2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2 “The Message of Reconciliation.” part 2

Jon Beck

My sermon notes for Sunday, April 14th as we continue our study through 2 Corinthians.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net

 

2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2 – [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

[1] Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2] For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

 

Representation – v. 20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God

 

Ambassadors for Christ

  • A Representative of the King
    • Chosen by the King.
      • Live in a foreign land 1 Peter 2:9-12
    • Sent by the King  Romans 10:13-15
    • Protected by the King
      • Needs supplied
    • Accountable to the King
      • For the interests of the Kingdom (been entrusted)
      • We answer to the King and His wishes

 

God making appeal through us

  • The Request is from the King. The means (instrument/agency)
    • Him through us.
  • HIS MESSAGE.  We are just instruments.
    • We triumph in Christ.  Through us spreads the fragrance. 2 Cor. 2:12-17

 

We implore you

  • The Message from the King
  • Be RECONCILED TO GOD
  • THE GOSPEL (GOD, MAN, JESUS, MAN)
    • On Christ behalf
    • Be reconciled to God
    • COME TO CHRIST

 

Redemption – v. 21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

THE GOSPEL (GOD, MAN, JESUS, MAN…response)

  • Our sake
    • Who will believe in Him through Repentance and Faith.
    • Repent of Sin. Put Faith in Christ. My reliance in Christ.
  • He made Him
    • Christ is God in the flesh.
  • To be sin who knew no sin
    • Paying the debt we could never pay.
    • 53:4-6
  • So that in Him
    • The only one and way.
  • We might become the righteousness of God
    • Sins forgiven
    • Clothed in His righteousness. THE RIGHTEOUS HE ONCE REQUIRED CHRIST HAS PROVIDED AND WE NOW POSSESS!!!!!!
    • FORGIVING, AND GIVEN.
      • Sins gone, but New Life in place
      • New creations.

 

 

Resolution (decision/response) – vv. 6:1-2

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2] For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

  • Not in vain
    • Vain – without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless
    • Living as if the Gospel message was vain (fill in definition.)
  • Now is the day of salvation
    • Believing on, Coming to, Trusting in, Living for, and Following after.

 

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

1 Peter 2:9–12

[9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

[11] Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. [12] Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (ESV)

 

Romans 10:13–15

[13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

[14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (ESV)

 

2 Corinthians 2:12–17

[12] When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, [13] my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

[14] But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV)

 

Isaiah 53:4–6

[4] Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

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