Episode 2870 - Lesson 10 - Tuesday September 01 - Christ-focused Ministry of Reconciliation

Christ-focused Ministry of ReconciliationRead 2 Corinthians 5:11-15. How does this passage demonstrate that Paul's ministry is Christ-centered?Paul knew he was supposed to render an account of his ministry to Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). He knew "the fear of the LORD" and sought to persuade people about the gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 5:11, ESV). This fear is reverence and awe toward Christ and, hence, it is combined with Paul's love for Christ and trust in Christ's love for him. In the Old Testament, to fear the Lord means to walk in His ways, to love Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and soul (Deut. 10:12).Paul's ministry is not self-focused but Christ-focused. He did not commend himself. The reason for his boasting is Christ (2 Cor. 12:9). He said, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. 6:14, ESV). Thus, the Corinthians' opportunity to boast about him (2 Cor. 5:12) means to be proud of his Christ-focused ministry in contrast to the self-focused ministry of his opponents.Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Colossians 1:19-23, and Ephesians 2:13-16. What did Paul mean by "ministry of reconciliation"?Christ is the minister of reconciliation par excellence. As such, He "has given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18, NKJV). The idea of reconciliation occurs over and over throughout 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. This is an essential concept for Paul, and so must it be for us, too.God has reconciled humanity to Himself by means of the atoning death of His Son. Those who were reconciled to God are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Now, they are supposed to pass this "message of reconciliation" onward by proclaiming the gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 5:19, ESV). In this sense, "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us" (2 Cor. 5:20, NKJV).Think about what Christ has done for you. Think about the guilt, the sin, the condemnation that would be yours but for what He did for you at the cross. How should this reality impact how you relate to others, especially those who don't know the Lord?