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New Beginnings
All Things Are Become New
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
PRAY
The Restorer and The Restored
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ever wondered if you can start over?
There are times when we look at our lives and we wonder how it is that we got to where we are. Sometimes we would like to have another shot at life and are sure that we would do a better job the next time around.
Lives can be filled with tremendous regret; acts and actions, words and deeds done in times of emotional duress, that we could only wish that we could take them back and that they would never have seen the light of day or entered the ears of those we have hurt.
So many are the circumstances of life in our lives, so diverse are the situations that lead us to today and so easy it is to blame others for what we have endured or how we got to where we are. Responsibility, we long to say, belongs to those who made me this way.
Not unlike the atheists of today, we like the idea of believing that we are simply a product of our environment, that it is NOT MY FAULT, and that IF ONLY THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN, I WOULDN’T HAVE….(fill in the blank).
All of this is simply a newer version of “the woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” Gen 3:12. The sin of Adam is well represented in the irresponsibility of a life that seeks to blame others for our troubles in life.
“If only I could begin again” “If only that which is past can be forever forgotten” “If only that which I may desire now to forget, never came!“
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Its difficult to say which verse in the Bible is the most important for us to understand.
As a preacher of the word of God, there are just so many that have such deep implications if we would take them seriously. This verse here however, must be one of the most valuable of all if we would only take the words to their perfect meaning.
Here we have the claim of THE RESTORER for THE RESTORED.
One is attending to the work, the other simply the recipient of the work.
7 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
If there are any who have believed the Gospel God gave of his Son;
that he came into the world to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10).
That he was long spoken of in ancient times to rescue man from the consequences of his sin, and to wash all of his past away, a clean slate, never again to have written any further condemnation.
That we are “more than conquerors” (Rom 8:37) who have trusted in Christ.
That we know in whom we have believed and we too are persuaded that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day. (2 Tim 1:12)
That Jesus is ALL IN ALL (Eph 1:23), that in him all the promises of God are “YEA and AMEN” (1 Cor 1:12).
THE Giver of life and the reconciler of eternal joy.
If any man be in Christ…he is a NEW crerature
JESUS IS HE who shall come to judge the quick and the dead (ACTS 10:42), the one in whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess is jesus Christ the Lord (Phil 2:10)
If any be in the one who will destroy Satan with the brightness of his coming (2 Thess 2:8) and pour out his wrath on the children of disobedience in this world (Col 3:6), HE IS A NEW CREATURE.
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Old things passed away…old words spoken with regret, old deeds done with sorrow, old thoughts desired to forget, old promises left for tomorrow!
These are “passed way” “if any man be in Christ“, “behold, all things are become new“;
New words spoken with hope, new deeds offered with reward, new thoughts remembered with joy and new promises expected for today!
ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW!
This is to those who are “in Christ“, those who have believed the testimony of God that he has given in his word; THE PROMISE OF RECONCILIATION.
Have you believed it yet?
The Testimony And The Task
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Those who have been Christian for any length of time ought to go back and remember the OLD THINGS that have passed away that we may again appreciate what has become new.
For there OUGHT to be NEW desires, NEW Purpose of life, NEW zeal and joy, hope and goals.
No longer are we lumbered with the cares of this life, no longer are we burdened by the broken promises of a lying world, now we hold to the promises of God which are in Christ….WHY?
Because he hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ;
This is the TESTIMONY THAT HE GAVE OF HIS SON.
Matthew 3:17
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Mark 1:11
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 9:7
7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Luke 9:35
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
And the testimony we have of God is that Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to God through him.
Jesus came to RESTORE, to make that which is Old OBSOLETE, to provide for the forgiveness of sin to all who believe and to make all things NEW.
O to those who would love to have the chance to live their lives over again and to change the things they cannot now change! To them, Christ calls you to newness of life with all that was never to be remembered.
God, through Christ, offers the ONLY way to have SIN forgotten….not though the VANITY OF THE WORLDS WAYS, but through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as a true and real event of history.
The WORLD offers NOTHING, and the means of the world are those that would ONLY HAVE YOU BACK IN ADAMS SIN, remove from you all sense of personal responsibility, that you might remain a victim for LIFE!
Beloved, if you are a Christian, you OUGHT to know that hiding guilt NEVER REMOVES IT!
Guilt is the pain of a wounded conscience! And SUCH can NEVER be hidden, it can ONLY be forgiven.
Who have you injured that you need to seek their forgiveness? Who have you hurt and pained that you need to testify to when you had sinned?
How many of you are the children of LIVING parents? And How many of you have hurt them in days gone by?
O beloved, you mother and father have already forgiven you, but this does not mean that they do not long for a TRUE AND RESTORED relationship with you.
It does not matter if you are fifteen or fifty, go to the father, go to the mother and bend the heart that will bend the knee, and tell them of your sorrow for your dishonour of them.
The honour of the father and mother is the FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE (Eph 6:2 refer Exo 20:12)
THE TASK
That was THE TESTIMONY, this is now the TASK;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
God testifies to the reconciliation of our lives to him through Jesus showed, and now we who are reconciled have this MINISTRY to attend to!
He hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation
What is my purpose in life? What are the goals of life that would fulfill my life’s purpose? What shall I do with my life that would make my life worth living? What am I here for?
Beloved, if you have ever asked this question in your life, there is no doubt that you have asked it in light of that which you beleive will make you most fulfilled in life!
If you are a lost person in the world, your ONLY answer to this question will have something to do with whatever it is you THINK will make you happy.
If you are a carnal, worldly Christian, YOU WILL have the same answer, but it will not be your ONLY answer.
If you are a growing Christian, YOUR ONLY answer will be what ever it is you believe will make GOD Happy! For you have come to know that that which pleases God brings you the greatest joy of all.
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
The Ministry and The Means
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
There is no craft that we might desire to undertake that does not require of us a deep level of learning prior to the expression of that craft.
A tradesman is first an apprentice for some four years and then he is deemed qualified to undertake the craft.
A professional will undertake studies at his own cost or begin as a junior until he has experienced all that is required to experience prior to being able to offer his learned services to those who would be the beneficiaries of that service.
The advertised purpose of such experience is that the service provider, whether that be in a trade or a profession, has a fiduciary responsibility to BENEFIT the recipient of their labours or advice. In other words, there is an expectation of TRUST from those on the receiving end of the ministry or service.
To those who have freely received eternal life through the forgiveness of their sin, and have their life purpose set in attending to all that God has created them to do, this passage in 2 Corinthians 5:19 forms the entirety of their qualification and craft.
This passage is BOTH the MINISTRY AND THE MEANS;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Lets read again from verse 18;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
“To wit“, in other words, “this is what that ministry of reconciliation is“;
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
My, if we can only grasp all that this means, if we can truly come to understand even a fraction of what might be considered the eternal value of those words, how great might our “ministry of reconciliation” be?
First that God was in Christ, reconciling the WORLD unto himself“, this alone is enough to boggle the mind!
How it is possible that ANY reconciliation is able to be attended to without the COST of reconciliation LEVIED upon those who have sinned against God their maker?
For you and I, indeed, for the WORLD as a whole, the cost LEVIED is impossible to pay!
If we could weigh the cost of sin, if we might put our evil on a scale and weigh them in the balance, it is absolutely certain that we would be found wanting. We would not even KNOW the depth of our sin, the gravity of our evil that we have committed against the most high.
How many are the lies we have told?
How many are the items we have stolen? How much “TIME: did we steal from employers?
How many sideward glances have we taken in our lust?
How much envy and covetousness?
How often have we grieved those whom we are charged to honour?
If this were not bad enough and immeasurable enough, how many are the vain words that have preceded unhindered from our lips?
How do we know what each sin might weigh that we could reckon our debt?
What are we to say for the thoughts and intents of the heart? Can a scale be found to weigh the evil words of our minds that are only guarded by the lips?
And now imagine if you could weigh them?
Imagine if you had the formula of God to know the debt that is owned for each transgression, would you do the accounting?
Would you WANT to see how infinite is the levy and insurmountable is the debt?
The Bible gives to us JUST a hint of the trouble of man;
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Job 15:16
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Genesis 6:5
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And yet here in our passage we are told that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
The psalmist wrote;
Psalm 32:2
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The new Testament affirms it in
Romans 4:4–8
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Beloved, if you are born again, your apprenticeship is completed and you have ALL the experience you need to minister the “ministry of reconciliation“. Only those who have experienced the JOY of forgiveness of sin and the gain of eternal life, only those whose Old things are passed away and all has become new, are truly qualified for this beneficial service to the world.
For God has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now with BOTH the Ministry and the Means, all we need to render the service is a MARKET….
The Deputy and The Dignity
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
An ambassador is the deputy of the Dignity which sends him. He is one who has been sent into the market of the world to bring tidings of good things, good words, words of hope and life, words to encourage and excite.
But this is of benefit ONLY if there is a market for the ministry?
The harvestman cannot reap if the sower has not yet sown.
But the Bible tells us that the harvest is not at issue, but the labourers for the harvest is that which is in short supply.
Turn to
Matthew 9:37–38
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Beloved, you and I have been deputised by God to be ambassadors for Christ, our life will have fulfilment when we work to do that which we are called to do and not until then.
Qualified, you are, if you have received of him that eternal joy of life, for you are not your own, but have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).
Have you ever asked the question, what would I do if I had my time over again?
Let me ask you, would you do life the same way you had?
Solomon wrote;
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Would you again “lean on thine own understanding“?
Or would you BEGIN AGAIN?
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us
Beloved have you considered just for a moment that you have been deputised by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Do you understand that your life is a vapour, that it is grass that the wind of the world carries away, that you are here today and gone tomorrow?
Who will hear your words of reconciliation when you are gone?
Dear “Ambassador“, how many condemned felons do you walk by daily? How many has the Lord, even going so far as to prompt you to speak, and you hold your tongue?
Life is a vapour in itself, how much more as we see the day approaching?
Jesus is returning soon for his Church, and it may very well be unlikely that we all see the fulness of our days come to pass while the world has your witness….what then are you living for Mr and Mrs Ambassador?
Who said we CANNOT BE Philadelphian Christians in a Laodicean age?
You are The Deputy of The Dignity, children of the most high God. Called to be PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND KINGS (Rev 1:6), who will one day judge angels (1 Cor 6:3).
Many years ago, when I first began research into starting a business, the first question that came to my mind is whether there be a market for the service I was offering.
The two worst options was either, the market was too small….OR, the market was OVER SATURATED, in other words, there were already FAR TOO many labourers in the harvest.
What do you think of the size of the market as you look around you?
50,000 people is the rough population of this town, how many even ATTEND the churches of this town? 1,000? 2,000?
John 4:35
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
All Things Are Become New
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
A perfect instruction can be given to a person when a clear summary of understanding is provided.
As a tradesman, knowing the step by step instructions are helpful, but the motivation of care does not come unless we have a clear knowledge of its purpose. Foundations to a home might not be taken seriously, until we understand the load of the finished structure imposed on a single point on the foundation.
Two Saturdays ago, I spent the entire day watching a mechanic work on the engine of my car. So many were the steps that he had undertaken and he knew them ALL by heart. He systematically attended to the work and did so as a master technician, knowing the summary purpose of his work.
The Gospel becomes compelling, not in the phrase that “all things become new“, but in the summary statement of HOW that is possible!
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
True, Biblical REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY, is not the false doctrine teaching that promises to the jews is replaced by the Church, but that Jesus was made to be SIN FOR US, the one who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
And thereby, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I have no doubt that there are some listening to this message who are still holding onto the OLD. For one reason or another, you are more fearful of giving up the Old than you are of taking hold of the New.
It is true, that you cannot have the new while still holding tight to the Old.
Jesus spoke of those measuring the cost; saying;
Luke 14:28–33
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
So it is, there is something FINAL about “becoming new”, the OLD has given way to the NEW and this CANNOT BE CHANGED.
A butterfly cannot return to the cocoon. The metamorphosis is FINAL, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The CHOICE is yours, provision for eternal life has been made for you, love has made a way, the choice to accept the love is yours.
TRUE LOVE NEVER NEEDS TO BE PROVED, ONLY RECEIVED!
But be not deceived, there is a cost to the choice either way.
To this Church;
For eight years I have preached for this congregations that I love.
Like a father to my own Children, I have preached sermons based on the temperature of the congregation and the events that impact our lives.
I have not continued on a series of sermons as if there is nothing going on that is impacting your lives. Covid interfered with the book of Romans, and the LOOK UP Series drew our focus of where it ought to be.
The mayday series was in the midst of lockdowns, titled The Time of the Signs, explaining where we are in the Biblical Timeline of History.
We returned to Romans until the second lockdowns when I turned to the Psalms for our comfort and hope in The Treasury of David series.
I have never simply continued on, ignoring what was evident in the world or seemed evident in the Church.
A Godly father always watches over his Children, considering their needs as seems evident to him, so ought a pastor to do so for his congregation.
In the last twelve months the sermon series attended to have paralleled that which was believed to be needed in the Church, even to call to the surface that which was developing under it, until it was manifested for all in March this year.
The Mayday Series, Perilous Times explained how we got here and revealed where we are at.
Eight; a number signified in the Bible as New Beginnings, and it is time for us that old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I have truly repented before the Lord for whatever my role was in the development of the Laodicean Spirit in our Church;
Turn to
Philippians 3:13–14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
This is now the time for this Church where “ALL THINGS BECOME NEW”, Where the Lord has given to us a chance to begin again with the purpose set in TWO areas;
That of our FINAL AUTHORITY, not in the opinions of the people, BUT IN REVERENCE for the Word of God
And to an UNWAVERING mission of the Great Commission, to remember We are the AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST;
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How I pray that the Zeal of the Lord would inspire us all to live for Christ and that the word of God becomes your daily joy.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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By Hope Baptist ChurchAll Things Are Become New
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
PRAY
The Restorer and The Restored
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ever wondered if you can start over?
There are times when we look at our lives and we wonder how it is that we got to where we are. Sometimes we would like to have another shot at life and are sure that we would do a better job the next time around.
Lives can be filled with tremendous regret; acts and actions, words and deeds done in times of emotional duress, that we could only wish that we could take them back and that they would never have seen the light of day or entered the ears of those we have hurt.
So many are the circumstances of life in our lives, so diverse are the situations that lead us to today and so easy it is to blame others for what we have endured or how we got to where we are. Responsibility, we long to say, belongs to those who made me this way.
Not unlike the atheists of today, we like the idea of believing that we are simply a product of our environment, that it is NOT MY FAULT, and that IF ONLY THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN, I WOULDN’T HAVE….(fill in the blank).
All of this is simply a newer version of “the woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” Gen 3:12. The sin of Adam is well represented in the irresponsibility of a life that seeks to blame others for our troubles in life.
“If only I could begin again” “If only that which is past can be forever forgotten” “If only that which I may desire now to forget, never came!“
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Its difficult to say which verse in the Bible is the most important for us to understand.
As a preacher of the word of God, there are just so many that have such deep implications if we would take them seriously. This verse here however, must be one of the most valuable of all if we would only take the words to their perfect meaning.
Here we have the claim of THE RESTORER for THE RESTORED.
One is attending to the work, the other simply the recipient of the work.
7 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
If there are any who have believed the Gospel God gave of his Son;
that he came into the world to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10).
That he was long spoken of in ancient times to rescue man from the consequences of his sin, and to wash all of his past away, a clean slate, never again to have written any further condemnation.
That we are “more than conquerors” (Rom 8:37) who have trusted in Christ.
That we know in whom we have believed and we too are persuaded that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day. (2 Tim 1:12)
That Jesus is ALL IN ALL (Eph 1:23), that in him all the promises of God are “YEA and AMEN” (1 Cor 1:12).
THE Giver of life and the reconciler of eternal joy.
If any man be in Christ…he is a NEW crerature
JESUS IS HE who shall come to judge the quick and the dead (ACTS 10:42), the one in whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess is jesus Christ the Lord (Phil 2:10)
If any be in the one who will destroy Satan with the brightness of his coming (2 Thess 2:8) and pour out his wrath on the children of disobedience in this world (Col 3:6), HE IS A NEW CREATURE.
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Old things passed away…old words spoken with regret, old deeds done with sorrow, old thoughts desired to forget, old promises left for tomorrow!
These are “passed way” “if any man be in Christ“, “behold, all things are become new“;
New words spoken with hope, new deeds offered with reward, new thoughts remembered with joy and new promises expected for today!
ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW!
This is to those who are “in Christ“, those who have believed the testimony of God that he has given in his word; THE PROMISE OF RECONCILIATION.
Have you believed it yet?
The Testimony And The Task
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Those who have been Christian for any length of time ought to go back and remember the OLD THINGS that have passed away that we may again appreciate what has become new.
For there OUGHT to be NEW desires, NEW Purpose of life, NEW zeal and joy, hope and goals.
No longer are we lumbered with the cares of this life, no longer are we burdened by the broken promises of a lying world, now we hold to the promises of God which are in Christ….WHY?
Because he hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ;
This is the TESTIMONY THAT HE GAVE OF HIS SON.
Matthew 3:17
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Mark 1:11
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 9:7
7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Luke 9:35
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
And the testimony we have of God is that Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to God through him.
Jesus came to RESTORE, to make that which is Old OBSOLETE, to provide for the forgiveness of sin to all who believe and to make all things NEW.
O to those who would love to have the chance to live their lives over again and to change the things they cannot now change! To them, Christ calls you to newness of life with all that was never to be remembered.
God, through Christ, offers the ONLY way to have SIN forgotten….not though the VANITY OF THE WORLDS WAYS, but through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as a true and real event of history.
The WORLD offers NOTHING, and the means of the world are those that would ONLY HAVE YOU BACK IN ADAMS SIN, remove from you all sense of personal responsibility, that you might remain a victim for LIFE!
Beloved, if you are a Christian, you OUGHT to know that hiding guilt NEVER REMOVES IT!
Guilt is the pain of a wounded conscience! And SUCH can NEVER be hidden, it can ONLY be forgiven.
Who have you injured that you need to seek their forgiveness? Who have you hurt and pained that you need to testify to when you had sinned?
How many of you are the children of LIVING parents? And How many of you have hurt them in days gone by?
O beloved, you mother and father have already forgiven you, but this does not mean that they do not long for a TRUE AND RESTORED relationship with you.
It does not matter if you are fifteen or fifty, go to the father, go to the mother and bend the heart that will bend the knee, and tell them of your sorrow for your dishonour of them.
The honour of the father and mother is the FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE (Eph 6:2 refer Exo 20:12)
THE TASK
That was THE TESTIMONY, this is now the TASK;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
God testifies to the reconciliation of our lives to him through Jesus showed, and now we who are reconciled have this MINISTRY to attend to!
He hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation
What is my purpose in life? What are the goals of life that would fulfill my life’s purpose? What shall I do with my life that would make my life worth living? What am I here for?
Beloved, if you have ever asked this question in your life, there is no doubt that you have asked it in light of that which you beleive will make you most fulfilled in life!
If you are a lost person in the world, your ONLY answer to this question will have something to do with whatever it is you THINK will make you happy.
If you are a carnal, worldly Christian, YOU WILL have the same answer, but it will not be your ONLY answer.
If you are a growing Christian, YOUR ONLY answer will be what ever it is you believe will make GOD Happy! For you have come to know that that which pleases God brings you the greatest joy of all.
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
The Ministry and The Means
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
There is no craft that we might desire to undertake that does not require of us a deep level of learning prior to the expression of that craft.
A tradesman is first an apprentice for some four years and then he is deemed qualified to undertake the craft.
A professional will undertake studies at his own cost or begin as a junior until he has experienced all that is required to experience prior to being able to offer his learned services to those who would be the beneficiaries of that service.
The advertised purpose of such experience is that the service provider, whether that be in a trade or a profession, has a fiduciary responsibility to BENEFIT the recipient of their labours or advice. In other words, there is an expectation of TRUST from those on the receiving end of the ministry or service.
To those who have freely received eternal life through the forgiveness of their sin, and have their life purpose set in attending to all that God has created them to do, this passage in 2 Corinthians 5:19 forms the entirety of their qualification and craft.
This passage is BOTH the MINISTRY AND THE MEANS;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Lets read again from verse 18;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
“To wit“, in other words, “this is what that ministry of reconciliation is“;
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
My, if we can only grasp all that this means, if we can truly come to understand even a fraction of what might be considered the eternal value of those words, how great might our “ministry of reconciliation” be?
First that God was in Christ, reconciling the WORLD unto himself“, this alone is enough to boggle the mind!
How it is possible that ANY reconciliation is able to be attended to without the COST of reconciliation LEVIED upon those who have sinned against God their maker?
For you and I, indeed, for the WORLD as a whole, the cost LEVIED is impossible to pay!
If we could weigh the cost of sin, if we might put our evil on a scale and weigh them in the balance, it is absolutely certain that we would be found wanting. We would not even KNOW the depth of our sin, the gravity of our evil that we have committed against the most high.
How many are the lies we have told?
How many are the items we have stolen? How much “TIME: did we steal from employers?
How many sideward glances have we taken in our lust?
How much envy and covetousness?
How often have we grieved those whom we are charged to honour?
If this were not bad enough and immeasurable enough, how many are the vain words that have preceded unhindered from our lips?
How do we know what each sin might weigh that we could reckon our debt?
What are we to say for the thoughts and intents of the heart? Can a scale be found to weigh the evil words of our minds that are only guarded by the lips?
And now imagine if you could weigh them?
Imagine if you had the formula of God to know the debt that is owned for each transgression, would you do the accounting?
Would you WANT to see how infinite is the levy and insurmountable is the debt?
The Bible gives to us JUST a hint of the trouble of man;
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Job 15:16
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Genesis 6:5
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And yet here in our passage we are told that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
The psalmist wrote;
Psalm 32:2
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The new Testament affirms it in
Romans 4:4–8
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Beloved, if you are born again, your apprenticeship is completed and you have ALL the experience you need to minister the “ministry of reconciliation“. Only those who have experienced the JOY of forgiveness of sin and the gain of eternal life, only those whose Old things are passed away and all has become new, are truly qualified for this beneficial service to the world.
For God has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now with BOTH the Ministry and the Means, all we need to render the service is a MARKET….
The Deputy and The Dignity
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
An ambassador is the deputy of the Dignity which sends him. He is one who has been sent into the market of the world to bring tidings of good things, good words, words of hope and life, words to encourage and excite.
But this is of benefit ONLY if there is a market for the ministry?
The harvestman cannot reap if the sower has not yet sown.
But the Bible tells us that the harvest is not at issue, but the labourers for the harvest is that which is in short supply.
Turn to
Matthew 9:37–38
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Beloved, you and I have been deputised by God to be ambassadors for Christ, our life will have fulfilment when we work to do that which we are called to do and not until then.
Qualified, you are, if you have received of him that eternal joy of life, for you are not your own, but have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).
Have you ever asked the question, what would I do if I had my time over again?
Let me ask you, would you do life the same way you had?
Solomon wrote;
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Would you again “lean on thine own understanding“?
Or would you BEGIN AGAIN?
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us
Beloved have you considered just for a moment that you have been deputised by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Do you understand that your life is a vapour, that it is grass that the wind of the world carries away, that you are here today and gone tomorrow?
Who will hear your words of reconciliation when you are gone?
Dear “Ambassador“, how many condemned felons do you walk by daily? How many has the Lord, even going so far as to prompt you to speak, and you hold your tongue?
Life is a vapour in itself, how much more as we see the day approaching?
Jesus is returning soon for his Church, and it may very well be unlikely that we all see the fulness of our days come to pass while the world has your witness….what then are you living for Mr and Mrs Ambassador?
Who said we CANNOT BE Philadelphian Christians in a Laodicean age?
You are The Deputy of The Dignity, children of the most high God. Called to be PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND KINGS (Rev 1:6), who will one day judge angels (1 Cor 6:3).
Many years ago, when I first began research into starting a business, the first question that came to my mind is whether there be a market for the service I was offering.
The two worst options was either, the market was too small….OR, the market was OVER SATURATED, in other words, there were already FAR TOO many labourers in the harvest.
What do you think of the size of the market as you look around you?
50,000 people is the rough population of this town, how many even ATTEND the churches of this town? 1,000? 2,000?
John 4:35
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
All Things Are Become New
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
A perfect instruction can be given to a person when a clear summary of understanding is provided.
As a tradesman, knowing the step by step instructions are helpful, but the motivation of care does not come unless we have a clear knowledge of its purpose. Foundations to a home might not be taken seriously, until we understand the load of the finished structure imposed on a single point on the foundation.
Two Saturdays ago, I spent the entire day watching a mechanic work on the engine of my car. So many were the steps that he had undertaken and he knew them ALL by heart. He systematically attended to the work and did so as a master technician, knowing the summary purpose of his work.
The Gospel becomes compelling, not in the phrase that “all things become new“, but in the summary statement of HOW that is possible!
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
True, Biblical REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY, is not the false doctrine teaching that promises to the jews is replaced by the Church, but that Jesus was made to be SIN FOR US, the one who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
And thereby, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I have no doubt that there are some listening to this message who are still holding onto the OLD. For one reason or another, you are more fearful of giving up the Old than you are of taking hold of the New.
It is true, that you cannot have the new while still holding tight to the Old.
Jesus spoke of those measuring the cost; saying;
Luke 14:28–33
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
So it is, there is something FINAL about “becoming new”, the OLD has given way to the NEW and this CANNOT BE CHANGED.
A butterfly cannot return to the cocoon. The metamorphosis is FINAL, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The CHOICE is yours, provision for eternal life has been made for you, love has made a way, the choice to accept the love is yours.
TRUE LOVE NEVER NEEDS TO BE PROVED, ONLY RECEIVED!
But be not deceived, there is a cost to the choice either way.
To this Church;
For eight years I have preached for this congregations that I love.
Like a father to my own Children, I have preached sermons based on the temperature of the congregation and the events that impact our lives.
I have not continued on a series of sermons as if there is nothing going on that is impacting your lives. Covid interfered with the book of Romans, and the LOOK UP Series drew our focus of where it ought to be.
The mayday series was in the midst of lockdowns, titled The Time of the Signs, explaining where we are in the Biblical Timeline of History.
We returned to Romans until the second lockdowns when I turned to the Psalms for our comfort and hope in The Treasury of David series.
I have never simply continued on, ignoring what was evident in the world or seemed evident in the Church.
A Godly father always watches over his Children, considering their needs as seems evident to him, so ought a pastor to do so for his congregation.
In the last twelve months the sermon series attended to have paralleled that which was believed to be needed in the Church, even to call to the surface that which was developing under it, until it was manifested for all in March this year.
The Mayday Series, Perilous Times explained how we got here and revealed where we are at.
Eight; a number signified in the Bible as New Beginnings, and it is time for us that old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I have truly repented before the Lord for whatever my role was in the development of the Laodicean Spirit in our Church;
Turn to
Philippians 3:13–14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
This is now the time for this Church where “ALL THINGS BECOME NEW”, Where the Lord has given to us a chance to begin again with the purpose set in TWO areas;
That of our FINAL AUTHORITY, not in the opinions of the people, BUT IN REVERENCE for the Word of God
And to an UNWAVERING mission of the Great Commission, to remember We are the AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST;
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How I pray that the Zeal of the Lord would inspire us all to live for Christ and that the word of God becomes your daily joy.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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