Turn to first second Corinthians chapter five. Second Corinthians chapter five this morning. And we're going to begin reading in verse 17 about reconciliation Second Corinthians five and verse 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away.

Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 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. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though did God did beseech you by us. We pray that you you in Christ dead, be you reconciled to God.

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. What is Paul's desire there that he expresses? For others that they be what? Reconciled to God. Reconciled through Jesus Christ who made himself to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we through his sacrifice might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Let's pray. Dear God, thank you Lord for this day. Lord, for this opportunity to share your word together today. We pray that you would work in our hearts. We pray that you would give us a greater understanding of what you did for us on the cross, what you have done in our lives, and what you want to do and desperately need to do in the lives of others in this world.

Thank you, Lord for what you've done. Lord, give us a burden to tell others. Of what you did as well so that they can know the peace that they can have with their maker and Lord through faith in you today. In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen.

Reconciliation The word means to remove enmity between between two enemy or warring parties. That's the Greek word. It's pronounced means to remove enmity between two enemy or warring parties. Have a little illustration there on the screen of two enemy or warring parties. That need reconciliation.

There are many relationships that break in this world. Relationships with friends, relationships with business partners, relationships, sadly, between husbands and wives, between brothers, and sisters, many relationships that are broken, that need to be mended. There needs to be reconciliation. There needs to be someone who can come in between the two warring parties and help them to find what? Help them to find peace.

Two warring parties today on the news every day and I'm not talking about the political parties though. We might could talk about that but I'm talking about Russia and Ukraine. No peace. Need peace Man longs for peace but often does not find it But there is one who can bring peace. Peace in our relationships with others.

But most importantly peace with who? Peace with God. Christ came as the angel spoke on the day of his birth to bring what? Peace. In the lives of the people of this world.

Peace particularly between them and their God. What is Paul talking about here? Reconciliation. The word of reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation.

A new creature. Who needed reconciling? The world. Who's at odds? God and man.

He explains further in Romans chapter five. So, you'll turn to Romans chapter five, we'll see Paul's further explanation there. And what he means concerning this reconciliation. That he's talking about. Reconciliation that God wants to bring to mankind.

Reconciliation that Paul brought by bringing the word of reconciliation, the message, the gospel of reconciliation to the world. Romans chapter five will begin in verse six. So, Romans chapter five and we'll begin in verse six. For even when we were yet without strength, that is spiritual strength, dead in trespasses and in sins. For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.

Those who were opposite of godly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet, per adventure for a good man, some would even dare to die but God commended or showed his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. How much more than be now justified, declared guiltless, or righteous by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath. The just wrath that we are due.

Through him, through Christ. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. We serve a lot. A risen savior who sustains our condition as reconciled with God who have put our faith in him. Verse 11, and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the atonement that which mended, that which was necessary to mend the relationship, to atone for the evil that was done.

Three points to reconciliation today I want to make. The first is this, and that is the separation. The broken relationship. The animosity and enmity that exists between two. In order for two parties to be reconciled, they must be at odds.

That's why they need to be reconciled. So, this doctrine of reconciliation points out the fact that man is at odds with who? God and God is at odds with man. The two parties need to be reconciled. Their relationship mended only when it has been broken and indeed our relationship with God has been broken.

By our humanity's rebellion. Adam and Eve transgressed God's command in the Garden Of Eden. We're separated from the glorious fellowship they enjoyed with their maker. And were cast out. Verse 12 of Romans five, wherefore, as by one man, sin entered in the world and death by sin.

So, death passed upon all men for that all have what? Sinned. Sinned in the likeness of Adam. They transgressed God's command. He told them they could eat of any tree in the garden.

There were many. Just just one tree. That was the only law he gave them. That was the only restriction they had. Now, you just think for a minute, how many laws, how many rules, how many restrictions, How many commands do you have?

From God, from government, from employer. They only had what? One thing they couldn't do. Just one thing. And they did it.

They did it. And they lost paradise. And they were cast out. What is paradise? Paradise is being in the presence of who?

In the presence of God. And they lost it. They lost it. They lost that privileged, beautiful, wonderful relationship. Thus, man can't mankind became at odds with his God and maker by choosing a different path.

All that we had chosen to stay on the right one and obedience to our Lord but we did not. Thus, God was offended by our betrayal and rightly so and so we became the children of wrath rather than a blessing. End of life. Just think for a minute. If you were an inventor and you invented a tool, a machine, and you spent years of your life developing, engineering, buying the stuff, putting it together, to make this this invention, this machine that was going to do this wonderful thing.

And you got all done and you turned it on. And it didn't do it. It didn't do. After all the time you put into it, it didn't do what it was made to do. What would you likely do with that machine that you made?

You would probably take it and throw it in the trash can and you'd be a bit frustrated about it. You think God has a right to be angry at humanity that he made and created in his image who betrayed him? I think he has every right to be. Angry with humanity. His creation, the fruits of his love, and he was betrayed.

Betrayed by Adam and Eve in the garden, betrayed by us. Again and again and again. Thus, becoming enemies as Paul puts it here in Romans five. Mankind chose to disobey their maker's command which came with a consequence and what was the consequence? Death.

Death. For in the day you eat thereof, God told them, you shall surely what? Die. Death. Physical death.

As Adam and Eve's immortality was given up for some fruit on a tree. Think about that. They gave up immortality for a piece of fruit. A reminder to man today not to give up those things where it's eternal, which are eternal and precious for the desires of the moment. Which we are prone to do.

Even sometimes as Christians. We look at what the world is doing. We look at this pleasure. We look at this thing and Satan whispers in our says, you really need that. You really want that.

You know, God, he just doesn't want you to have any fun. And we turn from the Lord and we give up those things of eternal value for those things that are of temporal value, that are passing away, and bring no true happiness and joy. Proverbs fourteen twelve says, there's a way which seems right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death. Just take God's word and throw it out which by the way, we've done for the most part in our society and just follow your what? Follow your heart.

How's that going to turn out? The Bible says, the heart of man is desperately what? Wicked. If you throw God out of the picture and you say, I'm going to follow my heart, you're going to be in big trouble. That's what Adam and Eve did in the garden.

They followed their heart. They gave away immortality. They gave away that. For a fleeting moment of a juicy piece of fruit. Choose to lay up treasure in heaven rather than leaving it all here on earth.

Consider the words of Jim Elliot. Some of you would know who he is. He was a missionary. He and some others missionary friends of his five, young men, a matter of fact, went to Central Or South America. I think it was Central.

I get confused. To minister to a tribe down there that were known to be violent, cannibals, but yet, did Christ die for them? Yes, he did. He died for them. So, these five young men, some of them married, decided that it was God's will to go and try to minister and bring the gospel to these people.

And they gave their life for it. Not long after they met with some of them, a warring group came back and killed all five of them. They were warned but like Paul, their their heart was set on finishing the ministry that God had called them to. And before his death, Jim Elliot, I was recorded as having said this quote, he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. We cannot keep this body.

For some of us, that's you know, not as bad a thing as others. Some of us would like a new body sooner than later but we can't keep this body and we can't keep these possessions. It's best to better to give them up. And calls of Christ and lay up treasure where? In heaven, then keep a hold of them.

And give up the things of eternal value. What shall it profit indeed if you should gain the whole world and lose your own soul? Words of Christ. Your soul given up to an inanimate thing which is of no eternal value. Your morals and dignity and testimony given up for the thrills of the moment.

Many of us know regrets, decisions having been made in our past, knows regards. Your family or ministry, given up for the gratification of the flesh. Your soul. To an eternity in hell. That's why Jesus said using hyperbole, it would it not be better to pluck your eye out or cut off your arm than to enter hell with your body intact.

Is it not better to give those things up? To be true to the Lord but Adam and Eve, they gave up immortality for a piece of fruit. They also gave up fellowship with God. Not only did it bring physical death, it also brought spiritual death. Separation from the fellowship with God.

Separation from his enabling power over sin and the devil. Separation from his eternal blessings as children of who? Who were they? They were children of God. Created in his what?

Image. Blessed with the garden paradise, fellowship with him each and every day. They were royalty. The children of God with all its benefits created in his image and trusted with the keeping of his garden Benefits which we gave up when choosing to listen to the enemy of God and follow his rebellious ways. We as in humanity.

Benefits which we gave up in Adam and Eve. When choosing to listen to the enemy of God and follow his rebellious ways. We became spiritually dead. Our our relationship with God was what? Broken.

Our sin separated us from the blessings of our God. Man chose poorly and apart from the grace of God provided in Christ, man would be eternally separated from God in his presence in the lake of fire so described in Revelation 20. Which is called the second death or eternal death. If your name is not written in the what? The lamb's book of life.

Then you will find your place in the lake of fire separated from your maker. For all eternity. With no hope. But there is hope now. There is hope now.

Christ came. To reconcile us. Our good works are soiled with sin. There's no way for us to reconcile ourselves to reconcile with our maker and Lord whose love we continue to betray by our disobedience. Isaiah fifty nine two says, but your iniquities have what?

Between you and your God and your inner and your sins have hid your face from him that he will not hear. That is man's making In the Old Testament, God had Israel build a tabernacle, a tent of worship. Later, they would build a permanent structure called the temple. The tabernacle in the temple had an outer court where people could come into the outer court and bring their sacrifice to the altar that was there, handed to the priest. The priest would make the sacrifice on their behalf.

Inside the tent, there were two sections, the holy place and the most holy place or the holy of holies. In the most holy place, the holy of holies, we find the mercy seat which sat on top of the the ark of the covenant where only once a year, only the high priest was allowed to breach the veil, the curtain that separated Israel from the presence of who? The presence of God. You see, when Israel camped and they reconstructed that tabernacle and temple, that pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day came to rest on that tabernacle and the Shekinah of glory of God rested on the mercy seat in the most holy place but was separated from the people by the what? By the veil And only the high priest with the blood of the lamb was allowed in one time a year to sprinkle that on the mercy seat.

To atone for the sins of the people. Why did the veil exist? What was the veil? The veil was sin. The veil existed because of our sin.

Separated from God. Reminding Israel of their need to be what? Reconciled and their sins atoned for and only so by the sprinkling of the what? Of the blood of the lamb. Which brings us to point number two.

Number one, the separation. Number two, the atoning sacrifice. But God commended his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, what? Christ died for us. When his man was incapable of mending the rift that he had caused between him and his God, God according to his eternal plan and immeasurable love sent his only son to redeem fallen mankind by becoming the atoning, mending, compensating sacrifice on the cross.

To become our sin bearer for us, to bear our sins upon himself, to pay the price that was necessary. To redeem us and then to mend the relationship that was broken, to reconcile the two parties that were at odds with each other, God and man could only be done by the God, man, Jesus Christ, who came and died as one of us on that cross to pay our price. An innocent lamb as foreshadowed by the sacrifice for the sins of Israel on the day of atonement under the old covenant. But the blood of that lamb shed on the day of atonement could not atone could not take away sin Only cover it for a time until the lamb of God came. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, the silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the what?

The precious blood of Christ. As of a lamb without spot and without blemish. The holy son of God became us sinless, lived in fulfillment and keeping of God's law, lived in perfect harmony with the will of the father and then, he gave himself up on that cross. For me. A sinner an enemy of God For as Paul so put it in Romans five, while we were yet at odds with God over our sin, the sinless son of God came to Earth.

Became one of us and died for his wicked brother In doing so, he made the way for all mankind. Every man and every woman to be reconciled to who? Be reconciled to God. That they might receive. That reconciliation through faith in him.

Second Corinthians five twenty one, we read earlier, for he, God hath made him Jesus to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. As incredible as it is for one to give up their life for a good person or a moral person as Paul states here. Christ gave up his life for wicked people. God, Christ gave up his life for those who would have never done so for him. Christ gave up his life for his enemies.

The rebels who had betrayed him. That is exactly what Christ did. So that we could be reconciled. To God. By doing so, he became the only mediator between God and man.

For there's one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. We needed a mediator. God could not simply write off our sin and just ignore it because he is a just and holy God. We could not change who we were. We were sinners.

Jesus came to be the mediator, to mediate a new covenant by the shedding of his blood on the cross of Calvary. To mediate between two warring parties and to bring them back together. First Peter three eighteen says that very thing. For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit. Christ came and he died on the cross and he paid the price The just, he himself for the unjust me.

So that I could have a relationship once again with my maker so that I might fellowship once again with him that I might have eternal life in him. That that which was taken away might be restored. In Jesus Christ. When a person brought a lamb for a sacrifice to the temple of the Tabernacle, he handed the lamb to the priest and then before the priest took that lamb and slaughtered it, poured out its blood, sacrificed it there for the sins of the man or the woman. Before he did that, the sinner would place their hands on the head of the lamb.

That signified an exchange. The innocence of the lamb on the one who brought the sacrifice and the sins of the man on the lamb who would then bear the man's punishment and that's exactly what Jesus did for you and me on the cross. That we might receive the righteousness of God and forgiveness and therefore, might be reconciled to our God. In so doing, he also showed us the way to make our enemies our friends. Also, by being willing to suffer loss and forgive those who may have betrayed our trust and sinned against us.

You see, we have a problem forgiving people. It doesn't come natural. What comes natural? Holding a grudge. What comes natural?

I'm going to get back. That comes natural. But by God's grace and in following his example on the cross, We can also learn to forgive others in our life. Sometimes, that means suffering loss ourselves that was not our fault. And then forgiving the one who does seek forgiveness and be kind one to another, tender hearted one, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

If God can forgive you, can you forgive your spouse? Do they need forgiveness? Probably. Have they ever wronged you? Oh, sure they have.

Have you ever wronged them? Uh-huh. Your friend, your brother, your sister, your mother, your father, your business partner, your employer If you have a relationship with somebody, give it enough time, you'll offend them or they'll offend you because we're human. And we must learn to what? We must learn to forgive.

Sometimes, that means suffering loss. In first Corinthians six, Paul talks about this, the church at Corinth. Said, so somebody borrows something from you and then they don't give it back and then you get mad at em and then you take em to court. What kind of testimony is that? Would it not be better just to suffer the what?

To suffer the loss and keep your testimony and seek a mediator in the church to help reconcile than to take him to court before the world. We need to learn how to forgive. Jesus showed us how to do that on the cross of Calvary and how to mend broken relationships. So, we see the separation and we see the sacrifice and now comes the reconciliation. But such a reconciliation can only be made by those who desire it.

You cannot be reconciled with God if you do not what? If you do not desire it. If you don't want to be reconciled to God, is God going to force you? No. You can stay at war with God.

He did not make robots. He made people in his image with a free will to choose. So, we could choose to love and serve him or we could choose to disobey and rebel against him. The only way to choose to love is to have an option not to. So, God didn't make robots.

He made people with a free will and he gives us a choice. You can stay at war with God. You can stay a child of his wrath or you can become a child of his blessing. But you must desire it. Much many there be which have no such desire or recognize no such need.

At Vacation Bible School, when I give out the salvation plan to the kids, sometimes I'll grab my wallet and I'll offer them a I'll I'll I'll have one of em come up front and I'll and I'll offer them a $5 bill and I have yet to to have a child come up and go, no, don't want it. Don't want it. They always immediately what? Reach out and take it. Do they desire that $5 bill?

Oh, yes. They desire it and so they reach out and they take it. But despite God's sacrifice of his son and his his his invitation of mercy and grace, he reaches out to a world at at enmity with him and he says, I offer reconciliation. My son died. I offer it.

Do you desire? Well, there's a lot of people that don't desire and there's a lot of people that don't recognize the need of it. Now, I don't need that $5 bill. I'm okay. I don't need reconciliation.

I'm doing pretty good. Many there be which are comfortable in their separation from God and therefore, blinded to their need. Just you know, they're comfortable. They're not actively at war with God. They're just comfortable in their sin and they really don't want to do anything about it.

Many there be who are trying to obtain acceptance with God by their own tainted good works. The Bible says, our righteousness, our good works are as what? Filthy rags. You ought to have that one down by now because I use it about every other week. Our righteousness are as filthy rags.

You can impress God with a filthy rag. Say, oh, I'm going to clean this window over here with a filthy rag. Doesn't work that way. You first need to come to God to get what? Cleansed.

Cleansed. And until then, you cannot be reconciled. Many there be which see no need of a savior who who reject Christ as he. There are some that say, oh yes, I need a savior but I'm I do not accept Christ as a savior. Sad to say.

Only those who will receive him and his ministry of reconciliation. The gospel, the word of reconciliation. That which the apostle Paul preached. God's offer to be reconciled through Jesus Christ, through faith in him. Only those, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the father by but by me.

No man comes to the father for what? To be what? Reconcile. To have a restored relationship. Eternal life.

Forgiveness. Only those who come through whom? Through Christ, through faith in him. In John one hundred eleven and twelve, it says, and he came unto his own and his own received him not but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the what? The children of God even to them that believe on his name.

If you put your faith in Jesus Christ and what he did, if you've come to him humbly and said, I need to be saved. I need to be reconciled. I have wronged my creator and I accept Christ. As my mediator and my savior for what he did for me on my on the cross. If you have done that, you are a child now, not of wrath but a child of who?

Child of God. If you will do that today, you can become a child of who? God. And those blessings and that relationship restored. That was ruined by sin.

Those who through the mediation of Christ put their faith in him become the royalty of God once again. That you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises of him who have called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Isn't it much better be defined in that way? Than as the children of wrath. But it is also our responsibility like Paul to get that word out We are too the ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

We too are ministers of reconciliation. If we will take the good news of the gospel and share it. With somebody else. Will you do that? Will you share a track with somebody this week?

Will you tell them about your savior? Will you share with them the opportunity that he has to give? Will you demonstrate the love of Christ and forgive your neighbor? And forgive your child and forgive your sibling? Will you put it to practice in your life?

Let's pray. Dearly father, thank you Lord for all that you've done for us. Lord, thank you for reconciling us to yourself. Once again, restoring the relationship that was broken. The fellowship Lord that we have with you today to the spirit that lives within every child of God who has come to you in faith and I pray Lord if there's one here today that's never trusted you, that has yet to make that decision in their life to receive your gift, I pray.

They would see their need of reconciliation. They might repent and humble themselves and trust Christ today as the Lord and savior that they might come as we give the hymn of invitation and Lord, I pray that you would remind us who know you each day of the the wonderful position we have now in Christ Jesus, our Lord because of what you did for us. That we might live in light of that, That we might show your love and your forgiveness to others. That we might share with them the good news of the gospel. In Jesus name, we do pray.

Amen.