Well, thank you, Rachel. Thank you for reading God's Word to us.
Let me just pray before we begin.
God and Father, just thank you for your Word.
We thank you for all that we have sung in the truths in these hymns and choruses that we have sung.
We thank you for this passage and the Lord Jesus in it.
And we just pray that as you speak to us that we will have open ears to listen and soft hearts to take on your Word.
And so we ask that your Holy Spirit will work in each one of us this morning.
In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Well, good morning. I'm JT. I'm one of the elders.
It's my privilege to take us through this passage this morning.
And what a passage!
You know, when it was, I saw what passage I had.
I didn't recognize it from the, you know, 2 Corinthians 5, 11, 62.
I didn't recognize it.
But when I looked in it to see what it was all about,
well, as the more I've looked into it this week,
the more excited I've got about reading it and about what it contains.
This morning, this is the gospel.
This is the truth of what God has done for us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
So let's start with a little bit of a catch-up.
So we're in 2 Corinthians.
And as Graham said, this is the second letter of Paul to the church in Corinth
that is recorded in the Bible as we have it today.
We think there was letters in between times, but we don't need to get into that.
And Corinth, well, it was a cosmopolitan city.
It was kind of near Athens.
And it was a city of pleasure.
It was wild.
It had a reputation for that.
And Paul, he had set up this as the Apostle Paul.
He set up lots of churches.
And this was one of them in Corinth.
But there was this problem of there was these false teachers.
And they were teaching that it was all about what you show on the outside.
It's all about what you portray to people.
That's what's important.
And they were saying because of that, Paul, well, Paul wasn't a well man.
He didn't keep very well.
He had a poor job.
You know, he didn't actually speak very well.
He wasn't a great orator.
And they were saying, Paul isn't good enough to have authority over you, to teach you, to guide you.
But Paul here, and especially in these chapters 4 to 7, he is addressing these claims.
And in chapters 4 to 7, we have this paradox of the cross where we find strength in weakness.
And that is where we get this heading from, boasting in weakness.
Christ himself was self-giving.
He gave himself.
There was great glory in the suffering of the cross.
And Paul here, he is saying that the church in Corinth, they are to imitate the cross.
They are to expect poverty.
They are to expect suffering.
They are to be humble.
These things are to be expected.
And in fact, there is glory in these things.
And last week, Graham, he took us through the first 10 verses of chapter 5.
And some of the headlines from that would be that we live by faith and not by sight.
We will live differently if we remember the fact that our home is in fact in heaven.
That like tents are just temporary dwellings.
No one lives in a tent forever, do they?
No, this is not our forever home.
And when we live like that, then we will live differently.
And we saw that there is judgment coming.
There is justice coming.
And this brings us comfort.
We want justice, don't we?
But it's also a challenge to believers that the judgment seat of Christ is coming,
where Christians will be judged on their good works and the things they have done for God.
And that's important because that brings us to this week and this passage where Paul carries on.
And this week, to help think about it, we're going to look at it a little bit like a court case.
Okay?
Graham was a lawyer.
I am no lawyer.
And you'll see that from the way I've twisted my illustration to make it fit this morning.
That some of you might be a lawyer.
But I've seen enough TV programs or films or read enough books with law elements to know roughly how it works.
And always the key thing they say is, well, we must find the motive.
Why was this crime committed?
We need a motive.
But you also need the facts of the case, don't you?
You need the content.
What happened?
What went on?
What actually happened?
And there's always a plea, isn't there?
There's a plea made.
There's a call made at some point.
And we're going to see this this morning in this passage when Paul is talking about this ministry of reconciliation.
Your Bible might have that as a heading.
Well, Paul here, he explains the message and the character of this new covenant ministry that the church in Corinth is to be a part of.
And to help us think about that, this is a definition that someone has put about what reconciliation is.
It's not really a word that we use in everyday language.
But Christian reconciliation is the work of God through Christ by which he restores mankind to a favorable relationship with himself.
It is mending that relationship between God and man.
And that is what Paul is talking about this morning.
So we're going to look at it in three ways.
We're going to see Paul's motive.
We're going to see Paul's facts.
And we're going to see Paul's plea that he makes.
You know, there's two streams as we go through this.
The things that we look at here, they're going to apply to those who are not saved.
Those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their savior.
Yeah.
And they're going to be also pleased to those who are saved already.
And it will apply to those who would call themselves Christians who have that saving faith in the Lord Jesus.
And you know, it does that because that is true in life.
Before God, we are one of those two things.
It's as simple as that.
So whoever you are today, whichever category you fall into, this passage is for you.
But as we go through, let's remember the context of Paul speaking to this church in Corinth.
Right, so let's get stuck into the motive.
Paul here in the first few verses, he lays out his motivation behind this ministry.
In the light of the knowledge of the judgment seat of Christ that we finished on last week,
Paul says, since, in verse 11,
since then we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.
And this could mean two things.
Paul is defending his character to these false prophets, to those in the church.
He is saying that I do have true faith.
I fear the Lord.
Paul has that saving knowledge.
That reverent obedience, that devotion, that awe of God.
That is what it means to fear the Lord.
You know, Paul is also motivated to persuade others of the truth of these things.
Those that do not know these things for themselves.
Paul, why is he defending his character?
What is the point here?
Why does he feel the need to do that?
Well, if he doesn't defend his character, then he has no leg to stand on, really.
That would be a modern phrase for that.
There's no point laying out the truths of these things if no one's going to listen to him anyway.
How often do we see politicians, you know, high up politicians in all levels of government or famous people, society,
but then something goes wrong?
There's the expenses scandals.
There's parties that they shouldn't be having.
There's affairs.
All these things.
And what happens?
Well, these people just resign, don't they?
Why do they resign?
Well, no one trusts them anymore.
No one's going to listen to them.
No one's going to do what they say.
That's a little bit like here that Paul needs to defend himself first to show that he is truly who he says he is.
And how does he back this up?
Well, he says what we are is plain to God.
There's no hiding from God.
God knows the truth of who we are.
No matter what others say about us, God knows who you are this morning.
And in contrast to Paul's true faith, he challenges those who take pride in what is seen, as it says in verse 12.
These are the false prophets who are just totally interested in what is on the outside.
What is important is what is in their heart.
So Paul has defended his character and then he goes on to say his motivation for these things.
Verse 14, read it with me.
For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died.
The strong language there compels, convinced.
Paul is motivated here.
Do you get the sense of that?
You know this passage, one died for all, it says there, therefore all died.
Yes, all can be saved.
Jesus died for all.
But it also means that all need saved.
And that's important to know.
Everyone has been separated from God through sin.
Through the first man, Adam, and if you want some reading this afternoon, go and read Genesis 3.
Through the first man, Adam, sin came into the world.
And from that point on, all were dead men before God.
I've not seen it, but I've heard of a show called The Walking Dead.
I wouldn't recommend it because I don't know anything about it.
But you know, it's that kind of concept, isn't it?
It's that everyone is the walking dead.
We're just walking around, but before God, we are dead in our sins.
Romans 3, 23, a famous verse.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
You know, I've got two daughters.
One's four and one's one.
And, you know, the youngest one at the moment, she's already, and she kind of finds it funny
and she pulls this little pout, but her favorite thing at the moment is to go, no.
She sort of pouts at us all and scowls.
You know, it's kind of funny, it's kind of cute.
You know, we kind of try not to laugh because it encourages her.
But, you know, even from such a young age, the disobedience is built into her, isn't it?
And we're all disobedient.
We're disobedient to God.
But the good news is that that's not the end.
Romans 3, 23, shut your Bible.
No, that's not the end.
Romans 3, 24.
The good news is that the work is done.
All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
All are justified freely.
We'll see in verse 17 that that saving is not universal, that we need to do our part.
But we will look at that later on.
But Paul, he's so enthused by the truth of these things, by the fact that he has that saving faith,
that he is convinced that these things are true, that he is so compelled to tell others.
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.
In that verse, we start with the death of the Lord Jesus, and we finish with his life, his raising again.
You know, if we believe these things, then our worldview is totally changed.
Someone's worldview, it really impacts how they live their life.
It affects what they eat.
It affects how they spend their time.
It affects how they spend their money.
Now, if we are living in the reverent fear of the Lord as Paul is,
then that will totally change how we live our lives.
Or it should do.
Not living a self-focus the world resolves around me.
How can I further myself?
That should not be our primary aim.
So what is your motivation in life?
God knows who you truly are.
There is no hiding from him.
We all start in that position of being separated from God through sin.
Christ died for all, but salvation, it needs accepted.
Forgiveness needs asked for.
And if we are saved, then what does our character say about us?
Paul had to defend his character here because he was being falsely accused.
But does our character allow us to actually go and tell others?
Do our words match our actions?
And if so, are we passionately convinced and compelled to go and tell others?
Are we living our lives for the one who's done so much for us?
That was Paul's motivation.
Then we're going to see Paul's facts.
So he's laid out his motive for these things,
and he's going to lay out the content of this ministry of reconciliation.
Verse 16.
So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
I don't know about you, but I can't think of the words from now on
and not start sort of tapping your foot and singing along.
The ones laughing in the room know what I'm talking about.
So it's The Greatest Showman.
It's a good film, isn't it?
It's got that really catchy song, From Now On.
And you know, in that, Hugh Jackman's character,
his life at that point has changed.
He's decided in his mind that he is going to live differently.
Not in the same sense that we have here.
But he's saying in that song,
From now on, I'm going to do this.
From now on, I'm going to live like that.
From now on, life will be different.
You know, that is the sense that we have here.
As saved people, our worldview is radically altered.
Paul says that even Paul, he once viewed Jesus as just a man,
but not anymore.
How do you view Jesus?
How we view Jesus, well, it changes our view on those around us.
And that affects how we act towards each and every person that we come across.
Verse 17,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.
If we believe in Christ, the new creation has come.
The old has gone.
The new is here.
You know, that if there is vital in that verse.
There's not universal salvation.
We are not all saved by the work of the Lord Jesus automatically.
We must do our part.
I was thinking now to try and illustrate this,
and nothing really does it justice,
but I was thinking, right,
if I stand up here and go,
right, everyone, free coffee at the end.
Okay, I've got vouchers.
Okay, come and see me at the end.
You think, oh, great.
Yeah, free coffee, brilliant.
But unless you come up to me,
ask me for a voucher,
accept it from me,
and go and get the coffee,
then one's not just going to appear in your hand.
You know, that's a trivial example,
but that is essentially the case.
We need to accept what the Lord Jesus has done.
We need to ask for forgiveness.
In Christ, we need to be joined to him
by faith as Savior.
And if so, then we become a new creation.
A new creation.
Reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Our spirit and our mind is totally made new,
but not yet our bodies,
which is important to note.
Our previous condition, it is gone.
We have a new position before God.
I want to be clear here.
We are not made perfect at that point.
We are not made perfect.
We know that.
We mess up.
We still sin.
Our practice sometimes fails us,
but our position before God
is secure and changed.
I am a new creation.
No more in condemnation.
Here in the grace of God, I stand.
It is our position that is secure in Christ.
So well done us, right?
Well done.
We're in that position.
Go us.
Well, no, I like the humble verses of the Bible.
I think they're always good.
They really put us in our place.
You know, verse 18 is one of those.
All of this,
all of what we've been talking about,
this being made new,
being in Christ,
this change,
all this is from God
who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and he gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
See which direction that is going?
It is all God.
We sung it this morning.
Jesus paid it all.
All to him I owe.
God has made us acceptable to himself
through the work of the Lord Jesus,
his death and resurrection
that we saw in verse 15.
Sin caused that separation,
but Christ allows that restoration.
God is holy.
God cannot accept us in our sinful state.
That wouldn't be right.
God is just.
We need our problem solved.
And we are reconciled,
not just that we just sit back
and do nothing,
but know that our examples
will bring others to know God.
God was reconciling us to himself
in Christ, verse 19 says,
not counting people's sins against them.
And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation.
God doesn't hold our sins against us.
At this point,
I was brought to think of John 8
where the Lord Jesus,
he goes to the,
there's a woman who's caught in adultery
and everyone has picked up stones
and they're about to stone her.
They're about to kill her.
And Jesus says,
he who has committed no sin
can cast the first stone.
Gradually, everyone just drops their stones
and walks away.
You know, Jesus,
he hadn't committed a sin,
but he doesn't stone her.
He doesn't hold her sins against her.
We need to accept Jesus's death
and resurrection
as being that just payment
for our wrongdoing.
Jesus has done it all.
He has done enough.
And that good news message,
it is committed to us.
What a privilege and a challenge.
You know,
we're looking at the facts here,
aren't we?
We need to know the facts
of these things.
We need to have these things
straight in our heads
so that we can actually go
and tell others about them.
You know,
we've had the students
stand up this morning,
but your lecturers
are the experts in their field.
They know what they're,
well, I really hope they know
what they're talking about.
And they are experts.
They know all about it.
Their life revolves around it
and that allows them
to be able to teach you.
Hopefully,
that should be the case anyway.
You know,
that's like us.
We need to know the facts
of these things.
We need to have them clear
so that we can go
and be witnesses
and tell others.
How do we do that?
Well,
it's Bible study,
quiet time,
spending time
improving our relationship
with God,
attendance at church services,
being in occasions
where God's word
is read and spoken from,
but also our home groups.
Get involved in a home group.
Discuss these things.
Wrestle with these things
during the week.
Discuss how they really apply
to our lives.
These things are vital.
So that's Paul's facts.
And what is our response
to these facts?
What is our worldview?
Have we had that life-changing moment
where we are then in Christ?
That previous condition is gone.
We have that new position
before God
and we are set aside
as blameless
before him.
And if we are,
then are we clear
in these facts
so that we can tell others?
So that brings us
to our last point,
the plea.
So Paul has laid out
his motive
for writing these things.
He's laid out
the facts of the case
and now he's going to make
a plea.
Paul finishes
by pleading
to listen
and to act
on this ministry
of reconciliation.
Verse 20,
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.
Christ's ambassadors.
You know,
we have a group
called the Embassy.
It's for the teenagers.
You'll see them
meeting over there
after the service
to discuss
some of these things
that have gone on
that have been talked about.
You know,
why is it called embassy?
Well,
it's because we are
to be ambassadors
for God
in this world.
You know,
potentially here
Paul is talking
about himself
as an apostle
because they certainly
had a special role
in setting up
the first churches
and they were
certainly
slightly different.
But you know,
it still applies
to us today.
The Church of Christ,
it is like a divine embassy
in this hostile world
and we are part of that.
Last week,
we thought that
this is not our
home forever.
That we are just
temporary dwellers
and in fact,
we are almost like
foreigners here
in this world.
Paul,
that strong language again,
we implore you
on Christ's behalf,
be reconciled
to God.
Be saved,
he is saying.
And I implore you today,
if that is not you,
then don't leave
without speaking
to someone.
don't leave here
without addressing
the problem
that we all have.
Verse 21,
God made him
who had no sin
to be sin for us
so that we
might become
the righteousness
of God.
One of these verses
in the Bible
that's kind of
unexplainable,
the truths
of these things,
in one sense
it's so simple
but in other senses
it's just so complex.
Sin that wholly
characterizes us.
And Christ,
he was made
all that we are
when he died
on that cross.
And in the same way,
righteousness is what
totally characterizes God.
And we are made
so when we are
in Christ.
We are placed
in that right
relationship
by his gracious
loving kindness.
So God has done
it all.
Are we willing
to do our part?
That is Paul's plea
this morning.
6 verse 1
is God's
co-workers
we urge you
not to receive
God's grace
in vain.
So once again
we have those
two streams.
First of all
he's urging people
to accept
these things,
to accept
the truth
of these things.
And if we have
accepted already
then don't keep
it to yourself.
Don't live a life
for yourself
but live a life
for God
doing as he would
want us to do.
Don't waste
the opportunity
of God's grace.
It is wonderful.
It is marvelous.
And Paul finishes
by quoting
from Isaiah 49
verse 8.
It's a bit of a
difficult verse
this one
but it says
in the time
of my favor
I heard you
and in the day
of salvation
I helped you.
And what that is
there
that it is
prophetically
addressing the Messiah
so it is
Jehovah
speaking to
Christ Jesus
the Messiah.
God here
is answering
Christ's prayer
by raising him
from the dead.
You know
why is Paul
put that
in there?
Well he says
I tell you
now is the time
of God's favor
now is the day
of salvation.
The day of salvation
has begun.
Lord Jesus
he has died
he has risen again
we are in the day
of salvation.
Salvation is open
to us.
It is available.
It is available
to everyone
that we meet
and greet.
But that won't
go on forever.
It's until that
day of judgment
comes
or until we die
and our life
is taken from us.
And hopefully
that brings a sense
of urgency
to these things.
Today is the day.
You know
so often in this life
we worry about
tomorrow
what is your
10 year plan
where will you be
in 20 years
what are you going
to do in your
retirement?
You know
the Bible says
for us to focus
on today
because we do
not know
what tomorrow
may bring.
So don't waste
the opportunity
of God's grace.
Witness to others
do all that we can.
We are part
of that embassy
of Christ
in this world.
Today is the day
don't delay.
You know
there's an old
old hymn
and it says
this
it's called
Almost Persuaded.
One of the verses
says
Be now persuaded
O sinner
here
Be now persuaded
Jesus is near
His voice
is pleading
still
Turn now
with heart
and will
Peace will
your spirit
fill
O turn
today
So let me
just sum
this up.
Paul in regards
to this ministry
of reconciliation
he laid out
his motive
for writing
these things
he laid out
the facts
that he wanted
to get across
and he has
made his plea
he has made
his plea
all have sinned
we've seen that
God cannot
accept us
as we are
in that state
as he is
holy
and just
all need
to accept
the facts
of these things
to have that
relationship
with God
restored
to be
reconciled
to him
and we can
give praise
and thanks
that God
in Christ
has done
all of the work
it was all
him
required
for salvation
Jesus died
he took that
guilt
and that shame
for us
and he rose
again
and lives
forever
and we can
worship him
and if we are
a new creation
already
then that is
brilliant
we have been
made new
and we look
forward to that
day in heaven
when we will
have our new
body
and that
we will
be made
perfect
and won't
mess up
anymore
and if that
is the case
then we should
be convinced
about these
things
we should be
compelled by
these things
to go and
tell others
to witness
to do
whatever we
can
witness in
our daily
lives
show good
character
to everyone
that we
come across
spreading the
good news
that we
know to be
true
ourselves
God
Father we
just thank
you for
your word
we thank
you for
the depths
of it
that just
cannot be
explored
we thank
you for
the truths
of the
ministry
of reconciliation
the work
that was
done by
the Lord
Jesus
that you
brought us
to yourself
through that
great work
the death
and resurrection
of the Lord
Jesus
us
we pray
that as
we continue
to think
of these
things
and as
we go
from here
that these
things will
dwell in
our minds
and in
our hearts
and that the
Holy Spirit
will work
in us
to convict
us of
these things
throughout
today and
this week
we just ask
your blessing
as we close
and we do
just once again
give you the
thanks for
the Lord
Jesus
in his name
we pray
Amen