OUR FAITHFUL PROVIDER
Psalm 145:14-16
Today’s message will deal mightily with the fact of God’s faithfulness to us. In fact his faithfulness is not only concerned with us who have been saved but it also extends to those who have yet to be saved and even to those who will ultimately not be saved. We of course have to come to grips with the fact that God is faithful to us because of his righteousness and character. Not because we have done anything to merit his faithfulness. For there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s grace and faithfulness – in fact scripture is very clear that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, all have fallen short of his glory and without God’s grace we would all be subject to God’s holy judgment upon our sin.
Because we will be examining God’s faithfulness, let’s look at some other portions of God’s word that help round out our brief exposure to this great attribute of God.
"Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast." (Psalm 119:90, ESV)
"For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”" (Psalm 89:2, ESV)
"O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?" (Psalm 89:8, ESV)
"but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness." (Psalm 89:33, ESV)
"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds." (Psalm 36:5, ESV)
A brief reading of these few verses and we see a recurring theme; faithfulness and steadfast love. The meaning behind this statement is one that describes God ‘binding’ himself to his people. God is making the covenant as well as securing it with his people. Despite their rebellion and their disobedience. It’s not hard for us to look back in biblical history and say to ourselves, ‘they were so out of it! They actually seen the miraculous and still they acted in ignorance and unbelief.’ But before we become too judgmental, look at your own life. How many times have you turned your back on God and committed some treacherous act of sin? Essentially knowing that what you are doing is wrong but ignoring what your God says and doing it anyway. Are we not just like them?
Yet we see God binding himself to us, his fallen creatures, and securing the promise he made that he would save. And this is manifested in no clearer way than his action in sending his one and only son to die for us. Observe what Paul wrote;
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26, NIV)
David wrote after his agonizing confession about his adultery;
"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." (Psalm 51:3, NIV)
Again he wrote;
"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. " (Psalm 32:5, NIV)
David’s son, Solomon understood this principle;
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Proverbs 28:13, NIV)
Likewise the apostle John, in reassuring his church, wrote this;
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV)
God will not forsake the confession of his children. This faithfulness to himself and his character is described for us in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. In chapter two Paul writes that God demonstrated his own love for in the fact that while we were still sinners and objects of his wrath – he made us alive together with Jesus. It is by grace we have been saved. By his grace because of his faithfulness to himself and his promise of a redemption from sin.
Let us not to quickly forget that God’s faithfulness is described as everlasting, established, unfailing, infinite, incomparable and is shown to us through his forgiveness of our sins by our confession to him and through our faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
In these three verses I hope we will come to see that,
The Lord is faithful to the weary.
The Lord is faithful to all people.
The Lord is faithful to satisfy.
And all of this is found in Christ alone.
For He alone is our strength.
For He alone is our hope.
For He alone is our fulfillment.
In verse 14 we read;
"The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." (Psalm 145:14, NIV)
Notice the word used to describe ‘Lord’ – it is the word that describes God as the existing one. That is important. It’s important to note because we want to know that the thing/person we place our fears and anxieties, our very lives in is actually real. We want no insecurities regarding were we place our insecurities. And the existing one is the one whom we can lean against for support. For that is what is being inferred by the verse. God is the one against whom we can brace ourselves and know that he is solid and immovable. And his rest and support are a place of refreshment and a source for our revival. The Lord is faithful in these things and David is quick to write that the object of this upholding and lifting are those who are weary and bowed. He describes them as those who are failing, feeling inferior and/or being judged by mistake. The issues and hardships of this life are making people weary and are sometime physically (not only spiritually and mentally) bowed over because of stress. God is the one who upholds them and lifts them up. Because they cannot do it themselves. They may want to but may lack the energy and the spiritual agility to regain their footing.
This is also echoed in what our Lord Jesus told the crowds that were following him,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
We need to respond to God’s faithfulness towards us because we need strength. We tend to look in a myriad of places and people for source of inspiration and strength. We may even look to biblical and historical, godly people for source of inspiration and strength. But let us never forget that their source came from the Lord. He is the one who upholds his people and he alone is the one who lifts them up. May we be able to say something like this…
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:1-3, NIV)
Now, looking at verse fifteen we observe;
"The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time." (Psalm 145:15, NIV)
The ‘eyes of all’ is a description of all people groups. Lest we think that God only takes care of his own people. God takes care of the whole earth and everything in it. We worked through that in verse nine – “the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” But these eyes that people use are not only the physical eyeballs but this phrase also refers to the people’s mental qualities and their spiritual faculties. The eyes of all is a reference to the people’s ability to think and feel about the general grace and providential care of God. They may not label it as such but listen the next time you are in a group of people and some talk about being ‘blessed’. Or that they felt that it wasn’t their time or that the ‘big guy upstairs’ was looking out for them. Its not praise that these people are bringing to the Lord but it’s a confirmation that they know the truth and suppress it.
The act of ‘looking’ is really an act of dependence, expectancy and hope. These people are waiting. They are waiting with dependency, they wait expectantly, and they wait with hope. They wait for the Lord of heaven and earth to give them their daily sustenance. And they do this with the idea that God will bring it about in due time. And the meaning behind this phrase is one that comes from the root understanding of perpetuity. A continuing throughout the future. Not just once in a while but will continue because of the mercy and grace of God.
The apostle Paul reminded them of this fact as Luke records it for us in Acts 14:15-17…
"“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”" (Acts 14:15-17, NIV)
We need to respond to the faithfulness of God to all people because all people need hope. And the only hope that will effect change is the hope held out for them in the gospel of Jesus Christ. A time will come when this life is over and they have nothing to stand on but their own merits and works. Look what Jesus had to say regarding this kind of person…
"And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”" (Luke 12:16-21, NIV)
The Lord is good to all. But a time will come when you have to stand before a holy God and you will either stand with the blood of Jesus covering your sin or you will not. You will not be able to advocate for yourself that God showed you his mercy and kindness and faithfulness because he was making allowances for you to circumvent the gospel. Don’t become a fool thinking that because God loves you so much that you don’t have to respond to Jesus as your only hope. The Lord is faithful to all people but in Christ alone is our hope for salvation.
Finally, in verse sixteen we read;
"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." (Psalm 145:16, NIV)
The opening of God’s hand is somewhat metaphorical in the sense that God is opening his hand to let loose, or throw open something. Some cases this refers to God letting loose his wrath and anger. Sometimes it refers to him letting loose blessings and care. But none the less it is an action taken by the existing one for his purposes and for his glory. The opening of the hand suggests that God is letting loose his strength, power or portion. If you can imaging God opening (letting loose) his hand(power, strength, portion)for the purpose of satisfying the desires of those creatures he created we find a God who is not only powerful and majestic but also one who takes special attention in the matters of mankind. For this is what is meant by the phrase ‘every living thing’. Look at Psalm 104…
"The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening. How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things." (Psalm 104:21-28, NIV)
God again is shown to be someone who is gracious not only to those who belong to him but also to those who don’t. But don’t be mislead into thinking that you can sneak by on your own.
"He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:8-11, NIV)
The Lord is faithful to satisfy and we need to respond to this faithfulness because we need the fulfillment that is found in him alone. And that fulfillment can only be found in Jesus Christ. He alone is our fulfillment. We try to pursue different avenues that seem to promise fulfillment but end in emptiness. Whether those avenues are school, career, marriage, children, sex, drugs, religion, friends, and knowledge. It doesn’t matter. None of these things will bring the fulfillment you need. The only one who can bring any sense of complete fulfillment will be Jesus Christ. And he is faithful to satisfy. But it will be costly. Don’t think that because the gift of eternal life is free that it comes without a daily cost to you. But the fulfillment you receive from knowing Jesus will far outweigh any passion or fleshly desire for fulfillment you may have. When Jesus said ‘the one who loses his life for me will find it’ wasn’t kidding. Once we make the conscious decision to lay down our life for Jesus everyday and walk like he did, we will find true fulfillment and satisfaction.
There is so much more to talk about in regards to the Lord’s faithfulness and graciousness.
The Lord is faithful to the weary and we need to respond to that faithfulness because in Jesus alone is our strength.
The Lord is faithful to all people and we desperately need to respond to this faithfulness because in Jesus alone is our hope for salvation.
The Lord is faithful to satisfy and we need to respond to that faithfulness because in Christ alone is our satisfaction.
Psalm 145:14-16
June 29/2008
OUR FAITHFUL PROVIDER
Today’s message will deal mightily with the fact of God’s faithfulness to us. In fact his faithfulness is not only concerned with us who have been saved but it also extends to those who have yet to be saved and even to those who will ultimately not be saved. We of course have to come to grips with the fact that God is faithful to us because of his righteousness and character. Not because we have done anything to merit his faithfulness. For there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s grace and faithfulness – in fact scripture is very clear that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, all have fallen short of his glory and without God’s grace we would all be subject to God’s holy judgment upon our sin.
Because we will be examining God’s faithfulness, let’s look at some other portions of God’s word that help round out our brief exposure to this great attribute of God.
"Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast." (Psalm 119:90, ESV)
"For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”" (Psalm 89:2, ESV)
"O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?" (Psalm 89:8, ESV)
"but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness." (Psalm 89:33, ESV)
"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds." (Psalm 36:5, ESV)
A brief reading of these few verses and we see a recurring theme; faithfulness and steadfast love. The meaning behind this statement is one that describes God ‘binding’ himself to his people. God is making the covenant as well as securing it with his people. Despite their rebellion and their disobedience. It’s not hard for us to look back in biblical history and say to ourselves, ‘they were so out of it! They actually seen the miraculous and still they acted in ignorance and unbelief.’ But before we become too judgmental, look at your own life. How many times have you turned your back on God and committed some treacherous act of sin? Essentially knowing that what you are doing is wrong but ignoring what your God says and doing it anyway. Are we not just like them?
Yet we see God binding himself to us, his fallen creatures, and securing the promise he made that he would save. And this is manifested in no clearer way than his action in sending his one and only son to die for us. Observe what Paul wrote;
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26, NIV)
David wrote after his agonizing confession about his adultery;
"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." (Psalm 51:3, NIV)
Again he wrote;
"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. " (Psalm 32:5, NIV)
David’s son, Solomon understood this principle;
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Proverbs 28:13, NIV)
Likewise the apostle John, in reassuring his church, wrote this;
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV)
God will not forsake the confession of his children. This faithfulness to himself and his character is described for us in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. In chapter two Paul writes that God demonstrated his own love for in the fact that while we were still sinners and objects of his wrath – he made us alive together with Jesus. It is by grace we have been saved. By his grace because of his faithfulness to himself and his promise of a redemption from sin.
Let us not to quickly forget that God’s faithfulness is described as everlasting, established, unfailing, infinite, incomparable and is shown to us through his forgiveness of our sins by our confession to him and through our faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
" Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—" (Romans 5:12, ESV)
"If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted; neither shall it be credited (imputed) to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity." (Leviticus 7:18, ESV)
"that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting (imputing) their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19, ESV)
The issue of imputation is, at the heart, an action. To help us understand imputation we look to its definition. To impute something is to count or credit one thing to another. Imputation would have us attribute responsibility to something, to credit something to a person or a cause. Linguistically, imputation deals with facts - not with suppositions or assumptions. Biblically, imputation deals with the fact of sin (both originally and specifically) and its effect on the human race. It also deals with the righteousness of Jesus given to those who believe and place their faith in him.
The imputation of sin finds its origin in the fall of Adam. For some, Adam is the representative for the entire human race. Because of this representation, Adam’s sin is transferred to the rest of humanity because of the connection the representative has to the whole. For others, Adam is called the ‘seminal’ father of all. This means that Adam had within himself the ‘seed’ of humanity and thus because Adam sinned, all of humanity is deemed guilty because of the blood relationship to Adam. In either situation the human race has been ‘imputed’ with sin and its consequences (Rom. 5:12). We are declared sinners because of our human connection to Adam and because of our own immoral behaviors.
The imputation of righteousness finds its origin in the atonement made by Jesus. This encompasses his life, death and resurrection. In the propitiation of Jesus we found that he satisfied (or appeased) the righteous and holy justice of God on our behalf. With the placing of our faith in the propitiation of Jesus towards the judgment of God we are then ‘covered’ with the righteousness of Jesus. His righteousness covers our sin nature and covers over our sinful actions.
The biblical metaphor of clothing is a good example of this truth. The Bible refers to those without Christ in this world as people who are ‘naked and ashamed’ (Gen.3), ‘poor, blind, naked’ (Rev.3) as well as people who are covered in filthy rags. (Isa.64/Zech.3). The New Testament refers to believers as ones who have ‘put on’ Christ. (Rom 3 / 1 Cor. 15 / 2 Cor.5 / Eph. 4 / Col.3) They are covered by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and have been declared justified by God. The distinction is clear; we are not inherently just but are declared justified because of the covering sacrifice of Jesus. We are imputed with the righteousness of Christ even though the sinful nature still remains in us. The sinful nature no longer rules or reigns over us but it still remains with us. That is why we are called ‘just and sinner’. We are saints of God who still sin.
What are some wider implications of this imputation? The issue of imputation deals directly with our understanding of our justification as well as our day to day sanctification and a Biblical concept of grace. First, without imputation we are not justified before a most holy God. Imputation only occurs through faith alone in the atoning work of Jesus and not from a life of ‘good works’. We cannot earn imputation. Second, without imputation, there is no hope for defeating the sinful nature and its influences on our behavior, for without imputation there is no hope of knowing or pleasing God. Imputation helps us understand that our salvation comes with a deep cost. Christ’s once for all death on the cross and our daily surrender to Him as Lord. With this in clear focus, we look at our own sin differently. We view others sinful behavior differently. We should not accept the idea which states because we are under God’s grace we are free to live as we please and desire what we please and seek after what we please. We can no longer rationalize sinful patterns and attitudes. Rather we look upon our salvation with deep gratitude marked with an attitude which reflects a profound respect and willful submission to the word of God. As in the words of Paul, ‘…so you were bought with a price, so glorify God…’
Peace
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10, ESV)
"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." (Romans 3:25, ESV)
"Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17, ESV)
What is Propitiation?
Merriam-Webster : to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease
Collins Dictionary – appease, win the favor of. Adj intended to appease someone.
Moody Handbook of Theology - Concept meaning to appease or atone. And stresses that the holiness of God was fully satisfied, his wrath appeased and his righteous demands were met through the atoning death of Christ.
Whom does it encompass?
The term ‘Propitiation’ asserts that God is a person who can be offended as well as appeased. It would also assert that God is wrathful towards sin in the same magnitude of that of His love towards humanity.
Primarily, propitiation encompasses God the Father and Jesus the Son. Propitiation is God-ward. It is Jesus appeasing the wrath of God. It is fully satisfying the righteous demands of a holy God by the sacrifice of the innocent and sinless life of Jesus of Nazareth.
God the Father is the subject of propitiation. He is the one who has provided the sacrifice through the Son. It was the Father’s plan (or will) that Jesus come to earth. It was God’s love for us that Jesus came. God the Father is also the object of propitiation as He is the one who is satisfied. It is the love that Jesus has for the Father that drove Jesus to completing the work God gave to him.
Motivation and Misconception
We find the motivation behind the will of the Father to send Jesus the Son to be our propitiation encompassing two concepts. First, it is God’s love for humanity that has initiated the propitiation. Second, it is God’s justice which demands the propitiation. And we find God’s love and justice working perfectly and completely, with and through each other, to ensure that the propitiation is perfect, sufficient and powerful. For it is God’s justice demands that the sinfulness of humanity be dealt with in full and complete terms. And it is God’s love for humanity which ensured that a full and complete sacrifice be given on behalf of a rebellious and sinful creation.
One major misconception that we encounter is this; God is always opposed to us and full of wrath towards us and it is only Jesus who calms (placates) God. God the Father is seen as a reluctant and vengeful God while Jesus is portrayed as the one who has the task of convincing God to forgive. This may lead some to what might appear like a contradiction. The wrath of an all-loving and compassionate God towards the people he has created.
What can we do?
First we need to recognize that the issue of propitiation is not a matter of vengeance but of justice. If God is holy and all together completely righteous and cannot tolerate sin then the sinful state within man must be dealt with prior to reconciliation. But what can a sinner do to please God in order to be saved? Nothing. Everything has been done by God for Himself. He knows that a person cannot fulfill His law and commandments perfectly so he sent Jesus to live the life and die the death for us. In our place. The lost person only needs to believe with their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and they will be saved. Salvation is a gift from God.
Jesus’ propitiation accomplished four things for you and me;
1. It paid the penalty of sin.
2. It broke the power of sin and death from our lives.
3. It removed the pollution of sin from our hearts.
4. It destroyed the dividing wall of sin between God and ourselves.
Secondly, Jesus’ propitiation is efficacious (completely effective and adequate) to cover our sins. But is affected (given to) only when a person exercises faith in Jesus’ death on the cross (atonement) and his resurrection from the dead.
This is the message of the gospel – receive the Savior through his death and resurrection for you. If you want any hope for this life and the next.
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:1-11, ESV)
1. Definition of reconciliation
2. Why do we need to be reconciled?
3. How does reconciliation happen; who is the object of reconciliation?
4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.
1. Definition of Reconciliation
Collins Dictionary – “ harmonize; bring back into friendship”
Merriam-Webster – “1 a: to restore to friendship or harmony
<reconciled the factions> b: settle, resolve <reconcile differences>”
“…is God providing peace where previously there was enmity ( ill will, hatred ), and God restoring mankind to fellowship with Himself…”
“…God removing the barrier caused by sin – producing peace and enabling man to be saved…”
“…a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace between two parties…”
“…through sin man was and is alienated from God. But through Christ’s death peace with God (salvation) was made possible for the whole world but only made effective through the exercise of faith in Christ…”
There are two aspects of reconciliation that we need to be aware of. The first part is considered objective. By that, reconciliation is provided by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. This objective reconciliation is also referred to as provisional. With this term we can come to understand that prior to faith, a person is rendered savable by Jesus sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
The second part is considered subjective. By this, reconciliation occurs when the person places their faith in Jesus for salvation. This portion is also referred to as experimental. This does not mean that salvation is an experiment in the same sense of “trying it out” to see if it works or fits one’s lifestyle. But it carries with it the idea that the person can actually “experience” true inner peace with God the Father.
The Greek origin of reconciliation is found in the word, ‘katalasso’. This word means ‘to effect change’. Re-reading the 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 passage, we will find that God is the initiator or source of the effect. Man needs to be reconciled or restored – as we will soon see – into a right relationship with God if there is any hope to escape God’s judgment and eternal condemnation.
Putting this all together then would have us learn that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, reconciliation was provided for the whole world. But, this reconciliation is only made effective when the person exercises faith in the act on the cross and from the tomb. We then summarize that reconciliation is man ward. This flowing from the heart of God towards the souls of people who believe. Despite the fact that it is people who continue to deny Him.
2. Why do we need Reconciliation?
In our western culture we have a difficult time grasping the idea that an “all-loving” God could or would ever be wrathful towards people he has created. There is some understanding that those who do ‘really bad’ things deserve God’s judgment, but we run into emotional and physiological roadblocks when we consider those around us of whom are labeled ‘upright and honest and good people’. We have no problem seeing the Dahmer’s, Hitler’s & Bin-Laden’s of this world judged for what they have done but we find it very difficult to accept that God would be just as righteous if he exercised His wrath upon co-workers, family and spouses. Some would say that this might prove some kind of deity-schizophrenia or a holy bi-polar disorder. However, the target of reconciliation (and possibly every other ‘tion’) is the problem of sin. The sinful person is at enmity with God. God is holy, we are not. God is utterly righteous, we are not. God cannot have sin co-exist with Himself. A cursory reading of Romans 1:18-32 would help us with this reality. When we couple the Romans 1 passage with the Romans 5 passage we soon see how reconciliation is needed. For a sinful person to have a right relationship with God, the issue of indwelling sin has to be dealt with. This carries a sobering but concrete reality in our understanding of God, especially when it comes to understanding His love for those whom He has created. But we also need to be aware of one potential problem. Some might take this to mean that we need to ‘clean up’ our act before we can come to Jesus for forgiveness. But this is a gross misunderstanding. Nowhere in scripture does it tell us to get our lives back on track before we come to God. In fact it’s the exact reverse. Our lives will get back on track when we first come to God.
3. How does Reconciliation Happen?
The act of becoming reconciled with God, indeed the beginning of peace with God comes first through Jesus Christ. Because it is through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that brings peace between God and people but a person’s faith in Christ is the point of access into God’s grace. We can understand that reconciliation occurs when the offender goes to the offended and seeks to make things right. According to our definitions the offender would move towards the offended and seek to; “harmonize; bring back into friendship”, “restore to friendship or harmony”. But therein lies a problem. The one who is offends with the sin they commit will not come to the offended. In fact scripture is clear that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them. Scripture declares that men are dead in their trespasses and sins; following the prince of this world; following the passions of our own lives. (Ephesians 2:1-10) However, reconciliation occurs when people place their faith in the one who makes them alive, who saves them by His gifts of faith and grace. Because God made Christ to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) In short, it is the placing of your trust in the sufficiency of the atonement of Jesus.
4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.
The question could be restated as, ‘Who is reconciled to whom?’. Traditionally there are three answers. We will examine them in brief and I will try to explain why I have rejected them.
Answer One – God is reconciled to People – this would try to show that God’s wrath has been removed and thus it is God who has changed. God will allow His attribute of love to nullify His attribute of holiness. The reason that I have rejected this position is because it contradicts God’s attribute of immutability (unchanging nature). God will not compromise His holiness for anyone. He can not.
Answer Two – Both God and man are reconciled to each other. This position would want to see some compromise between the two parties. A reconciled God justifies the sinner who accepts the reconciliation offered by Jesus. The reason I have rejected this position is because man has not been offended by God. Man needs no reconciliation from God. God has been nothing but good to man. What sin has God committed towards mankind that He would need to harmonize Himself with those whom He has created? God has done nothing wrong. He could not because had He committed wrong, God would not be pure and holy. There would be some measure of sin with Him.
Answer Three – Man is reconciled to God. It would seem clear that passages such as Romans 5:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10 and many others would fully support and endorse this position. A question that has occurred during the mining of these verses is, ‘does this reconciliation need to be effected first in order for man to exercise faith? Or does faith in Christ energize the reconciliation?
So let’s finish. God takes the initiative. God sends His son to earth to live a pure life and to offer a sacrifice pure enough to satisfy God’s anger against sin. The act of grace provided by this reconciliation is effected through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. But what does this reconciliation bring? Reconciliation not only brings peace but it also brings an understanding that we have escaped such a terrible thing as the righteous judgment of a holy and just God. Salvation.
"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (Romans 5:9-10, ESV)
For His Purpose
For His Glory
Reconciliation
Propitiation
Justification
Sanctification
Substitution
Imputation
Resurrection
Regeneration
Redemption
Adoption
Incarnation
Inspiration
Conviction
Election
Exaltation
Revelation
Glorification
The tion’s of Salvation
Let's begin working through these in an attempt to strengthen our walk with the Lord.
The Gospel and its Evangelistic Imperative
As I was listening to one podcast I was challenged to think about these three questions;
1. Why don’t more Christians share their faith?
2. What is the Gospel?
3. What is the best way to proclaim it?
Why don’t more Christians share their faith?
Is this question assuming that there is a norm in the behavior of most Christians that reflects an absence of evangelism? I wonder how many influencers affect one’s attempt to personal evangelism. Mocking, ridicule, lack of self-confidence, overwhelming (or it least seems that way) amount of info that seems to contradict our efforts. Do we need to have the ‘gift’ of evangelism in order to evangelize? It’s a big risk. It means stepping out. There are probably more excuses. Sincere as they might be, could it be that they are still excuses.
What is the gospel?
I’ve been asked this question a lot. I have even asked myself this question to safeguard myself from presenting the wrong gospel. Is the gospel presented in its fullness or are some elements left out in order to avoid being ‘offensive’? Could it be that those who are presenting the gospel without all its parts be doing so because they themselves do not subscribe to the sum of its parts? Is the content of the Christian gospel ‘offensive’ even to those who profess it? Maybe a challenge facing most Christians is to fully understand the message we need to proclaim.
What is the best way to proclaim it?
Relationships? Friendships? Debates? Street evangelism? Without words? With words? More ways than you can shake a bible at. Methodologies, strategies, structure, statistics, classes, seminars, books, DVD’s, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, facebook, MSN; what is the best ways to proclaim the gospel? Could it be that more effort is spent learning than is spent doing? Then again, how can we do it if we do not know it?
Something interesting was said about how we examine our success. Success in evangelism does not come in numbers or conversions but success in evangelism comes when it is spoken out loud. Martin Luther said, “Evangelism is purely getting the words from our mouths to others ears”. Maybe this might release some from the fear of being ‘unsuccessful’.
Maybe there are more people sharing their faith than we realize. I know I want to share the gospel more than I do. Let’s be courageous and leave the results to God. Why should we fear man when God made heavens and the earth?
The day after. Presents are all unwrapped. Recycling is in waiting. Meals have been prepared, eaten and enjoyed. A few more days of rest and relaxation. Breaking in new slippers. Re-reading the story of the Incarnation and the birth of the Son. Sitting in my office and contemplating what the meaning of this year’s Christmas means and implies. Wading through all the theological language and meta-physical explanations I take some time to simply reflect. In my mind’s eye I am coming to the stable. The smell of animals and shepherds are beginning to become too much, yet I slowly continue towards the source. It is night yet there seems to be a strange glow surrounding us. It’s almost like the darkness is trying to invade, or crush, this small stable. Yet it cannot. Walking out of its cold and damp clutches I am aware of the simple warmth and quiet joy the light provides. As I draw closer to the place where the child lies I feel compelled to fall on my knees. It’s not like I don’t want to, it’s more that I can’t help myself from doing it. Everything is strangely quiet. Closing my eyes I can’t help but think about how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. Immanuel. God with us.
The day after. When the hype is fading away and people begin to look ahead at a new year, I want to look ahead and say, “God willing, I wish to do this and that”. The hype may be fading away but the meaning and purpose do not. In a few short months I will again find myself kneeling but that will be at the foot of the cross. And then, just like now, I will be reflecting upon how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. The bread of life. The light of the world. The good shepherd. The door. The gate. The way, the truth and the life. The resurrection and the life.
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.”… “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
Baby; manger; gifts; angels; faith; peace; joy; hope. Culmination. Beginning.
He has passed through the heavens…
“Let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14b) – amidst what? So called tolerance? Which if we’re honest is really a mask for belligerent intolerance. In this pluralistic and relativistic “West Coast” mindset there seems to be enough room for any and all religious and/or philosophical confessions. But mention your confession is of Christ and his life, death, resurrection; suddenly there is no room in the inn. Sound like a
Christ empathizes and sympathizes with human weakness. Never excuses it or allows us to use it as a crutch. In fact, holds us accountable for it. But none the less totally understands our weaknesses and temptations. Don’t people seek out that kind of person for counseling? We want someone who understands and who will be empathetic and sympathetic. Maybe we want someone to excuse ourselves and our behavior because we are weak and frail. “Please give us more self-help steps towards earthly perfection!” Or at least some sort of balance. Of course we would never admit it. Maybe that’s why.
Baby, manger, gifts, faith, peace, joy, hope. All are safe. All are comforting. None hold us accountable. For me, one thing that stands out is the “beginning” aspect. The Son of God (the second person of the Eternal Trinity) coming to Earth to dawn human flesh. The Son coming to earth as the one who will become the one who stands before the throne of God and defends me. And it all had to start in a dirty manger surrounded by domesticated animals, dirty shepherds, fresh newlyweds and angels.
