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Title The Ministry of Reconciliation

Text: 2 Corinthians 5
17 August 2008

(I) WITH EACH PASSING YEAR

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

1. The outward man is perishing

2. But the inward man is being renewed day by day

3. We do not lose heart

(II) A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

1. Our life on earth

a) It may be called “an earthly house”

b) It may even be called “a tent”

c) Human mortality must be faced squarely!

d) Life ends all too soon

2. Our life in heaven

a) We have a building from God

b) We have a house not made with hands

c) We have an eternal home in the heavens

3. A dynamic application of faith and hope

“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in this body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

a) We groan, being burdened to be “further clothed”

b) That mortality may be swallowed up by life

c) God has prepared all these things for us

d) We have His Spirit as our guarantee

e) We have tremendous confidence because we walk by faith and not by sight

f) We well pleased to be absent from the body and present with the Lord

(III) A SPECIAL MINISTRY ENTRUSTED TO US

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:18-29

1. The hope of reconciliation

a) Trespasses and Guilt not imparted

b) Reconciliation is offered by God

2. Ministry of reconciliation

a) Given to us

b) Word of reconciliation also given to us

(IV) APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

1. Ambassadors for Christ

2. Bringing about Reconciliation to God