R199 The Meaning of Reconciliation

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on reconciliation yesterday will head to Colossians chapter 1 for this message and the meaning of reconciliation Dr. Don Wilton well-known author, pastor, seminary professor and one of the books he's written recently as the book on his relationship after 20+ years of being the pastor of the nation's pastor Dr. Billy Graham is call Saturdays and really you haven't seen it you take a look on our website@tewronline.org that's an exciting resource with words and that I prayed it while you're there, you will sign up for the free daily devotional from Dr. Wilson call the daily Encouraging Word. You can sign up at tewonline.org he anytime little challenge with God's word in your email box. Now Dr. Don Wilton Bibles this morning to Paul's letter to the Colossians chapter 1 goals letter to the Colossians in chapter 1 we going to be looking at an unbelievably difficult subject for many people to understand how subject this morning from God's word is the meaning of reconciliation is not a great word reconciliation to be reconciled to somebody. There is a great need on the part of all people to be reconciled together.

I'm going to tell you something right up front this morning. The Bible teaches us very clearly that because of the Lord Jesus Christ that we we can be reconciled. First of all gone and then to our fellow man. You see God's reconciliation in the Lord Jesus Christ not any works from man to God, but it works from man to man.

I wouldn't be surprised this morning if there are many people who are listening to this message that need to be reconciled. I made a statement like this before. Not I do it again. One of the most tragic situations that you and I can encounter in life is when I find the sun and the father one no longer talking with one another and give meaning to a family where there is a lack of reconciliation have given meaning to a family where the in-laws become outlaws where they not allowed to come into the house and and and she better not say anything else again. Otherwise, I'll fix up and give meaning to a family where a marriage is taken place in and the children seem to become estranged meaning to a family where a husband and wife become separated, see friends. The Bible teaches us that God is the God of reconciliation, not by the way, the word reconciliation means to be brought together again. I want to just slip that in our rented by Dan and Kai. Some of you had a rough night last night. Reconciliation means to be brought together again. You see, it has that little prefix in front of the word read really means to do it again at the Bible teaches us that to be reconciled to God means that we are being restored into a relationship that one small we are being brought back into the relationship that God originally intended for us to be. You know sometimes when I counseled with married couples agrees with God couples you are about to be married, to be honest with you folks. I'm not even quite sure I listening to one word I say I mean they just they just sit there and look at each other and I just swooned.

I mean it's just unbelievable when the fella stands up his legs are doing this, they'll say yes to anything I mean I just anything.

I mean I just agree to anything. I happen to satisfy you do this, I now they haven't heard what I said but I just read your site.

Then I get married and they so in love. I mean it's unbelievable. He walks around opens up the Cardinal. I mean he's got clowns raise the rose gone. He's got flowers for her. I mean, he does all kinds of things he's just he just boiling with believable joy and oneness with this ride of his life.

10 years later, why don't you open the door yourself. What seems to be what he what you mean. You see something begins to happen and and folks we can look at all these things in life but you know that that sometimes it becomes very serious and and differences begin to creep in and and tensions and kinds of innuendo and suggestion on the next minute they become separated and then and then there's this horrible thing called coal divorce and and is a breakup in this sort of stuff I want you to know something praying the Bible tells us that God is God.

He brings people together but it begins with our relationship with God now want you to look with me here in Paul's letter to the Colossians at the meaning of reconciliation again to begin to read in verse 19 of the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians.

The Bible says God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in the Lord Jesus Christ want to say to you right there at this juncture, my friends, that it is very important to understand that the reconciliation that we are able to enjoy him and through the Lord Jesus Christ is simply because God has put the stamp of approval on the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ has been given the full and complete authority to reconcile the world unto himself, and that incredible.

In fact, listen to what the Bible says. The Bible says that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto himself.

And when you are not coming into a reconciliation with God immediately. The first thing that will begin to happen is we will begin to become reconciled with one another. We are reconciled with God and then we become reconciled with one another what the apostle forces verse 19 from God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Lord Jesus Christ, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, where the things on all things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed upon the cross. Then in verse 21. The apostle Paul talks about why reconciliation is re-conciliation being brought together again. He says for once you were at one time alienated from God because you are enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior, but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through this in order to present you holy in his side without blemish free from accusation. Verse 23. If you continue in your faith. The Bible says if you continue in your faith established in firm. What that means, literally translated, it means as you continue grounded in the faith. You demonstrate the hope of the gospel that you have in the Lord Jesus Christ. He says if you continuing the fight established in firm not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that is being proclaimed in every creature under heaven, of which I pull become a servant we going to look very briefly this morning at the meaning of reconciliation. I want us to break it down into two components from God's word number one.

Let's discover. First of all, man's need man's need then number two.

Next, discover God's response to man's need to look first of all, man's need then we going to discover God's response to man's need if there is a need my frame to be re-can sound with the Lord Jesus Christ. What caused us to lose our status and opposition with God. To begin with. Well we have a look together right there in verse 21 we put some keywords here that the apostle Paul shared with the men and women at the church of colossi. He says in verse 21.

They was a time that you were alienated from God is not incredible. The apostle doesn't say that you might have been alienated from God. The apostle Paul says there was a time that you were reunited from God. Now what in the world is it mean to be alienated to be United. My friends means that God has decreed you to be a nonparticipant in the joy and the benefits of his grace. The Bible teaches very clearly that when we were born we were born dead in our trespasses and in our sins we are outside of the grace of God. God created man in his own image, placed him in the garden of Eden, man's sin, sin separated them from God and man. He's in right to fellowship with God, our heavenly father and then through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now what does that mean to be United from God means that you have no semblance of God in you, whatsoever.

It means that you have no ownership with God whatsoever.

I remember conducting a funeral service, about 12 years ago in South Louisiana precious man wonderful person I mean involved in everything that you could ever imagine.remember that he's widow came to me and she said to me, foster she said I know that my husband never went to church.

I know that my husband wasn't interested in the things of God. I know that my husband never in the Bible. I know that my husband didn't like anything to do with the Bible, but I want you to know creature that my husband was a good man. He said this buyer of the city. He was on the town Council.

He was on the polls, the agencies he was involved in charitable work is possible that God was a God of love is going to allow my husband on the basis of his goodness to come into the kingdom of God. The Bible says my friends that outside of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I alienated from God. That means that we have been declared to be a nonparticipant in the grace of God say to me this morning, Dr. Wilson, what in the world is that mean God looks down upon this great congregation this morning. You know who he sees.

He doesn't seem man and women and boys and girls. You doesn't seem black and why he doesn't see rich and poor. He doesn't see falling short round and thin non-God sees God sees those who are for him. Those who are against it. The Bible says that you and I falling to one of two categories because of the sin of man. You either belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Or you done. The Bible says you cannot serve two masters. The Bible says you're not going to choose this day whom we will serve the word of God says you cannot be a fence straddling you either belong to the Lord Jesus Christ for you done any terms of man's need my friends to possible writing to the church of colossi said were once writing earlier on in Paul's letter to the Ephesians in chapter 2 in verse 12, the apostle forces at that time you were without Christ aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. You were strangers from the covenants of promise, having no without God in the world now because of the Jesus Christ, you to be reconciled. Please forgive the eruption will be back with more on today's message. The meaning of reconciliation with Dr. Don Wilton just a moment. Dr. Dunn wants us to remind you that were here for you. It's not just a presentation.

It's a conversation many are using our website tewonline.org G to get connected to get interactive as a matter of time and if you have signed up for the daily Encouraging Word devotional. If you haven't, you can do that right now@twonline.org rescinded out email frantically so to speak. Every morning that's the way I enjoy reading it. My bride appreciates the physical copy. You could have one of those for free as well.

If you want to call us at 8668. That's 866899673 Oregon everything is on a website. You can sign up for the physical copy or the email at T. E. W online.org that's TE W on the.org now back today's great teaching about the of reconciliation with Dr. Don Wilton. Well, how do we understand what it means to be in a how do we understand man's need before Almighty God. The apostle for outlines that there are three keys to understanding the true meaning of being in, being alienated from God number one is enemy. He says it right there in verse 21. Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies.

You see, when the apostle Paul talks about being an enemy of God my frame. He identifies the source and the effect of a disposition toward God. The apostle Paul is identifying both the source and the effect of the disposition toward God.

In other words, friends will is describing the contrast between God and those who oppose God. You cannot serve two monsters. We would take a survey here this morning God would say straight after each one of us. You belong to God or don't you see, the Bible says my friends that we read the full God.

We are against God and the apostle Paul says here that we are alienated because we were enemies of God in a musical. But there's a second key to understanding enemy and it's right there in the next sentence he says not anywhere you enemies but you enemies in your minds. See when the apostle Paul talked about the mind he was talking about the heart and when he talked about the hockey was talking about your and my personal disposition and what the apostle Paul is saying my frame is that our actions are going to naturally arise from our disposition from we all in our hearts who are you this morning who are who are you ready the Bible says that man has a limited capacity in that all he can do is see on the awkward appearance but God looks upon the heart, and you see when the apostle full was reminding the Colossians here of their alienation from God. He was telling them that you were once these he was saying the real person was opposed to God opposed to God in Romans chapter 1 verse 12.

Particularly, the apostle forces therefore God gave them up to the uncleanness through the last of their own heart.

In other words, my friend the way I think is going to determine the way behind.

Who are you on the inside of you ever heard someone say to you, why like that person because what I see is what I get that great.

Have you ever met someone who such a genuine product you can hardly stand. I mean I just I just know when night when I love you from the 12 mile South like they love you from the time they not this one minute met someone who seems to have the one like this in the next move.

I like yo-yo's up-and-down up-and-down up-and-down me wondering they down up down up, you never know where you stand up, down, sideways God's word says my frame. Once you were alienated because you are enemies to haul the Bible says, which is in the heart, in fact writing later on in Matthew chapter 7 in verse 16 we read by the know them see it's not just when we see today in church on Sunday morning that speaks to the idea makes up about half before God.

It's those times, my friend.

When we find ourselves in the most critical position out desperate need. Because of our sinfulness before God. Our hearts cry is to be reconciled with God. Did you notice here that the apostle Paul says they was once a time that you were out of fellowship with God is not great and that is the most incredible folks to think that he could speak of these people in the pasta 10 that you were once alienated from God. I'm going to give you a biblical guarantee. This morning you haven't already done so today you would bow your head and say Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to receive you into my heart and life. I will guarantee you instantaneous reconciliation with God you can do it right now. Why don't you bow your heads with me everybody all of the congregation. They might be someone here right down the middle of this message you say to me preacher I need to be reconciled to God first and foremost, I'm out of fellowship with God wanted you say Lord Jesus, I need to be reconciled to you by faith. I trust in you.

I repent of my sin right now and I invite you into my heart right now you look at me all over the congregation friend if you prayed that before God. You say Lord Jesus Christ. I am alienated from you. I am the claim to be an enemy of new goals.

I have been declared to be out of fellowship with you. I have no semblance of relationship with you but on the authority of God's word by the blood of Jesus Christ shed for me upon the cross. I resolve right now to receive you into my heart. Reconciliation is say to me will preacher.

How's that possible well that's the second part of this message you say how could God forgive me. How could God restore this relationship.

How could God take my sin and clustered as far as the east is from the waist. What the apostle wholesale C frame. It's not any discovering man's need, but we gotta analyze God's response look at God's response right there in verse 20 and 22.

The Bible says in verse 20 where the things on earth are things in heaven. How's this all made possible that we are reconciled to him by the making peace through the blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the cross, then go down with me to verse 22, he says, but now he has reconciled you how by Christ's physical body through Dave to present you holy and free from accusation without blemish into the presence of the King of Kings and of the Lord of lords you say to me this morning Dr. Wilton. If this is God's response. Why did God in Jesus Christ To shed blood upon the cross. You see, it all focuses on the shed blood of Jesus while love that song would goes there is power.

Power wonderworking power in the blood of the Lamb varies working in the precious blood of the land. What is full-time, remind us of well when he talks about the blood of Jesus.

My frame each morning to the theology of the blood atonement. Yes, the radical date of Jesus Christ upon the cross where he was crucified, but he's also identifying listen to me, but there was one thing wrong with the substitutionary sacrifice of the Old Testament. We can look at it in Hebrews chapter 10 we can look at in Romans chapter 3. You see friends as far as the Old Testament sacrifices court was concerned it went so far but no further.

When you offered a sacrifice in the Old Testament. A blood sacrifice, God would forgive you, from the consequences of your sin, but God would not remove the sin itself, but clean, Jesus Christ died upon the Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. Any shady for you and for me, upon the cross. What happened. He didn't just remove the consequences of sin.

This sin and my sin upon himself any sin as far as the east is from the West and he remembers it no more. He remembers of no more is not incredible and I'm sure one day when I get to heaven first thing I'm going to do is go up to God and citing God, thank you for letting me come in to him. Thank you for allowing me to be in this Beautiful Pl., God if you don't mind, I just want to apologize to you again. What I did when I was 17 years of non-God's gonna say I haven't a clue what you're talking. I wonder how many people there are in this congregation dragging around bags of stuff that you've never been willing to accept the fact, and when you are reconciled to God that God takes you sin and he costed as far as the east is from the rich, and he remembers a global how far as the east from the West cannot get that kind of feeling that you want to just keep going. You just never get that you know why because you never will get the it is far as the east is from the waist.

He is blood cleanses us from righteousness.

We grab their people here this morning assigned preacher. I have committed adultery will make you brand you he will not delay that charge against you reconciliation to be reconciled to God. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all my unrighteousness be he reconciled to God. You see friends. There are people here right now you need to be reconciled to God. God is spoken to you. You know that he spoken to you their people here this morning who are struggling so much we going to give you an opportunity this morning to respond gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ at this particular moment. Many people are responding at the altar in our church. Perhaps you need to respond at the altar of your heart. If you'd like to talk with someone to pray with someone about this powerful message of reconciliation. 866-899-WORD any time day or night, 866-899-9673 or online@twonline.org, you know, we've heard and study God's word together, but now it's Dr. with the steps in the studio for you to open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting you welcome the family of God.

I'm convinced that while Dr. Wilton was praying while ago.

Some of you have rededicate your life in your back on track with Jesus like never before. No reconciliation starts with us some of you may be pray long and gave your life to Christ for the very first time.

Either way, Dr. Wilton has a packet of information he wants you to have absolutely free if you call 86689. That's her phone number 866899967. Put this in your hands to pray with you and encourage you also find these resources on our website@twonline.org one resource right now featuring our good friend Dr. Charles Stanley Dr. Wilton and Dr. Stanley been friends for years is called following Christ hears Liz with all the details skilling on your life today. Are you thinking about getting up till leaking fluid to be deteriorating on the Christian journey much is at stake this month. Dr. Wilton has two special resources to send you for your gift that supports the Encouraging Word you will receive Dr. Wilton's inspiring message harassing with courageous faith by Dr. Charles Stanley needs ministry resources will fortify your faith to stay the course on the Christian journey Collis at 8899 866-899-WORD 9673 and request pressing forward in the bonus book courageous faith. Thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word not our mission without times call for today little and stay connected on our website@twonline.org.

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