Grace to reconcile

Reconcile- to restore to friendship or harmony

In Paul’s letter to the saints in Ephesus, he identified the believer’s condition before submitting
to the Lordship of Christ. Notice what we were before Jesus became Lord of our lives. 

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and
following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Eph 2:3
(NIV)

Why would we be objects of God’s wrath? God is holy! The Psalmist affirms, “God is a righteous
judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.” Psalms 7:11 (NIV)

The wonderful news is that in Christ we are no longer objects of God’s wrath, but rather objects
of God’s love. Sin must be punished. Sin must be atoned for. God’s grace has changed our
desperate situation.

 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from
God’s wrath through him!” Romans 5:9 (NIV)
 “…for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1
Thess 1:9-10 (NIV)
 “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord
Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess 5:9 (NIV)

You are treasured by the Creator of the universe. God took the initiative to make a way for you
to be in right standing before Him. His way is the only way. Through faith in the atoning work of
Jesus on the cross, you are delivered from being the object of God’s wrath. Now we are on
shouting ground! Walk in light of your new identity in Christ. You are victorious!

Romans 5: 8-12

2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed
 
away; behold, all things are become new.

BE! In Christ….”to be” is a present state….it’s not based on what you do but who you are!

HE IS!!! A new creation! Do you feel like a new creation??

Is church a place where you go and hang out with your friends or is a place where you become a new
creation b/c you encounter the living God?
ALL THINGS ARE MADE NEW!!! Old things are gone…all things are new..What does all things mean??

All things, everything…listen to this next verse and notice the connection

2Cr 5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and
 
hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

All things are now of God…holy, pleasing to God……

We are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ…

And now we are given the ministry of reconciliation!

What does that mean?? Read verses 19-21

Col. 1:20-23

Eph. 2:3-

It means that now that we have been reconciled to God we now are empowered by God to bring others
to reconciliation to God