THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2)
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2)
By Soughtout E. Matthew
I want to start today from where is stopped on the subject: THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. Before, I commence with the teaching, let us revisit our introduction scriptures. And that’s the book of 2 Corinthians 5. We will be reading verses 11, 14-21 (Easy to Read Version says): “We know what it means to fear the Lord, so we try to help people accept the truth. God knows what we really are, and I hope that in your hearts you know us too. The love of Christ controls us, because we know that one person died for everyone. So all have died. He died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him. From this time on we don't think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don't think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.”
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In the course of the last teaching, I defined the ministry of reconciliation as the work of making sinners be at peace with God. I said it is a service unto God through bringing sinners back to Him. It is a divine assignment to every born again child of God regardless of your ministry gifts and offices.
I also said that when we become born again, God through Christ reconciled us to Himself and assign us with the work of reconciling others to Him through sharing the message of reconciliation.
On the word RECONCILIATION, I said that the Greek word for it defined it as restoration to divine favour: atonement.
I also said that sin brings us into enmity with God. Making us right with God and to be at peace with God are main reasons why Christ made atonement for our sins.
I also said that sinful living is about living for oneself. It is about living without God being in control of your life. But when we come into Christ, the love of God starts to control us. Therefore, we don’t live by ourselves rather we live through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour who gave His life for us. We come into Christ, we know what the fear and the love of God means.
Coming to how to become effective in the ministry of reconciliation, I mentioned that there are nine crucial factors that will enable us to become effective ministers of the ministry of reconciliation. I mentioned three of it in the last post which are:
TRY TO HELP PEOPLE ACCEPT THE TRUTH,
BE CONTROLLED BY GOD'S LOVE
KNOW WHY HE DIED AND LET OTHERS KNOW TOO
On this article, I will continue with the next three factors that will enable us become effective in the ministry of reconciliation and they are:
- HAVE A NEW MINDSET ABOUT CHRIST:
Mindset is everything. It is one of the effects of our thoughts. What we think sets or fixes our minds on something else and makes us hold onto it either about a person or a thing.
Mindset reveals who you are and what you believe on. For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he says the scriptures (See Proverbs 23:7).
We are what we think. And for us to change what we are, we need to change our thinking.
The ministry of reconciliation is to change people’s thought about Jesus and get it replaced with right thought about Him. You cannot change people’s thoughts about Jesus Christ to the right thought about Him until your thoughts about Him is changed.
When we were not born again, there was a kind of thought we have about God, His word and ways. Some sees the preaching of the cross as foolishness but when we come into Christ, we see it as the power of God that brings salvation into human souls. We could see it so because our mindset has changed.
The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:16, From this time on we don't think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don't think that way now.
The world God is reconciling by Himself through the ministry and message of reconciliation given to us has a kind of thought they have concerning Jesus, His redemptive works, His word, His ways and His will concerning us. He has sent us to go change their thoughts. He has sent us to help them validate their minds through the preaching of living for God and renewing their minds by studying the word of God.
Romans 12:1-2 So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Don't change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
- KNOW AS A NEW CREATION YOU ARE GIVEN THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION:
Instant transformation takes place in our spirit man when we come into Christ. The old things are said to be gone and suddenly, everything is new. All of these are from God. Man is never behind it. And that was the reason why God gave everyone who comes into Christ the ministry of reconciliation. He has given us the work to bring people into peace with Him and we have to start working that work wherever we find ourselves meeting with people.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him.
- KNOW WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION TO PREACH:
What’s the message of reconciliation we are given to preach? It is simple, just telling people that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself. It is also telling people that in Christ, God did not hold people guilty of their sins. It is telling the people that in Christ, they are made right with God.
2Co 5:19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.
When we preach to the people, we should avoid being judgmental. In Christ, God don’t hold people guilty of their sins. In fact, the Bible stated that there is no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ Jesus. We should let them know through our preaching the benefits of being in Christ and one of them is that in Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. He has given us this message of peace to tell people. So, let’s go ahead telling them about it.
To be continue!
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