Jesus, Our Reconciliation

Series: Christmas: It’s All About Jesus Jesus
Message: Our Reconciliation 
Scripture: Colossians 1:19-23

There are two basic questions about the events that we remember and celebrate at Christmas: 

1. How did the Son of God come to earth?
2. Why did the Son of God come to earth?

• The answer to the first question is Incarnation (19)

“fullness” – means completeness or Totality
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” (Colossians 2:9)
“dwell” – to be at home Permanently
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:1 & 14)

“Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; 
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, 
Jesus, our Emmanuel!”

• The answer to the second question is Reconciliation (20)

“Hark! the herald angels sing, 
Glory to the new-born King! 
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, 
God and sinners reconciled.”

The Need For Reconciliation (21)

Paul uses three striking word pictures to describe our condition prior to the cross:

• Alienated 
• Hostile in mind 
• Evil Behavior

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1–2)

The Way of Reconciliation (20,22)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

A Little Theology 

Propitiation - The absorbing and exhausting of the righteous wrath of a Holy God against our sin. 

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9) 

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9–10) 

Expiation - The removal or putting away of sin from the presence of a Holy God.

““I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25) 

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”” (Hebrews 8:12) 

Old Testament Picture of this: The Scape Goat (Leviticus 16)

The Results of Reconciliation (22)

Personally: He uses three words/phrases to express our condition after the cross. 

• Holy 
• Blameless – Without Blemish 
• Above Reproach – Free From Accusation 

Cosmically (20) 

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (Romans 8:19–22) 

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13) 

The Condition Of Reconciliation (23) 

“They were encouraged to continue in the faith. There was no doubt that the genuine believers would continue. Even more, the fact that they did continue evidenced the reality of their commitments.” Richard Melick 

“For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:5) 

• Recognition 
• Renunciation 
• Reliance 
• Rejoice  

--------------------------- 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17–20) 

Making It Personal: 

• Are you “continuing in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel?” 
• Is the joy of reconciliation evident in your life this Christmas? 
• How can you serve as an ambassador for Christ? Who will you share the good news of great joy with this Christmas?