THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION II CORINTHIANS 5:11-6:2

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
II CORINTHIANS 5:11-6:2
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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING SERIES

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 in 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 has 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.

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s
grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of
salvation.
II Corinthians 5:11-6:2

1. PURPOSE OF RECONCILIATION
A. Reconciliation presupposes alienation
B. If there were no broken relationships…division…hostilities…
alienations…estrangements – there would be no need of
reconciliation.

But our world and churches are filled with chasms of separations between
hostile people…tribal groups…ethnic groups…family members…married
couples.
So the purpose of reconciliation is to bring peace between the estranged…
hostile…warring parties.
So the purpose of reconciliation is to eliminate the alienation.

2. PASSION OF RECONCILIATION
A. “Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord…” (II Cor.
5:11)
B. Psalm 36:1 says that the wicked person has “no fear of God
before his eyes.”

C. The righteous have a holy, reverential fear of God that causes them to want
to please Him – while the wicked have no such “fear of God.”
D. When man does not have a healthy and holy fear of God, then he lives to
please himself and gratify his flesh – regardless of who he hurts.
E. But when a person truly fears God, then he will live to please Him – and
maintain peace.

F. Paul earlier said: “…we make it our goal to please Him…” (v.9)
G. In all other religions, the person has to appease the gods of wrath and
anger; but in Christianity we live to please the God who loves us!
“…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He
work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 12:21)

H. Further, Paul says that:
“…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each
one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the
body, whether good or bad.” (v. 10)
I. So the Christian is to have a holy passion to live in such a way that will be
pleasing to God – so that when he individually stands before the Judgment
seat of Christ, he will hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
J. So the passion of reconciliation is the fear of God that motivates us to live a
life that will please Him.

3. PERSUASION OF RECONCILIATION
A. “knowing what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade
men” (v.11).
B. Before we are Christians, we live to please ourselves and
please others. We are “men-pleasers” rather than “God
pleasers.” (Col. 1:10)

C. When we “fear men” rather than “fear God,” it always is a snare to us (Prov.
29:25). We allow men to persuade us – rather than us persuade them out
of our fear of God.
D. The word that Paul uses here for persuade is a significant and strong word.
It is the word peitho, and means: “to apply persuasion, to prevail upon, to
win over; bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or
moral persuasion.” So Paul was not at all passive in his persuasion!
E. So if we are going to be ministers of Reconciliation – it will not be easy. It
will take great effort and persuasion through the power of the Holy Spirit!

4. PURITY OF RECONCILIATION
A. “What we are is plain to God and I hope it is also plain to your
conscience” (v. 11)
B. Paul says that in his ministry of Reconciliation – there are no
hidden agendas…secret motives…unseen motivations.

C. Paul said: “I am transparent to God and transparent to man.”
D. When people of the world go about reconciliation – when politicians take
the lead in it – there is always a hidden agenda. There is almost always
some secret, self-serving motivation.
E. But for the Christian, the motive is purely one of peace!
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry we do
not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful
ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.
On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend
ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (II Cor.
4:1-2)

F. Paul’s motives as an apostle were being questioned by some in the church
at Corinth – who had been influenced by other so-called “super apostles”
who were undermining his ministry.
G. These false religious leaders took pride in external things – while Paul was
concerned about the unseen things of the heart:
“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” (v. 12)

H. So Paul knew that heart purity is the real issue. He knew that the content of
the heart would be fully revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the
Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness
and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will
receive his praise from God.” (I Cor. 4:5)
I. So we must all examine our hearts! But we must also realize that there has
been only one Person who had perfectly pure motives – and that was the
Lord Jesus! All of the rest of us have mixed motives…impurities in our
heart.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubleedged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

J. However, as we read the Word…mature in the Lord…walk in the Spirit –
our motives are more and more purified. Since God’s Spirit is the Holy
Spirit, He will increasingly sanctify and purify our hearts.

5. PREREQUISITE OF RECONCILIATION
“For the love of Christ compels us…” (v. 14)
A. It is nothing but the agape love of Christ that will motivate us
to be ministers of reconciliation.
B. Through the Holy Spirit, God “…pours out His love in our
hearts.” (Romans 5:5)

C. That agape will not allow us to be silent and inactive in the face of hostility,
alienation and injustice!
D. His love compels us to take action in the direction of reconciliation.
E. The word Paul uses here for “compels” or “controls” is sunecho – a very
strong word! It means: “to hold together, confine, secure, surround, hold
fast.” It is the word that is used of:
“crowds surrounding Jesus”
“soldiers surrounding a city”
“people gripped by a strong desire or emotion.”

F. So without the love of Christ in our hearts – we will not be compelled
toward reconciliation when there is alienation.
G. Without agape, we will be controlled by apathy…indifference…passivity…
inactivity…fear!
H. So the number one prerequisite for being a minister of reconciliation is
agape – the love of Christ!

6. PRICE OF RECONCILIATION
“Christ’s love compels us,
because we are convinced that One died for all…” (v.14)
A. This verse reminds us that there is no such thing as “cheap
reconciliation!”
B. For us to be reconciled to a Holy God took nothing less than
the death of the Lord Jesus!

C. There is no such thing as “cheap grace…bargain-basement salvation…
discounted redemption…reduced reconciliation!
D. Grace is free – but it is not cheap! The price tag for our redemption and
reconciliation is written in blood!
E. So if it was eternally costly for God to reconcile us to Himself – then it will
be costly for us to become seriously involved in the ministry of
reconciliation!

7. PATTERN OF RECONCILIATION
“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.” (v. 15)
A. Paul reminds us here that we have a new pattern to live our
lives after – the pattern of self-surrender.

B. We no longer live for ourselves – but for God who purchased us:
“Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is
in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God with your
body.” (I Cor. 6:19-20)
C. So reconciliation is not just an act – it is life-style. It is not a one-time
intervention – but the pattern we seek to live by.

D. Redemption and reconciliation is both a crisis and a process. Salvation is a
crisis – and sanctification is the process.
E. Through the crisis of redemption, God eternally reconciled us unto Himself
– but that crisis of reconciliation in our lives is to result in a lifelong process
of reconciliation in the lives of others!
F. Tragically, the pattern of most people’s lives is the ongoing process of one
alienation after another. Since their lives are broken spiritually and
emotionally – they inflict that upon everyone around them!

G. What is the pattern of your life – alienation or reconciliation? Are you living
for Him who died for you?
H. Paul said, that once we realize the price that was paid for us – we can “…no
longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for you.”

8. PERSPECTIVE OF RECONCILIATION
“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.” (v.16)
A. Before his experience on the Damasus Road – Paul had a
radically different perspective on life than the one he
describes here!

B. Before his conversion, Paul viewed every person “…from a worldly point of
view.” That meant they were either Jews or Gentiles…clean or unclean…
chosen or rejected. He and all of humanity neatly divided up and
compartmentalized into “us” and “them” “my side”…“other side!”
C. But God had to temporarily blind him so he could get a new perspective! He
lost his sight – but in the process gained insight!
D. What was this radically new insight that forever changed his sight?

E. It was a new correct understanding of who God is through Jesus Christ.
F. Before his experience on the Road to Damascus, Paul had a wrong view of
Christ. He thought Christ was nothing more than a Jewish heretic who
blasphemed by claiming to be God – and got what He deserved –
crucifixion!
G. But on the Damascus Road he met the risen Christ – and both his insight
and sight were forever changed!
H. His new insight about Christ transformed his sight of all mankind. His
spiritual insight – gained while he was temporarily blinded – gave him new
physical sight.

PRINCIPLE
I. If our insight about God is wrong – our sight of man will also be wrong! It is
impossible to have a wrong view of God and have a right view of man!
J. Once we are transformed by the love of Christ – we can no longer “view
any person from a worldly point of view.” We see people through the lenses
of Grace. We see them from God’s perspective…we see them through the
eyes of Christ!

J. The Cross changes our perspective! It crosses out our human…carnal…
fleshy…worldly point of view – and gives us a spiritual point of view.
K. The blood of Calvary not only cleanses our sins; it clears our vision. The
blood of Christ washes our hearts of sin – and our eyes or prejudice.
L. Agape love helps us see every person through their potential in Christ
through the new birth! The Gospel is “Good News” that results in “good
views!”

9. POWER OF RECONCILIATION
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old is gone, the new has come.” (II Cor. 5:17)
A. Paul had a new perspective – that the power of Christ could
transform anyone into a new creation!

B. Paul knew if the power of the Gospel could transform him – who had been
a blasphemer of Christ…a persecutor of the church…a murderer of
Christians (Acts 8:1; 9:1; I Tim. 1:13) – then it could transform anyone!
C. From personal experience, Paul knew that this was not some new religious
system based on reformation – but the very power of God for
transformation. He already knew the folly and frustration of trying to reform
himself through his own efforts…through good works…through obedience
to the law.
D. On the Damascus Road, he was not reformed from the outside in; he was
transformed from the inside out!

E. This transforming power did not come from the ethical ideals of a dead
religious leader; it was from the risen and reigning Christ!
F. Paul now knew from personal transforming experience – that the power of
Christ could make anyone a new creature…a new creation!
G. That’s why he wrote the Christians at Rome:
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for
the salvation of anyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16)

H. Only the Gospel has the power of God to reconcile lives. The Gospel is
“Good News” because it not only reconciles us to God; it also reconciles us
to others.
I. That’s why all of the worldly attempts at reconciliation – as sincere and wellintended
as they may be – never last. Pacts are signed…peace accords
are ratified – only to soon to be broken! Why? Because there is no
transformation backing the reconciliation. There is no spiritual power to
perpetuate the peace!
J. Only the Gospel of Christ has the power to bring lasting reconciliation.
K. Only when there has been eternal reconciliation with God through the
power of the Gospel, can there be temporal reconciliation between men!

10. PERSON OF RECONCILIATION
“All of this is from God,
who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…” (v. 18)
A. Paul reminds us that this entire ministry of reconciliation does
not originate with man – but with God;
B. Reconciliation is not a principle – but a person. It is not a
theology…a theory…a philosophy…a movement – it is a
person!

C. Reconciliation is not a human inclination – but rather a divine incarnation.
D. It is absolutely impossible for reconciliation to occur where there is
alienation without the intervention of a person. Reconciliation cannot take
place abstractly or theoretically. Reconciliation must become an
incarnation. Someone must stand in the gap of alienation. Some reconciler
must personally incarnate the reconciliation.
E. So the glory of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ – the Incarnate God, brought
reconciliation to the world! Reconciliation was personally incarnated in Him
– and it is to be continued through us as His Body.
F. That brings us to our next point…

11. PROCLAMATION OF RECONCILIATION
“All this is from God,
who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…
He committed to us the message of reconciliation” (v. 18-19).
A. Paul now turns the spotlight from the life and ministry of the
Lord Jesus – to us. Just as Jesus was God’s incarnate Word
about reconciliation; you and I are to continue to speak and
incarnate the word of reconciliation.

B. The church has been entrusted with the ministry and message of
reconciliation. That’s why Paul speaks of us Christians as “…Christ’s
ambassadors” (v. 20).
C. In the same way, Paul tells us that the church is God’s Embassy here on
earth. Therefore, the church is a small microcosm of the Kingdom of God
here on earth! The church is God’s Embassy in a hostile and alienated
world. And, you and I are God’s ambassadors who represent Him in a lost
and dying world!

D. Question: “What do people sense when they step into your church? What
do people experience when they step into your home as God’s
Ambassadorial residence?” Do they sense a place of spiritual peace and
reconciliation – or worldly alienation? Do they experience reconciled
relationships, or the same hostility and ethnicity that they experience in the
world? Is your physical home and spiritual home a place where the
presence of God…the peace of the Lord Jesus…the power of the Holy
Spirit reign supremely?

E. So Paul reminds us that we as Christians have been given the ministry of
reconciliation – the words of reconciliation. That means that in any situation
of alienation, I have the power to either be silent and allow the alienation to
become worse; or speak hostility and intensify the alienation; or speak
words of reconciliation – and bring healing of relationships.
F. The Apostle James reminds us that “…the tongue is a fire” (3:3-6). It so
often ignites forest fires of alienation and hostility between people. That’s
why the most powerful and dangerous force in the world is the tongue!

G. It is my prayer that God would sanctify our tongues so that they would from
this moment on speak only words of reconciliation!
H. Paul said: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with
salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6).
I. God help each of us to let His Holy Spirit sanctify our tongues, so that we
would only speak those words which edify and produce reconciliation. “For
the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” ( Rom. 14:17)
J. However, when that is our commitment, it will not be easy or cheap! That
reminds us of our next point…

12. PAIN OF RECONCILIATION
“God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ,
not counting men’s sins against them…
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us…” (vs. 19, 21)
A. Here again we see how the ministry of reconciliation becomes
very personal and painful.

B. We have already seen that the price of reconciliation was nothing short of
the death of the Lord Jesus. It was not painless for God to bring about
reconciliation. The reconciliation of the world was only made possible by
the shame and pain of the cross!
C. However, the crucifixion of Christ was not the total picture of reconciliation.
Many people before and after Christ were crucified – and died horribly
painful deaths on cruel Roman crosses. It was not just the physical pain of
the cross that killed Jesus. It was the spiritual pain and shame of yours and
my sin that killed Christ! It was when “…God made Him who knew no sin to
be sin for us” that Christ died spiritually! That was the hell of the cross!

D. We can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like for incarnate
love to be “…made sin.” Up until this point on the cross, there had never
been a moment in time or in eternity when the Father and Son had known
anything but perfect unity. But on the cross, the Father put all of the sins of
the world on His sinless Son – all because of grace, mercy and love! It was
during those 3 eternally long hours – between 12:00 - 3:00 PM when Christ
was suspended on the cross in both spiritual and physical darkness – that
He experienced and endured the real pain of reconciliation! That’s what
really killed the Lord Jesus – your sins and mine! He did not die from a
broken body – but from a broken heart!

E. Sin was totally alien to the life and nature of the Lord Jesus – yet He took it
upon Himself. Because of love, He incorporated sin into His holy being. He
personalized and personified sin – and died as a result of it. And He did it
all for you and me!

F. What does that tell you and me about the ministry of reconciliation? It
assures us that if we are going to be serious about the ministry of
reconciliation – then it is also going to be costly and painful for us! If we are
going to step into the chasm of alienation and do the Christ-like thing – then
we will also have to be willing to take the shame and pain of other people’s
sin upon ourselves. Unless we too are willing to personalize the problem,
and become identified with the pain and shame other people are
experiencing – reconciliation will not occur.

H. So Jesus became personally identified with our sin – so that we could
become personally identified with His righteousness. That brings us to our
next point, the…

13. PERFUME OF RECONCILIATION
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
so that we might become the righteousness of God” (v. 21)
A. The Bible reminds us that we are all born into a state of
spiritual death. As Paul says, we are all “…dead in our
trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1).

B. When something is dead, it decomposes…it rots…it stinks – it is offensive
to our noses. In the same way, the Bible assures us that our sin is offensive
to the senses of God.
C. However, through our faith in Christ Jesus, we have “…passed from death
to life” (Jn. 5:24). Now that we are “…in Him,” we are no longer dead in our
trespasses and sin. We have “…become the righteousness of Christ.” We
now smell like the Lord Jesus!

D. I love those graphic verses in II Corinthians 2:14-16, where Paul says:
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in
Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the
knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those
who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are
the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

E. These verses take us back to the Old Testament sacrifices – especially in
the Book of Leviticus. Every time a sacrifice by fire was carried out
according to God’s precise instructions, these words of description would
follow: “…it was an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Lev. 1:9, 13, 17, etc).
F. So Paul reminds us that when we too die to self, and live for Christ (Gal.
2:20), then our lives are the “…fragrance of Christ unto God.” Everywhere
Christ went, He spread the fragrance of God. In like manner, everywhere
you and I go we are to spread the fragrance of Christ!

G. Let me ask you a question: “What do you smell like to God? Who do you
smell like to the people you live and work with? Are you the fragrance of
Christ – the fragrance of life? Or are you the noxious odor of death and
decay?”
H. When I called my wife from London on my flight to Ethiopia, she asked if I
would buy her a particular kind of perfume that she likes – and that I also
like. My nose has come to associate that particular perfume with Patt. It
reminds me of her love. So I am going to buy a BIG bottle on my return trip
home through London!
I. So the Bible reminds us that we are to be the perfume of Christ to a lost
and dying world. We are to be the aroma of reconciliation everywhere we
go.

J. What does your church smell like? What kind of spiritual and relational odor
arises from the fellowship and worship of your local church body? When
people come to your church, what do they smell? Are they drawn by the
fragrance of Christ and His righteousness and reconciliation? That’s how
the true saints of God are supposed to smell! We are to be God’s perfume
of righteousness and reconciliation in the world of sin and alienation!
K. That brings us to our last point in this study, the…

14. PLEA OF RECONCILIATION
A. Even though the chapter ends in our Bibles with verse 21,
that is not the conclusions of Paul’s message about
reconciliation. Chapter 6 is a continuation of Paul’s theme
about the ministry of reconciliation. He gives a final
passionate plea for reconciliation:
“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s
grace in vain…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now
is the day of salvation” (6:1-2).

B. In essence Paul says: “Since we have been reconciled to Christ; since we
are now the fragrance of Christ; since we have received the righteousness
of Christ; since we have been given the ministry of reconciliation – I urge
you not to receive God’s grace in vain!”
C. Why does he say this? Because now is the time of God’s favor! Now is the
time of God’s salvation!
D. Unless we move from information to application, we are guilty of
“…receiving God’s grace in vain.”