2002-10-27 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church
BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD
Romans 5:5-11
5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
With the power of faith we stand firmly in the grace of God.
We face down tribulations, and even glory in them, because we know the trying times are meant to increase our dependence on the Father, and increase our hope of eternal life with Him.
The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts as proof that our hope is not in vain. He pours the love of God into our hearts so we'll have the strength to endure and overcome difficult times. Much more then, He pours the love of God into our hearts so we can share it.
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
A righteous man(?) is extremely rare, and someone who would give up their life for him is even more so, but perhaps some would lay down their life for a good man. The world is more likely to save the good man, because the world sees more of itself in a man who is called good than it does in a righteous man.
Blinded by the prince of darkness, the world sees itself as good, and surely no one who is "of this world" would die to save a bad man.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This gives us insight into the magnitude of God's love for us.
The Creator stooped down to become one of us, to teach us, to suffer humiliation and anguish by us. With a word, He could have turned those nails into marshmallows. Instead, He allowed the nails to pierce His body and secure Him to the cross. He who knew no sin became sin, and was put to death by sinners for the sake of sinners. He stooped all the way down from heaven to this earth.
From this earth into that tomb. From that tomb into the prison of Hades, to take away the keys. All this was done for whosoever will believe on Him and sincerely repent of their sins.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. 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.
As if becoming the only sacrificial lamb for all the sin of mankind was an insufficient burden, even more, He lives now to intercede for us, being our advocate before the Father, denying the accuser.
To be reconciled means an exchange was made. An exchange that evens out the difference. Jesus laid down His life to balance the accounts of righteous people, good people, not-so good people, and bad people.
It's no small feat for Jesus to balance my account with the Father. This humbles me, and begs the question: What have I done for Him? Should I feel that accepting Him as my Lord and Savior is adequate exchange for the heavy price of this favor shown to me? Dare I remain content with this deal?
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, ...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 God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For the sake of Jesus, "Be ye reconciled to God." The tense used here has no regard to past, present or future. We should always be reconciled to God, always seeking to even out the difference, being always willing ambassadors for Christ.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
What have I done for Jesus lately? Only through Him am I able to atone for my sins. What have I done to show my thankfulness? What opportunities to be a witness for Him have I let pass by? What part of my life brings little or no glory to Him?
For the blessed hope we have in Him, that hope that carries us through times of suffering and trial, the hope that allows us to glory in tribulations and reflect the glory of God when surrounded by the powers of darkness, the hope that is eternal and true, and that will never put us to shame, let us be thankful.
Much more then, let's be mindful of the exchange, of the reconciliation, of the atoning sacrifice made for us, and let's set our hearts about the business of making the deal a little less one-sided.