Reconciled to God (Colossians 1:19-23)
This sermon delves into the profound concept of reconciliation, exploring how the chasm created by human sin has been bridged by God's sacrificial love. It invites listeners to understand the depth of God's desire to restore fellowship and the role believers play in sharing this transformative message.
This sermon explores how humanity's broken relationship with God, caused by sin, is fully restored through Christ's sacrifice. It emphasizes God's initiative in reconciliation and the believer's call to share this message as Christ's ambassadors.
Overview
The sermon opens by describing the Bible as God's "love letter," highlighting His desire for reconciliation with His children, despite humanity's efforts to break that relationship. Using an illustrative story about a couple's miscommunication and a definition from an accounting and relational context, the preacher introduces reconciliation as the restoration of harmony, specifically between God and man.
The core problem necessitating reconciliation is traced back to Genesis and Adam's sin, which broke the original sweet fellowship with God. This disobedience led to a fallen nature, separating all humanity from God and making us His enemies. The sermon emphasizes that before we can appreciate reconciliation, we must understand this universal human condition of sinfulness and separation.
The preacher then outlines four key aspects of reconciliation. First, it was accomplished on the cross through Jesus's atoning sacrifice, bridging the chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity. Second, it was initiated by God, the innocent party, out of His mercy, not our worthiness. Third, reconciliation means God no longer counts our sins against us, having expunged our guilty record completely.
Finally, the sermon concludes by asserting that reconciliation is a message God wants believers to share with the world. We are commissioned as Christ's ambassadors, called to properly represent Him in a fallen world, allowing others to see His reconciliation in our lives and desire the same restored relationship with God.
Key points
- Reconciliation means restoring harmony, particularly between God and man after the brokenness caused by sin.
- The relationship between God and humanity was broken in the Garden of Eden by Adam's disobedience.
- Humanity inherited a sinful nature from Adam, leading to separation from God and a need for reconciliation.
- Reconciliation was accomplished by God through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
- God initiated reconciliation out of His mercy, not human worthiness, pursuing humanity despite its sin.
- Through reconciliation, God does not count believers' sins against them, cleansing their record completely.
- Believers are called to be Christ's ambassadors, sharing the message of reconciliation with the world.
In Gary Hamrick's words
“This is God's one letter to you. This is his love letter.”
“It's not only that God forgave us, it's that he wiped our sinful record clean.”
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making his appeal through us.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: God's Love Letter and Reconciliation
- A. Colossians 1:19-23 Introduced
- B. Illustration: The Couple's Note
- C. Defining Reconciliation
- 1. In an accounting sense (restoring harmony in numbers)
- 2. In a relational sense (restoring broken relationships)
- II. The Brokenness Requiring Reconciliation
- A. The Broken Harmony Since the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8)
- B. God Introduced Choice, Not a Robotic Relationship
- C. Adam's One Rule and Disobedience
- 1. Illustration: Pastor Austin and the Flute
- D. Adam's Responsibility and the Spread of Sin
- 1. Inherited sinful nature (Isaiah 59:2, Romans 5:12)
- 2. Definition of Biblical Reconciliation
- III. Four Points About Reconciliation
- A. Reconciliation Was Accomplished on the Cross
- 1. Colossians 1:19-20 cited
- 2. Christ bridged the chasm (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- 3. The Great Exchange: Jesus's righteousness for our sin
- B. Reconciliation Was Initiated by God
- 1. Colossians 1:21-22 cited
- 2. God pursued humanity despite our alienation and wicked works
- C. Reconciliation Means God Does Not Count Our Sins Against Us
- 1. 2 Corinthians 5:19 cited: Not imputing trespasses
- 2. Our guilty record is expunged (Psalm 103:12)
- 3. "It is finished" (tetelestai) means paid in full
- 4. Presented holy, blameless, and above reproach (Colossians 1:22)
- D. Reconciliation is a Message to Share with the World
- 1. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 cited: The Ministry of Reconciliation
- 2. We are Christ's Ambassadors to a foreign country
- 3. Living as a representation of Christ
- IV. Conclusion and Call to Action
- A. Illustration: Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Unopened Letters
- B. Be Reconciled and Be His Ambassadors
Scripture references
- Colossians 1:19-23
- Genesis 3:8
- Isaiah 59:2
- Romans 5:12
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Colossians 1:21-22
- 2 Corinthians 5:19
- Psalm 103:12
- Colossians 1:22
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
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.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
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.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
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.
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.
Insights
God's desire for connection always precedes human effort.
The chasm between humanity and God is bridged by Christ.
Reconciliation restores harmony where brokenness existed.
Questions & answers
What is the sermon's definition of reconciliation?
Biblical reconciliation is defined as the restoration of relationship and fellowship between God and man through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. It means mending what was broken and restoring harmony.
Why did humanity need reconciliation with God?
Humanity needed reconciliation because Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden broke the original fellowship with God. This act led to all people inheriting a sinful nature, causing separation and making them enemies of God.
How was reconciliation accomplished, according to the sermon?
Reconciliation was accomplished on the cross through Jesus's atoning sacrifice. God sent His holy Son to be the perfect sacrifice for imperfect people, bridging the chasm between God's holiness and humanity's sinfulness.
What does it mean that God does not count our sins against us?
This means that when we are reconciled, God not only forgives our sins but also wipes our sinful record clean, expunging it completely as if it never happened. Our past transgressions are removed as far as the east is from the west.
What is the believer's role after experiencing reconciliation?
After experiencing reconciliation, believers are called to be Christ's ambassadors and share the message of reconciliation with the world. This involves properly representing Christ in all aspects of life, putting Him on display for others to see.
What is the significance of Jesus's words "It is finished" on the cross?
The Greek word 'tetelestai' means "It is finished" or "It is paid in full." On the cross, Jesus fully paid the debt of sin that humanity owed, signifying that reconciliation was complete and the way to God was open.
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Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on Cornerstone Chapel - Leesburg, VA. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.