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The Ministry of Reconciliation
Bro. Tom Gilbert

It's been a real blessing to be together this weekend. I brought you the greetings yesterday from your brethren in the Southern Wisconsin Bible students. I'll do that again. And… in line with the title, we want to use the passage in 2 Corinthians 5 Verses 14 to 21 is our theme text. To me, this is one of the most beautiful passages in the bible talking about reconciliation. So starting in 2 Corinthians 5, 14 and reading to the end of the chapter. For Christ's love compels us Because we are convinced that one died for all. And therefore, all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them. And was raised again. So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in christ He is a new creation. The old is gone, the new. has come. All of this is from God. who reconciled us to himself through christ And gave us the ministry of reconciliation. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ. Not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. As though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin. to be sinned for us. So that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Reconciliation is one of the most important doctrinal and character elements. of the Christian faith. It describes the essence of everything that God is doing through his plan of the ages. We as Bible students sometimes like to say that God's plan is ransom and restitution. But we could just as easily say it in one word. God's plan is reconciliation. Our God is a God of relationships. And he wants to reestablish the relationship with humanity that he intended from the beginning. but which he only had briefly with Adam and Eve. And then occasionally with faithful ones like Abraham. The concept of reconciliation sets christianity Apart from other world religions. Some religions advocate the elimination of people of other faiths and christianity too has had its own dark episodes along this line. In the history of Christianity, there are episodes in which people claiming to be Christians tried to eliminate those who were not. And also tried to eliminate other avowed christians who thought differently from them. or who practice their faith differently. Reconciliation challenges such notions and behaviors. Jesus said. Blessed are the peacemakers. for they shall be called the children of God. And the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at rome if it is possible, as far as it depends on you. live at peace with everyone. The theme text tells us that God is training the followers, the disciples of his son to be ministers of reconciliation. He reconciled us to himself through Christ. and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. I think it is the genius of God. to utilize members of the human creation to do the work of inviting and leading other members of the human family back into a harmonious relationship with him. And that ministry is now ministry is And it is in the future. But in order to be effective ministers of reconciliation. These disciples must be trained. And as we read about this work in the scripture. We realized that God believes in and utilizes on the job training. So let's look at the doctrine of reconciliation between God and man. as given in the New Testament. In the New Testament, reconciliation is the translation of the greek Catalegge. Vine's dictionary defines it this way. It primarily means an exchange. It denotes reconciliation. A change on the part of one party Induced by an action the part of another. In the New Testament, the reconciliation of men to god by his grace and love. in Christ Jesus. And this is what mine's dictionary says about the verb form of that word Catalasso. It properly means to denote change or exchange. Hence of persons to change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile. With regard to the relationship between God and man. The use of this and connected words. shows that primarily reconciliation is what God accomplishes. Exercising his grace toward sinful man. on the ground of the death of christ in propitiatory sacrifice. under the judgment due to sin. By reason of this, men in their sinful condition and alienation from god are invited to be reconciled to him that is to say to change their attitude. and accept the provision God has made. whereby their sins can be remitted. And they themselves justified in his sight through Christ. The removal of God's wrath does not contravene his immutability or his unchangeableness. He always acts according to his unchanging righteousness and loving kindness. The change in God's relative attitude toward those who receive the reconciliation. only proves his unchangeableness. Not once is God said to be reconciled. It was we who needed to be reconciled to God, not God to us. And it is the propitiation. which is righteousness and mercy have provided through jesus that makes the reconciliation possible. to those who receive it. Well, that's the end of the quote from Vine's Dictionary. It's very well laid out and makes wonderful understanding of this concept of reconciliation. Reconciliation requires the one who has enmity toward another to make the change. And so in being reconciled to god through christ It is we who must change. Our hearts must be moved by the loving sacrificial death of Christ. who by so doing removed the penalty that justice would have laid upon us. for our sins. And this opens the way for our changed hearts to establish a relationship with God. We have made the change, not God. He is unchangeable. We read again about this reconciliation in a very important passage. In Romans, the fifth chapter, we're going to read verses Six through 11, romans 5. 6 through 11. You see, at just the right time. When we were still powerless. Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for righteous man. Though for a good man, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. while we were still sinners. Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood. How much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him? For if when we were God's enemies. We were reconciled to him through the death of his son. how much more having been reconciled Shall we be saved through his life? Not only is this soap. But we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. through whom we have now received reconciliation. So God made known his willingness to have people reconciled to him by providing a way. He took an action whereby we can respond. Christ's death provided us. The opportunity to change our attitude toward god and seek to follow his instruction And his guidance in our lives. The apostle writes about hardly will a man die for a righteous man But perhaps for a really good man, one would even dare to die. But Christ went beyond that. He died for us who were enemies of righteousness. enemies of god That is because that is because As we read in 2 Peter 3. God is not willing that any should perish. but rather that all would come to repentance. He desires that all would be reconciled to him so that he can have fellowship. with all of his human creation. Now, there's another Greek word translated reconciliation in the New Testament It is the word apocoty lasso. And this we want to read again from Vine's dictionary. This word means to reconcile completely. A stronger form of the word catalasso. It's used three times in the New Testament. And it means to change from one condition to another. So as to remove all enmity. and leave no impediment to unity and peace. It is used in Ephesians the second chapter of the reconciliation of believing Gentile and Jew in one body unto God through the cross. And we're going to read that in a moment. And in Colossians, the first chapter. not of the union of Jew and Gentiles is in view But the change wrought in the individual believer from alienation and enmity On account of evil works. to reconciliation with God. The word is used of the divine purpose to reconcile through Christ all things unto himself were the things upon the earth or things in heavens The basis of the change being the peace affected through the blood of his cross. And that's the end of vines. definition and explanation. So let's look at those two passages where this word is used. Ephesians the second chapter, starting in verse 11, we're going to read through verse 19. Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision that done in the body by the hands of men. Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ. excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise. without hope and without God in the world. But now in christ You who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. for he himself is our peace. who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man Out of the two, thus making peace. And in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross. by which he put to death. their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who are far away And peace to those who were near. For through him we have both We both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens. But fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. So both the Jewish people and the Gentiles were hostile to god one while already in a relationship with him through the law of covenant. And the other because they had no relationship with him. Christ through his work has reconciled both. to his father. So now whether you are jew or gentile The opportunity is there to come into a relationship with the heavenly father Now let's read the passage in Colossians 1. And we're going to read verses 19. through 23. Colossians 1, 19 to 23. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things. Whether the things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through his shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you wholly in his sight without blemish and free from accusation. If you continue in your faith. Established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard. and has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which i paul have become a servant. This is the ministry. to which we have been called. The ministry that has been entrusted to us Both now and the millennial age. to entreat people to come into this same relationship, to be reconciled, to change their attitude. to change the relationship to God based on what God has done through Christ. and made available to all of us. Now, I think this is a sufficient overview of the doctrine of reconciliation between god and the human family. But there is another whole area of reconciliation that I think we should consider. And that's reconciliation between brethren and other people in our lives. The subject of reconciliation in the scripture is not limited just to the relationship we have with God. the healing of relationships we have. or have had with one another is also addressed. And a slightly different Greek word is used in the key passage. that addresses reconciliation between brethren. The Greek word in the passage I'm about to read has a different prefix. Instead of catalasso It's D'A Lasso. And again, I'm going to read from Vine's dictionary. the definition of DLSO. to effect an alteration to exchange and hence to reconcile in cases of mutual hostility leading to mutual concession. and thus differing from Catalasso. When the writers of the New Testament speak upon the subject of the wrath of God. The hostility is represented not on the part of god but of man. And this is the reason why the apostle never uses de lasso in this connection, but always catalasil. Because the former word denotes mutual concession after mutual hostility. an idea absent from catalasso used in reference to God. Well, what is that one passage? It's the only time the word occurs. And it's in Matthew the fifth chapter Verses 23 and 24. Matthew 5, 23 and 24. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar. And there, remember that your brother has something against you leave your gift there in front of the altar. first go and be reconciled That is, make mutual concessions. First, go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. Now, in a discourse many years ago. a well-known brother once commented on this passage saying. this. He said, this passage says this passage that reconciliation with your brother is more important than serving the Lord. You know, giving gifts and offerings to him service He said, you know what this means to us as Bible students, don't you? Most of our services and offerings to God are not acceptable. Wow. Why would he say such a thing? Because… I think, in terms of relationships with one another We Bible students are sometimes not so much different than other Christians. Not so much different than other people. who find it easy to let our fallen human nature take over our thinking when we have differences with one another. Despite our desire to think that somehow we are different that somehow we are above that. But I think all too frequently We aren't. Because we have differences with one another from time to time. We can allow hostile attitudes to develop toward others. Jesus said, if you're going to offer something to God. and there's something between you and someone else. You need to go and reconcile that matter. Then make your offering to the Heavenly Father. Sometimes our differences have to do with interpretation of scripture. what we believe the Bible teaches. I think we should respect those differences and not look down on those who honestly understand it differently. but a good many times. The differences we have to do the difference have to do? with the practices, the behavior the attitudes of one another. We are all struggling against our fallen human nature. And the influence of the world upon our patterns of thinking Our emotional makeup and our behavior. I think that reality is behind what the Apostle paul said. In our theme text in second corinthians 5, 16 and 17. Reading that again. So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded christ in this way we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come. We are not to regard each other according to our human nature and our human failings. we are to view one another from God's perspective. And Paul goes on to say in the next two verses of our theme All of this is from God. who reconciled us to himself through christ And gave us the ministry gave us the ministry of reconciliation. that God was reconciling the world to himself in christ Not counting men's sins against them. Brethren, if we are learning to take God's perspective We should not be counting any man's or any woman's sins against them either. We are not the judge of other people. We are ministers of reconciliation. ministers of the restoration of relationships, of bringing people back together. But reconciliation is not a one and done concept. like once saved, always saved. Yes, though repentance from sin. And a commitment to live as a disciple of Jesus We are accepted into God's family. Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. comes into our life. 1 Corinthians 1.24. But that is not the end of our reconciliation. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we then strive for the rest of our lives. To draw closer and closer to our lord and our heavenly father you know we sing in one of our favorite one of my favorite hymns Probably one of yours. Nearer, still nearer Close to thy heart. Draw me my savior so precious thou art. So reconciliation is a gradual process. Because the reality is… that all of us are very wounded. very broken people in many ways. The circumstances and experiences of our lives have twisted our thinking our emotions and inclinations Our patterns of behavior. And these things have all led to broken and harmed relationships. our wounds, our brokenness. is actually one of the commonalities we share with the world around us. We all know people who have experienced tragedy in their lives. Many of us have experienced tragedy in our lives, which may or may not be known to our brethren. or neighbors or friends. We, as God's ambassadors have the privilege of inviting and leading others into a relationship with the great physician. through whom we and they may be healed both now And in the age have come to come. Sister Jan and I have learned and many of you have too. that being open about our wounds Being willing to share our tragic experiences and brokenness has benefited others unbeknownst to us. who were struggling with similar challenges and wounds. This is proven true many times Our experiences with our son Aaron have opened our eyes to the tragic circumstances that have led to people becoming caught up in the criminal legal system. And people have said that they have been benefited by are sharing those experiences. And then these people like our son are subjected to more demeaning and punitive treatment by that legal system In that connection, I want to share with you an excerpt from a book entitled Just Mercy, written by a lawyer named Brian Stevenson. who has made it his life's work. to advocate for children and adolescents caught up in the criminal legal system and adults who have been unjustly sentenced to death. Bryan Stevenson has challenged bias against the poor and minorities in the criminal legal system, especially children. He has helped achieve U.S. Supreme Court decisions. that prohibits sentencing children under 18 years of age, sentencing them to death or to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and he has assisted in cases that have saved dozens of prisoners from the death penalty. Now, there was a movie entitled Just Mercy based on the book. that was released in 2019. Some of you may have seen it. Maybe you've even read the book. The movie focused on the story of Walter McMillan, a wrongfully accused and convicted man who Mr. Stevenson saved. from the death penalty. The excerpt I am about to read concerns another client he tried to save from execution. That client's name was Jimmy Dill. Jimmy Dill had shot a man during a drug deal gone wrong. the wound that was inflicted by the gunshot was not life-threatening. But due to inadequate medical care. the victim died nine months later. When that happened, the state of Alabama increased the charges against Mr. Dill. from aggravated assault. to capital murder and they asked for the death penalty. Jimmy Dill was cognitively disabled and stuttered terribly. He had been physically and sexually abused throughout his childhood. With these circumstances, almost not surprisingly. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs. Now he was about to be executed. Even though the US Supreme Court had banned the execution of people who are cognitively disabled. So this is the record that Mr. Stevenson wrote about his phone conversation with Jimmy Dill. on the night when he was about to be executed. This is a long excerpt that I would like to share with you. I will tell you, I'm going to begin the quote and it's a long one I'll let you know when when I go back to narrative and the quote. This is what Mr. Stevenson wrote. I was in my office talking to Jimmy Doll on the night of his execution. I realized that I was crying. The tears were sliding down my cheeks. runaways that had escaped when I wasn't paying attention Mr. Dill was still laboring to get his words out because of his stuttering desperately trying to thank me. for trying to save his life. The harder he tried to speak. the more I wanted to cry. The long pauses gave me too much time to think. He would never have been convicted of capital murder if he had just had the money for a decent lawyer. he would have never been sentenced to death if someone had investigated his past. It all felt tragic. His struggle to form words and his determination to express his gratitude reinforced his humanity to me And it made thinking about his impending execution unbearable Why couldn't they see it too? The Supreme Court had banned the execution of people with intellectual disability. But states like Alabama refused to assess in any honest way whether the condemned are disabled. We're supposed to sentence people fairly. After fully considering their life circumstances. but instead we exploit the inability of the poor to get the legal assistance they need Also, we can kill them with less resistance. on the phone with mr dill i thought about all of his struggles and all the terrible things he'd gone through. And how has disabilities had broken him? there was no excuse for him to have shot someone. But it didn't make sense to kill Jimmy Doll. I began to get angry about it. Why do we want to kill all these broken people? What is wrong with us that we think a thing like that can be right. He finally got his words out. Mr. Bryan. I just want to thank you for fighting for me. I thank you for caring about me. I love you all for trying to save me. When I hung up the phone that night. I had a wet face. and a broken heart. the lack of compassion I witnessed every day had finally exhausted me. I looked around my crowded office at the stack of records and papers Each pile filled with tragic stories. And I suddenly didn't want to be surrounded by all this anguish and misery. As I sat there. I thought myself a fool for having tried to fix situations that were so fatally broken. it's time to stop, I told myself. I can't do this anymore. For the first time i realized that my life was just full of brokenness. I worked in a broken system of justice My clients were broken by mental illness. poverty and racism. They were torn apart by disease, drugs, and alcohol. Pride, fear, and anger. I thought of dozens of broken children we worked with. clients who had been sentenced to life without possibility of parole and were struggling to survive in adult prisons I thought of clients who have been broken by war. Broken by poverty. broken by disability. In their broken state they were judged and condemned by people whose commitment to fairness had been broken by cynicism hopelessness and prejudice. I looked at my calendar and at my computer I looked again around my office at the stack of files. And before I knew it, I was talking to myself aloud. I can just leave. Why am I doing this? It took me a while to sort it out. But I realized something's sitting there While Jimmy Dill was being killed at home in prison. After working… For more than 25 years. I understood that I don't do what I do. Because it's required. or necessary. or important. I don't do it because I have no choice. I do what I do because I'm broken too. My years of struggling against inequality abuse of power poverty, oppression and injustice. had finally revealed something to me about myself. being close to suffering. death, executions, and cruel punishments didn't just illuminate the brokenness of others. In a moment of anguish and heartbreak. It also exposed my own brokenness. you can effectively fight against abusive power poverty, inequality, illness, oppression, or injustice. And not be broken by it. We are all broken by something. We have all heard someone and ben hurt we all share the condition of brokenness Even if our brokenness is not equivalent. I desperately wanted mercy for Jimmy Doe and would have done anything to create justice for him. But I couldn't pretend that his struggle was disconnected from my own. The ways in which I have been hurt and have hurt others are different from the ways Jimmy Dill suffered and caused suffering. but our shared brokenness connected us. Being broken is what makes us human. We all have our reasons. Sometimes we're fractured by the choices we make. Sometimes we're shattered by things we would never have chosen. But our brokenness is also the source of our common humanity. the basis for a shared search for comfort, meaning. and healing. Our shared vulnerability and imperfection nurtures and sustains our capacity for compassion. I thought of the people who had cheered Jimmy Dill's death and see it as some kind of victory. I realized they were broken people too. Even if they would never admit it. We become so fearful and vengeful that we've thrown away children to die in prison this card that's disabled. and sanctioned the imprisonment of the sick and the weak. Not because they are a threat to public safety or beyond rehabilitation. but because we think it makes us seem tough. and less broken. We've submitted to the harsh instinct to crush those among us whose brokenness is most visible. but simply punishing the broken walking away from them or hiding them from sight only ensures that they remain broken. And we do too. I frequently had difficult conversations with clients who were struggling and despairing over their situations, over the things that they had done. or had done to them. that led them to painful moments. Whenever things got really bad. And they were questioning the value of their own lives. I would remind them of this. Each of us is more. done the worst thing we've ever done. I told him that if someone tells a lie. that person is not just a liar. If you take something that doesn't belong to you. You are not just a thief. Even if you kill someone. you're not just a killer. I told myself that evening what I had been telling my clients for years. I am more than just broken. In fact, there is strength, a power even in understanding brokenness. Because embracing our brokenness creates a need. and desire for mercy. And perhaps a corresponding need To show mercy to others. When you experience mercy. You learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't otherwise see. You hear things you can't otherwise hear. you begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each of us. That's the end of the quotation. I was greatly saddened by the tragic stories I read in this book. But I was glad to have had a window of understanding open to me. and to learn how terribly broken our legal system is. And how terribly broken Are the people caught up in it and those who administer it? There is a real strength to be gained by acknowledging that we are not all that God intended us to be. And wants us to be. And it opens us up to showing greater kindness and mercy. to others around us. be they brethren our neighbor a coworker or a person incarcerated in a jail or prison Acknowledging our brokenness extinguishes pride, replacing it with humility. which is the doorway through which we receive God's grace, his undeserved kindness. And we all so desperately need God's grace. The doctrine of reconciliation requires us to look at one another to look at all people through a different lens. to see people from God's perspective. In our class, we are studying the book Acts of the apostles. In chapter 10 the apostle chapter is given the vision of the sheep being let down from heaven And it was full of unclean animals. A voice tells Peter, get up peter kill and eat. Peter replied, surely not, Lord. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. The voice replies Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This vision and exchange of words happens three times. The account says that while Peter was still thinking about the vision. three men sent by Cornelius in Caesarea arrived The Spirit of God tells Peter. do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them. So the next day, Peter, of course, goes with the men. They come to Cornelius's house and he has gathered his relatives and close friends to his house to hear what Peter will say to them. As I studied this chapter. I was powerfully struck by one of Peter's statements to Cornelius. In verse 28. Peter explains to him You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. Then in the next sentence. He summarizes the lesson he learned from the vision God gave him And this is the statement that so powerfully struck me. Peter said, Peter said God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. We said earlier that in carrying out the ministry of Reconciliation. We need to look at others from God's perspective. Well, here, Peter tells us God's perspective. we should not call any man, any person impure or unclean. I think attorney brian stevenson's statement is an appropriate corollary to that. where he says where he says he Each of us is more. than the worst thing we've ever done. Brethren, the doctrine of reconciliation challenges us to look at ourselves and at others as more than the worst things we've ever done. It challenges us to see ourselves and others from God's perspective. From Jesus's perspective, he who died to save all of us It challenges us to practice reconciliation with one another. so that we can be ministers of reconciliation or not fellowship And in the world around us. Inviting people to enter upon new, joyous ways of living. ways that perhaps they never thought possible. because of the brokenness in their lives. I will close with another story. that came out in the news on March 14th of this year. Perhaps some of you saw it. And the story is about a man who died on March 11th a man named Paul Alexander. He passed away in Dallas, Texas. He was 78 years old. He spent most of the last 72 years of his life in an iron lung. He had contracted polio at age six in 1952. And he was the last living man who was dependent on that machine. to keep him alive. there is still one living woman in that situation. His younger brother philip said. He wanted to help people out. He wasn't going to leave this world. until in his mind He had done something grand. Well, reading his story. I think he did. Paul Alexander learned to write. type and paint. Using only his mouth and a stick. He taught himself a breathing technique. that allowed him to leave the iron lung for short periods of time. He didn't let his disability slow down his academics. He completed high school. graduated with an economics degree from Southern Methodist University. earned a law degree from the University of Texas. Pass the bar exam. practiced law in Dallas. and was an advocate for polio research. and wrote a book. He even took to social media. Sharing countless messages of joy. and hope, garnering thousands of followers around the world. his brother philip said. Even at the end. I don't think he really realized what kind of an effect he had. He wants people to remember. that you can get through any struggle. And it's all about how you treat each other. that was his life's cause. It's all about how you treat each other. That, dear friends, I think, is another good way. To summarize the work. of the ministry of Reconciliation. Jesus said, Jesus said. Again, this passage from matthew 5. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you. Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. May the Lord in his bless him.

Our gracious Heavenly Father. And Jesus our Lord. We are so thankful for the wonderful provisions. you have made for the rescue of humanity. from sin and death. Through the sacrifices you have made. And Father, we are so grateful. that your plan includes your plan All of us. Not just now, but in the future as well. We thank you, Jesus. that you considered all of humanity worth saving and god for laying out the plan to accomplish that. We thank you that we have the privilege of now being reconciled. to you. And we're humbled that you would place in our hands the ministry to bring about that invitation of reconciliation to others now and in the kingdom. Help us day by day to be faithful in our walk that we might receive that privilege. to take on that role of service to humanity and to each of you. We pray that that day when Jesus will be king would come very soon. And Father, we ask your forgiveness. For the many missteps that we make along the way. Father, we want to thank you. for this technology that has enabled us to come together this weekend And for the fellowship and lessons that have come to each of us. We thank you for the work of the San Diego brethren and making these arrangements. And as we… continued fellowship and then part our ways. We ask you would be with each of us here and all of your children worldwide. those who are striving to worship thee in spirit and in truth that you would Guide and direct them. And we look forward to… future opportunities. to be together in this life and the next. Because of you, Jesus, and you heavenly father And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.