Good morning, everybody.
If you could open to 2 Corinthians chapter 5, and we're going to read from verse 11.
! It's up on the screen there as well, from verse 11 to 21.
2 Corinthians chapter 5.
So that's on page 1161 if you're using the church Bible.
Just before we read, let's ask God for his help as we open up his word today.
Lord, this is your word, and we are your people, and we desperately need to hear from you today.
Because your truth is the only solid foundation that we have to stand on.
So we ask for your Holy Spirit to take your word now, and to change us from the inside out.
Help me as I try to explain it, that this will be helpful and edifying for us all.
And I just ask that your voice will be heard so clearly this morning.
Amen.
I just want you to look out for something as we read the text.
What changes when someone puts their faith in Jesus?
What difference is there between their life before Christ and after him?
Watch out for that as we read.
Thank you, Chris.
So 2 Corinthians chapter 5, beginning at verse 11.
Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord we try to persuade others.
What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us.
So that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart.
If we are out of our mind, as some say, it is for God.
If we are in our right mind, it is for you.
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them, and was raised again.
So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.
The old is gone, the new is here.
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 people's sins against them.
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Amen.
I wonder, do you ever have those moments as a believer where you wonder what's really changed?
I mean, when you first repent of your sin and trust in Christ, everything is exciting and new.
But as time goes on, be it a year, 10 years, 50 years even, well, we start to wonder, have I really changed?
We still struggle with sin.
We look around us at our friends and family who aren't Christians, who oftentimes live more virtuous lives than we do.
It seems from the outside, at least.
And we ask, what's the real difference between us and them?
Do you ever ask those questions?
Because I certainly do.
But read verse 17.
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.
The old has gone.
The new is here.
That's true.
If you are in Christ, your life is spectacularly transformed.
You might still look the same, still live in the same house, still work the same job, go to the same school, struggle with the same sin.
But your life has been radically transformed.
How exactly, you ask?
Well, Paul tells us in the very next verse.
Look at verse 18.
All this is from God.
Who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
In that verse, we see two things.
We see that we have a new identity.
Reconciled to God.
And a new purpose.
Sharing the message of reconciliation.
So we're going to unpack those two things of how we are a new creation in Christ.
The first part.
Our new identity.
We are reconciled to God.
Now what does that word mean?
Reconciled.
Well, it speaks of two estranged people coming back into a restored relationship.
I don't know if you follow the royal family.
I certainly don't.
But I looked this thing up online.
I actually Googled the word reconciled and put the Google News tab on it.
And this is what came up.
Prince Harry wants reconciliation with the royal family.
He and his wife, Meghan, left the royal family in 2020 to move to America for a more private life.
But their leaving caused all sorts of hurt.
And now family members don't even speak to each other.
And it's really sad.
Harry went on TV in May saying that he longs to be reconciled to his father, King Charles, the King of England.
But the king doesn't want to mend the relationship at the moment.
And it's over some dispute about security and all this anyway.
But when we speak about being reconciled to the King of Kings,
the Bible tells us that all of us have walked out on a perfectly loving father.
We've all rebelled against his rule.
And our biggest problem is that we face his just judgment on our sin.
Eternity outside of this father's love and care.
We are the guilty party.
We did the damage in the relationship.
We're the ones who walked out.
Now you know what, Harry?
King Charles is taking a hard line.
He's not currently reaching out to his son for reconciliation.
Because of all that Harry has done.
And this dispute over security.
But God, the true king, is so, so different.
Read verse 19 with me to see how he's different.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.
Not counting people's sins against them.
Do you hear that?
God is taking the first move to reconcile,
even though we're the guilty party.
And even more astonishing,
he's not counting our sins against us.
But how, you ask,
how can God just simply ignore our sins
that would not be just of him?
There is no justice in that.
If our sins are simply ignored.
Well, verse 21 tells us
God's glorious solution.
Verse 21.
God made him
who had no sin
to be sin for us
so that in him
we might become
the righteousness
of God.
Here's what happens
to anybody
who believes
in Christ.
Jesus
takes our record of sin.
It's not that
he became sinful.
We've got to be careful about that.
No, it's that
he was counted
as a sinner.
He who had no sin
became sin
for us.
Our record of sin
was counted as his
on the cross.
So, no sin is overlooked
or ignored.
No.
Every single sin
is paid for.
Justice is done
at the cross.
That is incredible.
So, number one,
Jesus takes our record of sin
if we trust in him.
Secondly,
we learn that
we get Jesus'
record of obedience.
Okay, so his
flawless record
of obedience
is credited
to us
even though
we never lived it.
Another way of saying it,
Jesus takes our
dirty
rags
of sin
and we are
clothed
in his
perfect
robes
of righteousness.
They cover us
so that when
God sees us,
he sees us
as righteous.
Legally,
it's as if
we never
sinned.
We are
perfectly
right
in his
sight.
Now,
even though
we will
continue
to struggle
with sin
for the rest
of our
days
on this
earth,
we are
legally
declared
to be
right
before
God
through
Christ.
And
therefore,
we are
entitled to
everything
that Jesus
deserved.
Adopted
as sons
and daughters
of the
Father,
receiving
his
Holy Spirit,
heirs
of heaven
for
eternity,
that is
our new
identity.
We are
reconciled
to God,
brought
back into
relationship
with him
at greatest
cost to
him,
at no
cost to
ourselves.
That is
astonishing
grace.
Can you
see how
different that
is to
King Charles?
King Charles
is like,
Harry,
you've got
to pay
for the
wrong
you've
done,
boy.
Then we'll
see about
reconciliation.
God the
King says,
I've
paid for
the wrong
you've
done.
At
greatest
cost to
me,
at the
cost of
my son.
So you
could come
into a
relationship
with me
forever.
This is
our new
identity.
It's our
greatest
identity.
You could
be a
mother,
student,
a husband,
a wife,
a workplace
manager,
a sports
person,
a musician.
So many
ways that we
can find
identity in
this world.
Here's the
one that
stands above
all others.
You are
reconciled to
God,
a son or
daughter of
the King
of the
universe.
Forgiven,
restored,
not condemned,
safe with
him forever.
What can
beat that?
If you
are in
Christ today,
do you
realize your
identity?
Is it
your number
one identity
over all
other things
that you
are reconciled
to God?
Now,
just to
say,
if you're
sitting here
and you
haven't yet
put your
trust in
Christ,
you haven't
repented
of your
sin and
believe that
he died
and rose
again for
you,
the King
is reaching
out to you
today to
reconcile.
You've read
it in his
word.
Even though
you're the
one who
did the
damage in
the relationship,
he's reaching
out to you
and he's
graciously made
it possible
for you to
be forgiven,
adopted as
his son or
daughter forever.
how could
you walk
away from
him?
How could
you turn
down that
invitation to
reconcile?
Well,
for all who
are in
Christ,
once we
realize this
new identity,
we can't
just stay
the same.
We can't.
Have a look
at verse 14.
Paul talks
about that.
for Christ's
love compels
us because
we are
convinced that
one died
for all and
therefore all
died.
What does
that mean?
Well,
I think it
means this,
that if you
are united
to Christ,
your old
life of
slavery to
sin died
with him.
And you
have new
life in
him now.
Verse 15,
and he
died for
all,
that those
who live
should no
longer live
for themselves,
but for
him who
died for
them and
was raised
again.
It makes
sense,
doesn't it?
If he has
totally transformed
our future,
paying the
price to
reconcile us
with God,
how could we
not look at
Jesus and
say,
my life is
yours?
You
redeemed
it.
You're
the only
reason why
I will
not be
condemned
for my
sin.
I want
to live
for you,
King Jesus,
because you
gave your
life for
me.
We long
to live
for him
when we
truly realize
our identity
as those
who are
reconciled
to God.
God.
But what
does it
look like
to live
for Jesus,
to give
our lives
for him?
Well,
I think
that's the
second thing
that this
text shows
us.
We have
a new
purpose
in life.
And it's
to share
the message
of reconciliation
with others.
Do you
notice how
this new
purpose flows
out of your
new identity?
Now that
we're
reconciled
to God,
we long
for others
to be
reconciled
also.
We can't
bear the
thought of
our family
or friends
remaining
far off
from God,
separated
from him
forever,
because if
Jesus took
our sin,
he can
take theirs
also.
If Jesus
can give
us his
righteousness,
he can
give it
to them
too.
Let's
read how
Paul frames
this in
verse 18.
He says
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
people's sins
against them.
And he
has committed
to us
the message
of
reconciliation.
So first,
he's given
us a
ministry
of
reconciliation.
You know,
we often
attach our
purpose in
life to
what we
do in
our lives.
So if
you're
working,
your purpose
might be
to do
well,
to provide
for your
family,
to climb
the career
ladder.
If you're
retired,
your purpose
is to
enjoy your
retirement,
care for
your family,
look after
your health.
If you're
a parent,
your purpose
is to raise
your kids
well.
If you're
a student,
get good
grades,
and launch
your career
the best
you can.
And it's
not wrong
to have
any of
those purposes.
Those are
good things.
But I
think the
point Paul's
making here
is if
you're
united to
Christ,
you've got
a purpose
that overarches
everything else,
a new
purpose in
life.
And this
is it.
it's
your
ministry
of sharing
the message
of Jesus.
It's
helping
other
people
to get
to Jesus.
And once
they're there,
to stay
on the
journey
with
Jesus.
And that
gives us
more purpose
than all
the other
things in
our lives
added together
when you
think about
it.
A hundred
years from
now,
what's
going to
matter?
going to
matter?
What's
going to
matter?
Will it
matter the
grades I
got?
How far I
progressed in
my career?
Will it
matter whether
my kids had
all the
latest gear?
Or what
house I
lived in?
No,
it won't.
But here's
what will
matter 100
years from
now,
people.
People
matter.
It matters
whether people
hear about
Jesus.
It matters
whether they
are given
the chance
to be
reconciled
to God
and spend
eternity
with him.
What an
amazing purpose
to spend
your life
helping as
many people
as possible
get to
Jesus.
When you
get to
heaven,
will you
ever regret
even a
minute spent
doing that?
Look around
you in the
room.
you see
people
walking
through
life with
you,
encouraging
you towards
Jesus,
helping you
to trust
him through
highs,
through
lows,
challenging
you whenever
you veer
off the
track.
in heaven.
In heaven,
we re going
to look
each other
in the
eye and
know in
an instant
that every
single
moment was
worth it.
every single
text message,
every word of
encouragement,
every arm
around the
shoulder,
whatever we
did to
help each
other on
the journey
to Jesus
will be
eternally
worth it.
There is
nothing better
we could have
spent our
time doing.
And that's
supporting others
to share
Jesus as
well.
That's part of
our ministry
too, like
turning up to
wash dishes
at the carol
service.
Or giving
your money to
support the
various ministries
that are
happening in
the life of
the church,
like Rock
and Rooted
or supporting
Amy in
Sheffield,
who's sharing
Jesus with
people who've
never heard
about him.
You know
what?
We'll never
regret using
our time and
resources in
these ways
because we're
supporting the
gospel, the
good news of
Jesus, going
forward to
more and more
people.
So that's the
first thing.
God gives us a
purpose to do
something that
lasts forever,
sharing the
message of
reconciliation.
And that
message is,
in verse 19,
that God was
reconciling the
world to
himself in
Christ, not
counting people's
sins against
them.
That's the
message.
And what a
beautiful message
it is that we
share.
And Paul says
next in verse
20, have a
look at that.
He says this,
we are therefore
Christ's
ambassadors, as
though God
were making
his appeal
through us.
We implore
you on
Christ's
behalf, be
reconciled to
God.
I want you to
think about our
Taoiseach for a
second, Michal
Martin.
He's got around
90 different
ambassadors around
the world.
I didn't know
that, I
looked it up.
They work all
over the world,
and they
represent him.
They convey
messages for
him.
So for instance,
this week,
Michal Martin
was in South
Africa for the
G20 summit.
What does
he do if
he wants to
speak to
Trump, who
didn't come to
the conference,
about Trump's
peace plan for
Ukraine?
Well, he
rings up his
ambassador in
Washington, and
he sends his
ambassador to the
White House to
speak for him.
Martin makes
his appeal through
the ambassador.
So whatever that
ambassador speaks,
it's really
Michal Martin's
words, right?
And you
better believe it's
an honor to be
asked to be an
ambassador.
Not just anyone
gets that job.
You represent
the leader of
this country.
Now just think
about this for a
second.
The king of all
kings has
chosen us to
be his
ambassadors.
sent out to
communicate the
most important
message that this
world needs to
hear.
That God is
reconciling people
to himself in
Christ, not
counting people's
sins against
them.
He has his
ambassadors in
every corner of
the globe.
The message is
going forward
every day into
places where the
king is not
known.
And right here
in Cargilline,
we are among
that number.
He's given us
the job.
What about
that for a
life purpose?
Here's three
quick things to
think about if
you are God's
ambassador.
First, you've
got authority to
speak for the
king.
As Paul says,
God is literally
making his
appeal to the
people around
you through
your mouth.
through all
the words that
you say,
whether you
write them
down or you
put them on
social media,
we have
authority from
the king of
kings to
speak this
message.
We have
authority to
implore people
to be
reconciled to
God, whether
they want to
hear that
message or
not.
What a
wonder it is
that as we
speak the
king's words,
Christ himself
speaks to
us.
Wow.
That is
sobering.
It matters
how we
live as
ambassadors.
It matters
what we
say.
So it's so
important when
we are
representing the
king that we
speak the
king's words.
No good
ambassador
waffles on
about what
they think
their king
would say.
We don't
have any
remit to
speak what
we imagine
God is
like or
how we
imagine people
can be made
right with
him.
No, no,
our king has
written down
the message
for us.
He's put it
in black
and white.
And as
faithful
ambassadors,
we speak
the king's
words.
And we
want to
speak it
clearly.
right?
So whatever
we share
from the
Bible,
whatever
story we
might turn
to,
may it
always
point to
the main
story that
scripture is
telling.
How God
is reconciling
the world
to himself
and Christ,
not counting
people's sins
against them.
So I might
say, as an
ambassador,
studying God's
word is a
really good
thing for you
to be doing
with your
time.
Make
home group
a priority.
You're going
to learn
more about
the word
there too.
Be better
equipped to
share clearly.
Get good
books to
help you to
understand
scripture.
If you
want some
recommendations,
you can chat
to the elders
after.
Even try
out a course
in Munster
Bible College.
Make it
your aim
to share
the gospel
well.
Now, at
this point,
you might be
saying, Sam,
I just
can't do
that.
I'm not
cut out
for this
ambassador role.
It's not
my thing.
I'm not a
great speaker.
I've not
been a
Christian long
enough or
I don't
know as
much about
the Bible
as other
people do
in this
room.
I find
it hard
to put
it into
words.
Absolutely.
All those
reservations
are real.
We can
feel all
those things.
We can
feel like
we're
absolutely
not
qualified
to be
God's
ambassadors.
But here's
what Jesus
told his
disciples
whenever he
was sending
them out
as his
ambassadors
in Luke
chapter 13.
He said
this,
when you're
brought before
synagogues,
rulers,
and authorities,
do not worry
about how you
will defend
yourselves or
what you
will say,
for the
Holy Spirit
will teach
you at that
time what
you should
say.
the truth
is that
unlike
Michal
Martin,
your king
actually goes
with you
by his
spirit on
the mission
to share
his message.
He actually
lives within
us to
empower us
so that when
we ask of
him,
he will
direct us
to something
from his
word so
we can
speak his
message in
a way that
person needs
to hear it.
the point
is this,
the king
will help
you to
speak.
He's not
just giving
us authority
to speak,
he's going
to help
us to
speak,
and that's
a wonderful
comfort.
That means
if like me
you don't
feel like a
very qualified
ambassador,
that's okay.
The king's
got you on
the job
anyway,
and he
delights
to channel
his power
through weak
people like
you and
me.
Last
question,
where is
the king
sending you
to speak?
There are
people that
God has
made you
his
ambassador
to.
Are you
praying for
opportunities
to share
with them?
Are you
praying that
people are
really hard
and have
never wanted
to hear
anything
about Jesus
before,
that God
would just
soften their
hearts to
be open
to him?
There are
people in your
life that I'm
not able to
get near,
and vice
versa.
See how God
places his
ambassadors in
all different
places, and we
believe that there
are no
coincidences.
things.
So God's
placed the
people in
your life
and in
mine for
a reason.
It's not
by accident.
He places
his ambassadors
on purpose
with a new
purpose to
share him.
So live out
that purpose
that God has
given you in
helping others
get to
Jesus.
I want to
finish with
a story.
It's from
The Lion,
the Witch,
and the
Wardrobe by
C.S.
Lewis.
I don't
know how
many of
you have
read the
book.
If you
haven't,
I really
recommend
you do.
Four
children
stumble into
this mystical
world of
Narnia, and
they discover
that they are
the fulfillment
of an ancient
prophecy that
when two
sons of
Adam and
two daughters
of Eve
sit on
the thrones
of Narnia,
the reign
of the
evil white
witch will
end.
And winter
will come
to an
end.
But
Edmund
scandalously
betrays his
three siblings
and Aslan,
the rightful
ruler of
the land,
and he
defects to
the wicked
white witch.
And he
does this
only because
he's mad at
his brother
and he's
greedy for
Turkish
delight.
And the
witch has
loads of
it.
But before
long, he
realizes that
he's enslaved
to a cruel
and wicked
witch.
And then he
actually finds
out that this
witch is about
to kill him.
Because she's
understood that
if she kills
Edmund, the
prophecy will
come to an
end and she
will remain
the ruler of
Narnia forever.
Now, meanwhile,
far off, Lucy,
Edmund's sister,
pleads with
Aslan.
She says,
can anything
be done to
save Edmund?
Aslan replies,
all shall be
done, but it
may be harder
than you
think.
Aslan sends
out his
soldiers to
rescue Edmund
and he's
reconciled to
his siblings,
to Aslan.
But not
long after,
the white
witch approaches
their camp.
She points
to Edmund
and she
says to
Aslan,
you know
that every
traitor
belongs to
me as
my lawful
prey and
that I
have a
right to
kill.
Aslan
can do
nothing.
Aslan
knows she's
right.
According to
the laws
of Narnia,
Edmund
deserves to
die for
what he
has done.
But he
takes the
witch aside
and he
sends everyone
else away
and after
a long
discussion
he turns
around and
he says,
I have
settled the
matter.
The witch
has renounced
the claim
on your
brother's
blood.
She skips
away with
a smile
on her
face.
No one
realizing
that Aslan
had agreed
to climb
the hill
later that
night and
allow himself
to be
bound onto
the stone
table and
killed in
Edmund's
place.
Edmund's
reconciliation
came at
the greatest
cost to
the king.
Isn't
that a
picture of
how Jesus,
the true
king,
died for
traitors and
rebels like
us?
We who
betrayed his
love.
But our
king was
too powerful
for death
to hold
him down.
After paying
our debt
of sin,
he rose
from the
dead and
our king
is really
alive today.
we are a
new creation
raised to
new life
in him
with a
new identity
reconciled
to God
and a
new purpose
sharing the
message of
Jesus.
And Edmund,
he shows us
what this new
reconciled life
is like because
right at the
end of the
story,
he rides out
into battle
against the
white witch.
And what does
he cry at the
top of his
lungs?
for Aslan.
He couldn't
help but live
for the glory
of the one
who had
reconciled
him.
And neither
can we.
We live
for Jesus
who reconciled
us as
his
ambassadors
sharing the
message of
how Jesus
can reconcile
others as
well.
Let the
echo of our
days be
for Jesus
our King.
Let's pray.
Father, remind
us that we
are a new
creation in
Christ.
Where we
doubt that we
have really
changed,
remind us
that everything
has changed.
Help us to
live in our
new identity
as those
reconciled to
God and
safe with
him forever.
Help us to
live in our
new purpose of
sharing that
message as
your ambassadors.
Challenge us
to share it
boldly and
clearly,
knowing you
go with us
and you
have given
us authority
to speak
on your
behalf.
Fill us
with your
Holy Spirit
as we go
out into
this week
into the
places that
you have
sent us.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
another song.
It's called
When I
Survey.
Play.
And this
song talks
about what
it caused
our king
to reconcile
us to God.
And it
finishes with
our right
response to
him.
Please
stand as
we sing.
Thank you.
Amen.