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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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THE
RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD (Rom 5:9-11) 8/12/07 Pastor INTRODUCTION A. As Paul continues to work
through all of the spiritual blessings bestowed upon the believer through
justification, he now comes to the spiritual blessing of, “Reconciliation.” B. Reconciliation was alluded to in Rom 5:1
where Paul stated that the one who has been justified has peace with God.
Reconciliation is bringing peace to two estranged parties (sinful man and a
holy God). Paul expands upon the teaching of reconciliation. I. RECONCILIATION REMOVES
THE WRATH OF GOD (9) A. In vs. 9, the expression,
“much more” (pollō mállon) is introduced. This expression
is used four times in this chapter (9.10.15.17). It is frequently used with a
fortiori arguments (Lat. “from the stronger (greater)” to the
lesser, 8:32; 11:12, 24; Mat 6:30; 7:11; 10:25b; 2Co 3:11; Heb 12:9, 25). B. Here, the greater is the fact that the
believer has already been justified (aor pass part - dikaióō
- same word as 5:1). If the greater difficulty of justifying a helpless
ungodly sinner was accomplished, surely a believer standing in Christ’s
righteousness will be saved from the wrath of God. C. Again, note the agency of Christ. The
believer is justified, “by His (Christ’s) blood.” In addition, the believer
is saved from wrath, “through Him (Christ).” Christ’s blood is a reference to
His propitiatory death that has satisfied the wrath of God (Rom 3:25). D. What is the believing sinner saved from?
The believing sinner is saved from the wrath (órgę - God’s personal
emotional response against unrighteousness) of God. God’s wrath is His response
of righteous indignation against any and all unrighteousness both now (Rom
1:18) and in the future (Rom 2:5). II. RECONCILIATION REMOVES
MAN’S ENMITY (10) A. Paul explains (“for,”
gàr) in vs. 10 the removal of God’s wrath by teaching the doctrine
of Reconciliation. B. In teaching the doctrine of
Reconciliation, he starts with man’s lost estate. In fact, a fourth
description is used in chapter five to illustrate man’s spiritual and lost
estate. 1.
“Helpless” (6) 2. “Ungodly” (6) 3. “Sinners” (8) 4. and now, “enemies” (10) C. The word for “enemy” is echthrós,
which means hatred, hostile, or enemy. Echthros can be defined as the
personal and inner disposition from which hostility arises and describes the
enmity of natural man’s relationship to God. Natural man is an enemy of God
and is: 1. hostile
in mind - Col 1:21; 2. hostile in deeds - Gal 5:19-20; 3. hostile to God’s Lordship - Luk 19:27; 4. hostile to God and his Word - Rom 8:7;
Jam 4:4 5. hostile to the Gospel - Rom 11:28; Phi
3:18; 6. hostile to believers - Mat 5:43-44; D. However, in the same
fashion as vs. 6 and 8, while being (pres part - óntes)
helpless, ungodly sinners and enemies, Christ died for us. The result of the
“death of His Son” was not universal salvation, but that man was reconciled
in the sense that he now had an atonement for his sin, his enmity could be
removed, and he was now in a savable position. E. “Reconciliation” (katallássō)
literally means, “to effect a change from enmity to favor.” Reconciliation means a change of relationship from
hostility to harmony and peace between two parties. (Ryrie) The emphasis of
reconciliation is that of making peace with God. Man who was estranged from
God is brought into communion with God. (Enns) F. Paul then speaks to the
reality of reconciliation for those who have trusted in Christ’s death; i.e.
“having been reconciled” (aor pass part - katallássō).
At the moment of faith, the sinner is changed from a position of enmity to a
position of favor (cp. Rom 5:1). Thus, the believer’s enmity is removed along
with God’s wrath. G. Reconciliation necessitated the mediation
of Christ’s death (“through” - diá with genitive - agency)
in order to remove God’s wrath from man and change man’s state of enmity. 1. God’
Part - The phrase, “we were reconciled” is reconciliation in the
sense that even though we were enemies, reconciliation was now made possible
through the death of Christ. 2. Man’s Part - The phrase, “having
been reconciled” is the reality of reconciliation to those who have
embraced reconciliation by faith in Christ’s death (cp. 11). It is man who
ultimately needed to be reconciled to God. God did not move away from man,
but man separated himself from God by choosing sin. H. The full argument of v. 10
is as follows, that “if” (1st class condition -“if” ei -
assumed true for the sake of argument) while man was in his unsaved
condition as an enemy, God initiated reconciliation (the greater), then
having been reconciled, the believer will surely be saved (the lesser). III. RECONCILIATION REMOVES
ETERNAL INSECURITY (11) A. There is one
additional thought (“and not only this”) and that is the fact that the
believer exults in God because he has eternally received this great
reconciliation. B. The believer “exults” (kaucháomai - boast, rejoice) and confidently rejoices in the fact that he has
received (aor - lambánō) reconciliation now (nun). C. In fact, we are taught that the believer
is able to exult and confidently
rejoice in: 1. future
glory (5:2) 2. present tribulation (5:3) 3. present reconciliation (5:11) D. The believer need not fear
of eternal “insecurity.” Reconciliation is a present positional possession
“in Christ.” E. All spiritual blessings spring out of
Christ’s work on the cross (“through whom” - diá oú). If
all of man’s spiritual needs are met in the cross, and love is meeting the
needs of others, then it is apparent why God declares that his ultimate love
is demonstrated in the cross (Rom 5:8). IV. APPLICATIONS A. God’s Wrath Is Part Of The
Gospel Message 1. Though
God’s wrath is an unpopular idea, unbelievers need to know of God’s present
(Rom 1:18) and impending wrath (Rev 20:11-14) so that they flee to the cross.
This truth is the first part of Paul’s gospel presentation. 2. The “good news” of the gospel is that
Christ will save the believing sinner from the wrath of God (Joh 3:36; Rom
5:9; 8:1). B. The Believer Has Been
Given The Ministry Of Reconciliation 1. God
now works through reconciled believers to appeal to the world that man is now
savable and reconcilable through Christ (2Co 5:18-20). a) Believers
were given the privilege of the ministry of reconciliation (18). b) Believers are responsible for giving out
the message of reconciliation (19). c) God makes His appeal of reconciliation
through believers (20). d) On Christ’s behalf, believers are to
implore unbelievers to be reconciled (20). C. Reconciliation Should
Effect All Relationships 1. Reconciliation
with God teaches us to have reconciliation in all relationships. a) Reconciled
with all men (Rom 12:18). b) Reconciled to other believers (Mat 5:24). c) Reconciled to believing spouses (1Co
7:11). |
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