Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20060219.htm

UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WORK AT THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST
Part V: Understanding The Work Of Reconciliation At The Cross
(2 Corinthians 5:18-20 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. What the work of Christ on the cross accomplished is the core value of His cross, cf. John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (1974), p. 177.
    2. However, just what Christ accomplished at the cross was "reconciliation" (Ibid.,) and theologians differ on what that means, so we must view its teaching from Scripture to appreciate the value of Christ's death:
  2. Understanding The Work Of Reconciliation At The Cross, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 et al.
    1. The Old Testament words commonly translated "reconcile" offer too broad and imprecise a body of teaching for us to understand what Christ's cross accomplished in terms of "reconciliation," Ibid., p. 178f.
    2. As we come to the New Testament, we note four key views of the doctrine of "reconciliation":
      1. William G. T. Shedd taught God was the Party Who was reconciled to man at the cross, Ibid., p. 179.
      2. However, Charles Hodge with more recent evangelical scholars like Leon Wood held a more moderate view that both God and man were reconciled to each other at the cross, Ibid.
      3. A. H. Strong taught that only man is reconciled to God, Ibid.
      4. Finally, Karl Barth of the Neo-orthodox position taught reconciliation was accomplished by Christ's taking upon Himself humanity, not by His work on the cross, Ibid., p. 180.
    3. When we view Scripture, we note it teaches that only man is reconciled to God by the cross (as follows):
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 reveals the believer is positionally reconciled to God, Ibid., p. 181.
      2. As such, he in turn is given the ministry of reconciling others to God, 2 Corinthians 5:18.
      3. The reason Man is the one who is "reconciled" to GOD is found in the fact that "he is in Christ and in this position God has reconciled man unto Himself." (Ibid.)
      4. Walvoord notes that 2 Corinthians 5:19 uses the word "world" (kosmos in the Greek Testament), so "Christ in His death made a forensic provision for the entire world . . ." (Ibid., p. 182, emphases ours)
      5. Now, Christ's reconciliation on the cross does not SAVE the WORLD -- that would be errant universalism; rather, His work on the cross makes it possible for ANYONE who BELIEVES in Christ to be saved and be positionally RECONCILED to God, cf. John 3:16-18, Ibid., p. 188.
      6. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul reveals this reconciliation is connected to the penal substitutionary work of Christ for sinners on the cross: Christ's becoming sin for us on the cross by way of the imputation of the sins of the world upon Him made possible the reconciliation of the world unto God through Him!
      7. In Romans 5:6-11, Christ's death is presented as the means of reconciliation, Ibid., p. 183-184, and man needs this reconciliation though he does not deserve it, Ibid., p. 184; this reconciliation is the work of God, not man (Ibid.) and it is the basis of the assurance of salvation for those who are saved, Ibid.
      8. In Ephesians 2:16, Paul revealed that through the cross, God reconciled believing Jews and Gentiles to one another to form them into one new body, the Church. (Ibid., p. 185)
      9. Colossians 1:20-22 reveals Christ's cross positionally reconciles all creation to Himself. (Ibid.) As a result, the universe that is plagued with the Adamic curse will one day be released from its curse of death and corruption, Romans 8:22. (Ibid., p. 189).
      10. There are blessed results of Christ's reconciling work of the cross as it applies to the believer: (a) he enjoys the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13) that places him into the spiritual Church; (b) he is made a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17); (c) he is declared righteous by God (Rom. 3:24); (d) he is positionally set apart from sin unto a holy God; (e) he has the capacity to enjoy intimate fellowship with God if he heeds God's truth (1 John 1:5-10); (f) he will enjoy ultimate sanctification from sin in the event of the rapture and, in the end, (g) glorification with Christ (2 Thess. 2:13), Ibid., p. 189-190.
Lesson: (1) Christ's death provided the possibility for anyone on earth to enjoy fulfilling, intimate fellowship with God. (2) However, (a) only as one trusts in Christ is he positionally reconciled to God and (b) only as he then heeds Scripture does he enjoy fulfilling, intimate fellowship with God.

Application: (1) Christ's reconciliation does NOT bring an estranged God to man, but estranged men to God! (2) May we then be reconciled to God (as it applies) and call others to be reconciled to God!