Written Excerpts:
Romans 5:10 (NKJV) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Introduction:
I
want to begin my message today with two different stories about reconciliation;
the first one humorously portrays an insincere attempt at reconciliation, and the
second one describes the real deal.
(sermonillustrations.com)
One New Year's Eve at London's Garrick Club, British dramatist Frederick
Lonsdale was asked by Symour Hicks to reconcile with a fellow member. The two
had quarreled in the past and never restored their friendship. "You
must," Hicks said to Lonsdale. "It is very unkind to be unfriendly at
such a time. Go over now and wish him a happy New Year."
So
Lonsdale crossed the room and spoke to his enemy. "I wish you a happy New
Year," he said, "but only one."
On
a much different note:
I came across a story about Joe Avila, a 17-year staff
member of an organization called Prison Fellowship.
Long before becoming employed by Prison Fellowship,
Joe was involved in a drunk-driving accident that took the life of a teenage
girl by the name of Amy Wall.
Joe was charged with 2nd-degree murder
and jailed. Apparently, while Joe was incarcerated, he entered a 6-month
sobriety program with the Salvation Army. After completing a few months of the
program, Joe went back to court and changed his plea to “guilty.” The judge
gave him the maximum sentence of 12 years, stating that he hoped Joe would
change.
The story didn’t provide details of Joe’s spiritual
journey, except to say that while he was in prison he spent his time helping in
the chapel, sharing the Gospel with other prisoners and helping with hospice
patients. Because of the tremendous change in his life, Joe
was released from prison after serving a total of 7 ½ years.
Not long after his release, Amy’s brother requested
to meet with Joe and this began a long journey of reconciliation with Amy’s
entire family. Joe repeatedly expressed his sorrow and sought forgiveness from
each member of Amy’s family. Eventually the day came when Amy’s father, gave
Joe a hug and said, “I love you Joe.” (Adapted from
https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2016/11/joe-amy-story-reconciliation/)
This
truly is a remarkable story of reconciliation. It is one that many people,
including Christians, would think impossible. However, because of genuine
repentance and genuine forgiveness; sincere reconciliation was made possible. Joe’s
experience with the Wall family after taking the life of their daughter &
sister, Amy, is just a small example of the reconciliation that can take place
between a perfectly holy God and a wretched sinner.
Before
we share the sacrament of communion, I want to speak to you briefly today about
the possibility of being reconciled to God. As
we consider the subject of reconciliation with God, there are three important
principles we must be reminded of.
I. Sinners are the objects of God’s wrath.
Romans 1:18 (NKJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness,
This is only one of many verses in the Bible that
describe the wrath of God toward those who stand in opposition to His holiness
because of their sin and ungodliness. The wrath of God is not merely the fact of being
irritated or offended because God isn’t getting His way, or because we choose
to go our way rather than His.
God’s wrath is not to be understood as “blowing His
top” or “losing His cool” or “throwing a tantrum” because things aren’t going
right. No, the wrath of God is the justifiable and
understandable consequence of a perfectly holy God addressing anything that
violates His standard of righteousness and perfection. Therefore, the Bible uses words like enmity, hostility
and enemies to describe the relationship (or should we say lack of
relationship) that exists between us and Him. And, Scripture often uses the
word judgment to describe the result of this hostile relationship.
Before we come to Christ, we all are “by nature the
children of wrath.” (According to Eph. 2:3)
We do not like to talk about the wrath of God…
The feelings that Amy Wall’s family originally felt
toward Joe Avila were the natural results of the horrible crime he committed
that took away the life of their young loved one. We can understand how they
would want to see the man suffer for what he had done. The main difference however, is that kind of anger or
wrath is tied up with a passion for revenge or payback. With God, on the other
hand, it is a requirement of His holiness to keep everything in harmony with
perfect justice. If justice isn’t real, then holiness isn’t.
Before we move on, we should also mention that the
Bible portrays the hostility to be directed from man toward God as well. The
relationship between us is not only broken because of God’s wrath, but also
because of our anger and resentment over God requiring our worship and
allegiance. In our sinful state we resent the demand that we “Have
no other gods before Him.” We are incensed over the fact that we can’t just go
our own way and do our own thing and still hope for a pleasant after life, or even
no after life.
So, the hostility goes both ways.
II. Jesus Christ, by His death, provided
atonement.
It is interesting to note that the word that is
translated “reconciliation” is also the same word that is sometimes translated
“atonement.”
Romans 511 And not
only that, but we also rejoice
in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, paying the
sentence of death for all sinners, atonement is made to erase the hostility and
wrath of God.
The Bible uses different terms to describe the
transaction that occurs. Terms like: redemption; justification; forgiveness;
etc. These all speak to the biblical truth that the blood
of Jesus Christ provides the basis for our forgiveness.
The doctrine of justification is the biblical truth of
our record of sin being erased. You’ve heard me mention before that the word
justify is very similar to our current understanding of the word “expunge.” Before coming to faith in Christ, our record of sins
and “crimes” against the holiness of God is lengthy, dark and vile. But when we
actively put our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our record is expunged
and it is as though we never, ever sinned.
In the hymn, Arise,
My Soul, Arise, Charles Wesley wrote:
Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for
me.
Forgive him, oh forgive, they cry;
Forgive him, oh forgive they cry;
Nor let that
ransomed sinner die.
The Father hears him pray, His dear Anointed One
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son.
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood;
And tells me
I am born of God.
III. Reconciliation results between both parties.
Romans 5:10-11 (NKJV) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) He is not
arguing that if we have begun to love God we may reckon upon His doing so and
so for us, but because He has done so much, we may expect Him to do
more. The verse is parallel to the preceding, and the being
reconciled is on the same plane as being justified; the being justified was
God's action, and so is the reconciling. Justification delivers
from "the wrath of God"; reconciliation takes effect upon enemies. – Archibald M'caig
Because
of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our place, God’s wrath is turned away
and we now become His “beloved.” In
Ephesians, Paul describes it by saying we are no longer foreigners (aliens) and
strangers outside of the household of God, but we are now adopted into the
family and are called sons of God.
Where
there was tension, conflict, war and hostility, is now replaced by peace,
communion, and fellowship.
Going
back to Wesley’s hymn, Arise, My Soul,
Arise:
He
continues in the last verse…
My God is reconciled, His pardoning voice I hear
He owns me for His child, I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh;
And Father, Abba Father, cry!
Conclusion:
It
is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we have been reconciled to God.
Today,
we will again share the sacrament of communion to remember and celebrate the
sacrifice that Jesus made.
Before we share communion, let us sing the song in our hymnals.
I Gave My Life for Thee
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