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Message of Reconciliation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.1

This word for reconciliation (is from two words; "down from, according to," and "to change") – properly, change, as when two parties reconcile when coming ("changing") to the same position. Right before Christ died he cried out Tetelestai which means "to bring to an end, complete finish." Reconciliation was completed in Christ, "God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them." So we too have the same message to the world, a "message of reconciliation" as "ambassadors for Christ," God is making his appeal through us.

 "For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."4

What did he prepare us for? "what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." We are this workmanship in Christ Jesus. This world has been subjected to futility by the will of God, in hope.5 The purpose being "that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious Liberty of the children of God"11 The new covenant ministry is a Ministry of Reconciliation, just as Christ came to reconcile us, God is making his appeal through us, through the same message of reconciliation. Jesus said peacemakers are the children of God, and as Paul writes the gospel is prepared in peace, thus we are ambassadors of such. This message has special meaning to the people of God. 

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."14

Within this message we see the principle of Liberty and of Love. And that the world will know we are His disciples by how we love one another, not by how we judge and condemn them. Especially the household of God we are to treat well, Paul writes. Christ said, what you do to the least of these my brethren you do to me. So the Church is only as strong as its weakest person, the least of these, this is the concept of the first, the mature, becoming last, lifting up the last. The gifts are given "with a view for perfecting the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ"15 We know this perfection is in love, and by "building up" the body in a unity of faith, love, Spirit, and a bond of peace.16 "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children,"17

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..."16

The new covenant is a Ministry of the Spirit, and of Righteousness, born of Spirit and Righteousness, we are a new creation. If I am a new creation, why do you regard me as if I am in the flesh, of sin?17 If God is for us who can be against us? "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?"33 There is no condemnation in Christ, to those who receive the gift of the Spirit, grace, faith, and righteousness. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned..."18

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."21

A unity of Spirit, a bond of peace, abiding in faith, hope, and love, being perfected to a mature person, no longer being tossed to and fro... If the world experienced such a unity by the people of God they would know that Christ was from the Father. This was the prayer of Jesus. The new covenant is not like the old, which was a ministry of condemnation and death, no, we are ministers of a new covenant. We are messengers of peace, ambassadors of Christ putting forth a message of reconciliation. Our righteousness is not by a works justification, thus not by works of the Law, but received as a gift by faith in Christ. Therefore the new is a Ministry of Righteousness, sown in peace, and the fruit of righteousness is developed in trust and rest, which leads to holiness and its end is Life. 

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."21

Point To You -- We Are Messengers
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