be good enough. There are some who literally believe that they are a god themselves, so their act of religious works (meditation, denial, or right belief) will connect them with the “god within” leading to cosmic consciousness and transcendence (see my article at SBCImpact! for an example of this belief system).

Abraham was a moral man – a man who helped strangers, and was generous with his riches. But that is not what made him “righteous”. Abraham worshiped and did those things which would be deemed as “religious rituals” – but those acts themselves did not grant to Abraham right standing before God. Going to church, reading the Bible, doing moral acts for many people are a way to obtain life. But they are not. Look at Paul’s affirmation of Abraham in the above scripture: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Abraham’s faith was not placed upon what he did or believe – it was placed upon that which was “True” – God. Abraham did not count on his morality or religious acts to make him more acceptable to God, anymore than a true believer in Christ counts on church attendance or Scripture reading to put him in right standing before God. Abraham believed and trusted God, and believed that He was able to keep His promises to Abraham. Abraham had faith in God.

Abraham was moral, and performed acts of worship as a sign of obedience and a way of life, not to obtain life. The faithful follower of Christ obeys God as a way of life with his attendance within the Body of Christ, his faithful digesting of the Scriptures for spiritual food and nourishment, and his willingness to forsake and give all for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom. The way to heaven is only one way – through faith in Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, The Risen Lord.

No One Is Righteous

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:9-20 ESV

The book of Romans is considered correctly as “the most comprehensive and systematic summary of Christian doctrine anywhere in Scripture” the “Bible within the Bible” sharing and exhorting the reader the beauty and the majesty of God and His work of salvation toward the world. Chapter 3 can be divided into two distinct parts. First is the question “Who is this message for?” and the second “What is the remedy?”

In actuality, the first question really started in chapter 1. Paul relates to the reader concisely who his message is for: guilty sinners. Who are the guilty? The answer: everybody who walks this planet, past-present-future. Chapter 1 begins with the state of immoral humanity, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness before men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” ( 1:18 ). The majority of us don’t have a problem with God getting even with those who by their evil, unrighteous deeds deserve His wrath. But Paul does not stop there. He includes the “moral” – those who assume to judge immoral evil people by the fact that they do not do immoral really “evil” acts: “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in placing judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same thing” (2:1). If that was not enough, Paul singles out the religious person, who in his day were the Jewish people. People, who by their outward show or spectacle of “religious acts,” who performed rituals and kept laws in the attempt to mollify God, believing by their performance that God would be pleased and therefore call them “righteous.” Paul destroys the concept that any man or woman, Jew or Gentile, no matter how “religious” they are can come to God by attempting to appease Him with religious deeds or works in the hope to be name “righteous” – for “…both Jews and Greeks are under sin, as it is written NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE” (3:9-10). Read carefully the indictment on humanity found in 3:9-18 (which Paul primarily quotes from the Psalms and Proverbs). Not a pretty picture is it? Scripture condemns ALL of humanity as helplessly embroiled in sin and death. An analogy can be made of a drowning man far out to sea. He has no hope of being delivered to safety. There is no one around to throw the man a preserver and rescue him to safety. The man is ever growing weaker and weaker, as the water becomes heavier and heavier. He may believe he is getting closer to shore and rescue with each stroke, but he is deceived. Eventually the man will drown and die. Sin is the ocean in this picture. We cannot manage it, hold it up, or even wade through it. Without deliverance it will destroy us all – the immoral person, the moral person, and even the religious person, “..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Absolutely no one will escape the fate we so rightly deserve.

There is hope, however, in the darkness. The rhetoric of Romans is majestic – it describes a place to avoid, and then gives directives on how to avoid it. Listen to these words:

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. – Romans 3:21-31 ESV

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:21-23

I was raised in church. I often say that I “grew up” in a congregation of a Southern Baptist church from the time I was 6 lbs and 21 inches long. My parents being faithful Christians and supporters and advocates of Christian fellowship took me and my siblings to church most every time the door was opened. Our home schedule revolved around these meeting times of Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. My first friends, early socialization, and my first solo were found or conducted inside of that church building among God’s faithful followers.

In those early years our congregation had many revival meetings, often lasting two weeks or longer. As a youngster, I noted that many walked down that long aisle to the front, prayed with the Pastor, and then shared their experience with the congregation. As a small child, I wanted part of that action – I was really intrigued about what really they were doing down there at the front. My mother held me back from going, realizing I really did not have a clue about what was going on down there. Then one night, my mother went to the nursery. leaving me as a five year old alone in the pew (something probably that many today, parents and observers alike would cringe at!). When the invitation then was held that night I walked down that aisle and shook the hand of the preacher. In his defense, many pastors (including me!) are a bit intimidated when dealing with a young child. We do not want to be accused of denying the possibility of God’s leading (“Suffer not the children to come unto me…”) while at the same time understanding that the affirmation of faith requires understanding the concepts of sin, repentance, and grace in a rudimentary sense. After listening to the Pastor speak to me, what I got out of that moment more than anything else was, “I don’t want to sin anymore.”

As a result of that act I was baptized. It was nothing but getting wet for all the good it did me. In those intervening years I experienced what many many people have dealt with and have shared with me – I believed all was good and taken care of. I had fulfilled the Baptist sacrament(s) of walking up in front of the church and getting wet in the Baptistery. My “get out of hell free” card being then neatly secured by an act of my will, I could now live my life accordingly to my own dictates – keeping in mind of course those lists of “good” stuff and “bad” stuff that would please God or that was not so pleasing to Him. If I could keep my nose clean, with the good outweighing the bad, I was home free and heaven bound.

In late 1975 our church rented and showed the film “A Thief in the Night.” The film itself tells the story of a young man who marries a girl who latter believes in Jesus Christ. To please her, he goes to church as well even though he is not a believer. A few sermons are preached about the coming of Christ and the Rapture of His saints. Immediately after this great event great testing called the “Great Tribulation” would come that would ruin the earth. This young man scoffed at such nonsense. One morning he wakes up to the radio blaring about how millions of people of disappeared. He calls for his wife, yet she has also disappeared. Indeed the Lord had come for His bride the Church, and this young man had been left behind.

I watched that film. At first I dismissed the premise, believing my experience at five was more than enough to get me by. But what had I done at five really? I had performed some sort of ritual act without meaning anything. I trusted in the fact I had done something, yet had not experienced any type of saving faith. Jesus to me was an abstract person – a person we prayed to a lot, but for me did not have much meaning. Who was He that I should pray to? What did He really do to deserve my attention?

It was then I realized my problem. I had trusted upon my own merit, my own act of walking an aisle, getting wet, doing good, hoping that all of these things would be good enough. I trusted in my own merit to get by. God had already condemned my merit, proclaiming it was not good enough: “for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That included me. If push came to shove, I too would be left behind because I did not know the risen Lord the way He desired me to – I wanted to know Him the way I wanted to. Those sins of mine condemned me because I deserved not God’s love but His condemnation. This was pretty heady for a 14 year old boy to contemplate.

Because of these thoughts, I feared that the Lord could come at any moment and take my family and friends and leave me behind. Many a time I would step into my home believing I had been left behind. The conviction of being separated from God was getting a bit overwhelming. The pride of “I walked an aisle and was baptized” was what was keeping me from seeking God’s help, and finding God’s peace.

Like all good things God can do, all of this came to a head one night. On June 6th, 1976 our church had “Youth Emphasis” night on a Sunday Evening. We had a large youth choir, and a young person who had given his life to the ministry would be speaking. I do not remember much of the evening. I do not remember the songs that were sung – I do not remember the scriptures that the speaker used, or even his sermon theme that night. All I remember about the night was my overwhelming need to find Peace with God – to embrace Jesus Christ as the redeemer and forgiver of my sins and Savior of my soul – who promised upon my confession that He would come in and live within me, and prepare me from that moment on in life to meet Him one day. I walked down that aisle for the second time – my Sunday School teacher came and prayed with me as I asked Jesus to forgive me and be my Savior. I was not counting on what I did – I was counting on what He did and would do for me.

The peace that came from that moment on was stupefying. God did not and has not kept me from being a sinner anymore – in fact I still do sin, and sadly more often than I would like to confess. What I knew that night, and have known every night since is this: “I am forgiven.” Praise the Lord! He has forgiven me, cleansed me, and Has set me on the path of life. I am no longer alone, for I realize I cannot make it alone without Him!

My life today is one of amazement. He has bought me, and called me to be in His service as His minister of the Gospel of grace and mercy. He has given me a family, a wife and children who are truly great and wonderful in their own right. I truly do not deserve any of it, but God has graciously provided me His marvelous gifts.

What about you? Are you really a “child of God”? Have your sins be forgiven through the blood of Jesus? Is He your Savior? Or are you trying to save yourself on your own merit, by your own work, by church membership, baptism, sincerity, and “responsible” lifestyle?

I tried out the same thing – but I was spiritually lost and was accountable to God for my sin – as you also will be if you have followed this same road. Our first priority then is not to the church, the walking down an aisle, Baptism, or the “good” life, but to our own destiny. The Scriptures tell us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, to call upon Him to save us, and to trust His work on the cross of Calvary on our behalf (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10). John 6:37-40 makes it clear that whoever comes to Jesus will never be driven away. Everyone who looks to the Son and believes Him shall have eternal life, and will be raised up at the coming of the Lord.

Again, what about you? Do you have a testimony you can share? If not, consider mine, and consider the Lord’s invitation: “Come unto me you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Grace and Peace,

Rob Ayers