Announcements

1. Today Meeting: Food & Hospitality Ministry & the Ladies • P&W Ministry Fellowship Saturday, March 23, 1-6pm @ Caseria’s residence • 7 Last Sayings Friday, March 29, 1-3pm, King’s Cross. • Anniversary Sunday, March 31, Stowe. Announcements

2. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.2 Corinthians 9:6

3. Why Did Jesus Die? 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

4. Why Did Jesus Die? • To justify us before God • God’s righteousness = Verdict against sin & Vindication of the sinner • Ground and means of justification • To reconcile us with God Introduction

5. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For 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 5:17-21

6. The painful reality of broken relationships is all too real today: in the family, in schools, in society, between nations • What is reconciliation? • To overcome alienation, heal broken relationships and bring enemies into a state of friendship • It is not to paper over the cracks, but to face up to and resolve the cause of the disruption 1. Nature of Reconciliation

7. Because we cannot neutralize wrongdoing • We cannot undo the done deed and our words remain forever uttered • Our wrongful acts always stick to us as our fault/guilt • Because sin always leads to alienation(Gen. 3) • Alienation from creation, people, and even ourselves • Alienation from God: The result of sin is that we do not stand in a neutral position before God become his enemies 2. Need for Reconciliation

8. God the Father is the Reconciler • Verse 18:”All this is from God” • It’s the reverse of pagan religion where humans seek restoration of the gods’ favour: It is God providing the sacrifice not us • It is God giving, God not counting trespasses, God appealing, God making Christ sin for us, … • “The only thing of my very own which I contribute to my redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed”(W Temple) 3. Provision of Reconciliation

9. Christ is the Agent of Reconciliation • God did not decree it, or change his mind about sin, nor did he ‘reconcile himself to the situation’ • The full meaning of reconciliation is in view, not some superficial ones • God reconciles us to himself in Christ • Verses 19 & 21: In Christ, God was not counting their trespasses against them. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin • The wrong deed/word remains done/spoken, but the guilt that rightfully sticks to us is removed 3. Provision of Reconciliation

10. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! • We are constituted by our relationships: If we are reconciled with God, reconciled with people and with ourselves we become a new creation! • Reconciliation is an accomplished reality (v.18) and because it must be appropriated, a continuing process (v.19) • We are called to be God’s ambassadors representing and proclaiming what has been accomplished (v.20) 4. Results of Reconciliation

11. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. • How has our reconciliation with God changed our lives? • How do we represent a reconciling God to the people around us? Conclusion