Reconciling Our Spiritual Account Part 2 by Carey Dillinger
(Reprinted from The Expository Files (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4051/)
Who will bring us the Word of reconciliation?
God charged the apostles to plead with us as ambassadors for
Christ with the ministry of reconciliation namely, preaching the
word of reconciliation, pleading with us to be reconciled to God.
(2 Cor. 5:18-20)
(17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
(19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed
to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore
you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. (NKJ)
To discount the work and words of the apostles is to make them out to be liars and charlatans. Beyond that it calls into question our faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit, because it was Jesus who sent us the apostles and the Holy Spirit that provided them with their inspiration. If it were not for Paul we would not have such a clear concept of changing to be in agreement with God.
How are we to be reconciled to God?
God's gift
We have already seen that God provides the means of reconciliation
through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 5:11). An examination of Col.
1:20,22 shows that this reconciliation comes through the blood
and death of Jesus. It is this sacrifice that put into effect
the New Testament plan of salvation providing a means by which
man can truly be reconciled to God. (See Albert Barnes' comments
on 2 Cor 5:18b, Vol. XI, p. 128.) In his Word Studies in the New
Testament, Vincent makes the following comments on Romans 5:10b
concerning God's part in man's reconciliation to Him.
(Reconciliation) involves a movement of God toward man with
a view to break down man's hostility, to commend God's love and
holiness to him, and to convince him of the enormity and the consequence
of sin. It is God who initiates this movement in the person and
work of Jesus Christ. See also Eph. 1:6 and 1 Jn. 4:19. (Once
man makes the required changes then we see) a corresponding
change of relation (not a change of accommodation -cd)
on God's part, that being removed which alone rendered Him hostile
to man, so that God can now receive him into fellowship and let
loose upon him all His fatherly love and grace, 1 Jn. 1:3,7. Thus
there is complete reconciliation. (Vol. III, p. 61)
Man's obligations
In his Commentary on Romans, R.L. Whiteside suggests that first
a man must want to be reconciled. (Rom. 5:8-10, Whiteside p. 119)
It will take what we commonly call "an attitude adjustment."
To quote Vines:
By reason of (Christ's propitiatory sacrifice) men in
their sinful condition and alienation from God are invited to
be "reconciled" to Him; that is say, to change their
attitude, and accept the provisions God has made, whereby their
sins can be remitted and they themselves can justified in the
sight of Christ. (Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical
Words, p. 514.)
Continuing with Vincent's comments:
(Upon the reception of the work of Jesus Christ we see) a corresponding
movement on mans' part toward God; yielding to the appeal of Christ's
self-sacrificing love, laying aside his enmity, renouncing his
sin, and turning to God in faith and obedience. A consequent change
in the character of man (will be evident); the covering, forgiving,
cleansing of his sin; a thorough revolution in all his dispositions
and principles. (Vol. III, p. 61)
Now returning to the Apostle Paul we note once again that man
must continue in the faith and not be moved away from the hope
of the gospel (Col. 1:23). Furthermore, knowing this, that our
old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Rom.
6:6) or how else can the old things…be passed away? (2 Cor.
5:17) A further study of the Romans passage would show that submission
to water baptism would be required to bring us in contact with
the death and the blood of Christ. (See Rom. 6:3-14).
Where will this reconciliation take place?
In one body (Eph. 2:16). This reconciliation can and will only
take place in one body - Christ's. According to Col.1:18, And
He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He
may have the preeminence. Christ's body today is the church. A
belief that man might be reconciled to God separate and apart
from the church is not found in the teaching of the Apostle Paul
(See Ephesians and Colossians in
toto.)
Eight blessed results of man's reconciliation to God.
Closing Thought
Our spiritual account will be reconciled when we willingly make
the necessary changes in our attitude and life to bring ourselves
into agreement with God. Reconciling our checkbook once a month
keeps the bank happy, but after we initially reconcile our account
with God it needs to be checked and double-checked day by day.
The Psalms of Israel by Earl Kimbrough
ekimbrau@tampabay.rr.com
"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8).
Poetry is the second most common literary form in the Bible. It is next in prevalence to the narrative or story form. Most books of the Bible contain some poetry, especially in the Old Testament. In newer translations, the poetry is distinguished by italics, spaces, indentations, and capitalized lines. It is arranged in poetic form. Some Biblical books are almost entirely poetic. These include the Books of Poetry and the Books of Prophecy. But poetry also graces the sacred pages throughout the Bible. "The song of Deborah antedates the odes of Pindar, an David sang two centuries almost before Homer" (C. L. Loos). David especially is remembered as "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam 23:1) His psalms comprise a large portion of the Book of Psalms.
Why was so much of the Bible written in poetic form? Three [reasons] are readily apparent. (1) Poetry is easier to remember than prose. "The Bible teaches me how to live each day," does not cling to the mind like, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psa 119:105). (2) Poetry encourages meditation. The deeper meaning of the message unfolds as the remembered words are pondered. God wants us to meditate in His word "day and night" (Psalm 1:2). (3) Poetry strikes an emotional response that helps motivate the will to action in applying God's word. For example, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Pet 3:12). What honest soul could read these lines without seeing God's care for his own and being moved thereby to pray more earnestly in time of special need?
One of the first portions of Scripture that we learn as children is the delightful twenty-third Psalm. Its words of comfort abide with us through life and encourage us in facing death. How often in times of discouragement, distress, and despair have its beautiful words warmed the soul with its asseverations of assurance, peace, and hope. Millions have found consolation in seasons of inexpressible sorrow and heart-breaking disappointment by reading or recalling this and other inspired poetry penned by God's faithful servants of old, especially the Psalms of Israel.
Perhaps no people on earth were so intensely religious as the ancient Israelites, or at least many of them. Their trust in God is expressed in their songs.
Fragments of earlier psalms of God's people are scattered through the Books of Moses. The words of "the sweet psalmist of Israel" and other Spirit-guided poets are collected in the marvelous Book of Psalms. But the psalms of Israel did not pass away with the old law. Psalms, along with hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19), are for Christians, too. The singing of psalms attends the gathering of the saints in the present age. What would our worship services be without them? We should read, sing, and meditate on the psalms of Israel today, but the realms of eternal glory undoubtedly will echo with the voices of the redeemed singing "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the son of the Lamb" (Rev. 15:3).
"(The Book of Psalms) brings us into the sanctuary, draws us off from converse with men, with the philosophers or disputers of this world, and directs us into communion with God." (Adam Clarke)
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