"New Creation Realities" Part Three: "Your Ministry of Reconciliation" by Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
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2 Corinthians 5:17-18 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Key Themes:
1. Reconciliation Begins in Christ
◦ True transformation happens in Christ—not through good works or self-effort.
◦ God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2. You Belong to God
◦ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
◦ Many people try to add Jesus to their lives rather than fully surrendering to Him.
◦ God doesn’t do "timeshares" with our lives—He wants everything, not just a portion.
3. God Provides What He Requires
◦ Everything God asks of us, He also provides the grace to fulfill.
◦ Just as in education or training, high expectations come with high investment.
◦ Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. With Reconciliation Comes with Responsibility
◦ Reconciliation not just a personal benefit; it’s a calling to extend it to others.
◦ We are reassigned after being reconciled—called to help restore others.
◦ The message must be shared, not just received.
5. Seeing People as God Sees Them
◦ Don't look away from the broken, hurting, or lost—see them, engage with them.
◦ True reconciliation requires recognition:
▪ Recognizing God's nature and human nature.
▪ Understanding that all people are created in God’s image (Imago Dei), even if they don’t yet reflect it.
6. Conciliation Before Reconciliation
◦ Reconciliation requires addressing what caused the division.
◦ No reconciliation without recognition and repentance.
◦ Applies to racial issues, family conflicts, and most importantly, our relationship with God.
7. Understand Human Nature
◦ The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
◦ People want a god that serves them, but the true God is the one they must serve.
8. Indicators of the true God:
• Is from everlasting to everlasting
• Known to Adam, Abraham, Moses and the even the pagans of every generation
• Has the power to create, destroy, heal and reform
• Passes final judgment
• Knows the motivations of the heart
• Has purpose that transcends self-serving interests of people
• Manifests His presence in the earth through the Holy Spirit
• Has a son name Jesus Christ, who is God the Son
9. The Power of the Gospel
◦Salvation only comes through the message of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
◦The gospel itself is the power of God
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Key Themes:
1. Reconciliation Begins in Christ
◦ True transformation happens in Christ—not through good works or self-effort.
◦ God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2. You Belong to God
◦ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
◦ Many people try to add Jesus to their lives rather than fully surrendering to Him.
◦ God doesn’t do "timeshares" with our lives—He wants everything, not just a portion.
3. God Provides What He Requires
◦ Everything God asks of us, He also provides the grace to fulfill.
◦ Just as in education or training, high expectations come with high investment.
◦ Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. With Reconciliation Comes with Responsibility
◦ Reconciliation not just a personal benefit; it’s a calling to extend it to others.
◦ We are reassigned after being reconciled—called to help restore others.
◦ The message must be shared, not just received.
5. Seeing People as God Sees Them
◦ Don't look away from the broken, hurting, or lost—see them, engage with them.
◦ True reconciliation requires recognition:
▪ Recognizing God's nature and human nature.
▪ Understanding that all people are created in God’s image (Imago Dei), even if they don’t yet reflect it.
6. Conciliation Before Reconciliation
◦ Reconciliation requires addressing what caused the division.
◦ No reconciliation without recognition and repentance.
◦ Applies to racial issues, family conflicts, and most importantly, our relationship with God.
7. Understand Human Nature
◦ The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
◦ People want a god that serves them, but the true God is the one they must serve.
8. Indicators of the true God:
• Is from everlasting to everlasting
• Known to Adam, Abraham, Moses and the even the pagans of every generation
• Has the power to create, destroy, heal and reform
• Passes final judgment
• Knows the motivations of the heart
• Has purpose that transcends self-serving interests of people
• Manifests His presence in the earth through the Holy Spirit
• Has a son name Jesus Christ, who is God the Son
9. The Power of the Gospel
◦Salvation only comes through the message of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
◦The gospel itself is the power of God
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