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RELATIONSHIP AND RECONCILIATION
A. Introduction: We are talking about why Jesus came into this world according to the New Testament. And,
for the last couple of weeks we have been focusing on a statement Jesus made about why He came.
1. When religious leaders criticized Jesus for associating with tax collectors (publicans) and sinners, He
said: For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (Matt 9:13, KJV).
a. We’ve made the point that the word repentance has a very negative connotation for many people
because it is connected with sin. And many sincere Christians have very real struggles with sin.
1. But repentance is actually a foundational Christian doctrine or teaching, so we can’t discard it
or gloss over it. It is actually the first step in becoming a Christian, as well as a necessary
element of a healthy spiritual life.
2. Note this passage written by Paul the Apostle: Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings
about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that
lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the
resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (Heb 6:1-2, NIV).
b. The word repentance, as it is used in the New Testament, means turning from sin toward God. It is
a moral action—recognizing what is wrong and then choosing to turn from it and do what is right,
according to God’s standard of morality (His standard of right and wrong).
2. Because repentance has to do with sin, talking about it makes people uncomfortable. On the one hand
some feel guilty and condemned because of their shortcomings and failures, while others reject talk of
repentance because, to them it’s connected with “religion” and “Law”, and they want “relationship” with
God, not “religion” or “Law”. In this lesson we’re going to continue to sort this out.
B. Part of the reason for the negative connotations connected with repentance is that we’ve disconnected the
term from the big picture. By big picture, I mean God’s overall plan for humanity.
1. Repentance has its true meaning only when you consider it in the context of the big picture. It’s not just
a religious ritual. Repentance is about relationship and reconciliation with Almighty God.
a. Human beings were created for relationship with God. God created us with the capacity to receive
Him (His Spirit, His life) into our being and become more than creatures He.
1. We’re meant to become His sons and daughters through faith or trust in Him, who live in loving
relationship with Him, in submission to His moral Law (His standard of right and wrong).
2. All have failed in our obligation to obey God’s Law, making relationship with God impossible.
The penalty for sin is death or separation from God who is life. Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23
b. Jesus came to earth and died as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Through His sacrifice He made a
way for our sin to be wiped out (or remitted) so that we can be restored to God through faith in Him.
Heb 2:14-15; Heb 9:26; I Pet 3:18; etc.
1. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus satisfied justice on our behalf. He took away our guilt and
opened the way for God to forgive us for our sin without violating His own standard of justice.
2. Jesus reconciled us to God. On the ground of Jesus’ sacrifice, sinful men and women who are
alienated from God because of their sinful condition, can be restored to relationship with God.
A. Col 1:19-20—For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and
through him (Jesus) to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in
heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (NIV).
B. Rom 5:10—For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (ESV).
c. After Jesus rose from the dead He sent His apostles out to proclaim repentance and remission of sin
(the wiping out and forgiveness of sin) on the basis of His death and resurrection: With my
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authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations (Luke 24:47, NLT).
1. Paul the apostle wrote in II Cor 5:19-20—In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,
not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation….
Therefore…we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (ESV).
2. The condition of this reconciliation is repentance from sin and faith toward God. We see this
in the Book of Acts. As the apostles went out to preach Jesus’ resurrection, when people asked
what they should do in light of their guilt before God, the apostles answered: Repent (turn
from sin) and believe in Jesus. Acts 2:38; Acts 26:20; etc.
A. The apostles understood that for salvation from the penalty of sin to occur in an
individual’s life, there must be a repentance and conversion—a willful turning from
something (sin) to something (obedience to God). Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; etc.
B. Becoming a Christians involves a clear turning from something to something: (Jesus)
died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please
themselves. Instead they will live to please him (II Cor 5:15, NLT).
2. Repentance is more than a religious activity. It’s more than simply changing your mind about how you
want to live or how you should live. Repentance is relational.
a. We pointed out last week that the Parable of the Prodigal Son is a clear illustration of repentance.
When the son spent his father’s money on sinful living and ended up in a pig pen, hungry and dirty,
he came to himself and decided to go back to his father’s house, where life was much better.
1. In a lot of the popular preaching today, if the word repentance is mentioned at all, it is defined
as simply changing your mind about something. There is no moral content to the decision or
any emotional aspect to it (no remorse or regret over what you’ve done).
2. But the prodigal son realized and acknowledged that he had sinned against God and against his
father, and appealed to his father’s mercy and compassion for forgiveness (Luke 15:18-19).
3. Paul wrote that—Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation (II Cor 7:10; NIV).
b. Some today teach that the only sin we have to repent of is not believing in Jesus, and maintain that
repentance over sin is unnecessary after you are saved. These ideas are contrary to what the New
Testament teaches (lessons for another day). For now, just consider this thought.
1. Suppose a married man has an affair and moves out of the house to live with the other woman.
After a while, he decides that he made a mistake, and life was better with his wife. So he goes
home with a simple statement—Honey, I’m back. I like it better here. What’s for dinner?
2. Although they’re still married, the man has breached their relationship. For there to be a true
reconciliation, he will have to express genuine remorse over the pain he has caused his wife.
A. This analogy falls short because God is not a jilted wife. But I think we can get the point.
Repentance isn’t a religious rule we must keep. Repentance is relational.
B. It is an expression of remorse and regret, and recognition of the damage I’ve done and the
hurt I’ve caused—for the sake of mending a breached, damaged, or broken relationship.
3. If you offend someone (whether it’s a family member or a stranger in the store), all of us
understand that it is right and appropriate to feel sorrow and ask for forgiveness. Sin is an
offense against Almighty God. Is He worthy of less?
3. God calls men to repent, not because He is a hard taskmaster, but because He desires relationship and
reconciliation. The call to repent is actually an expression of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Paul wrote
that it is the goodness of God leads men to repentance (Rom 2:4, KJV).
a. The Greek word translated leads, when used metaphorically, means to induce. To induce means to
influence by persuasion. None of us would ever have come to the Lord in the first place unless
God, in His goodness and love, drew us by His Spirit.
1. Jesus said: No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws
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him and gives him the desire to come to Me (John 6:44, Amp).
2. God, the Holy Spirit, calls us, influences us without violating our free will, by showing us our
need for the Lord, and His goodness and kindness in providing a way back to Him.
b. When Jesus said that He came to call sinners to repentance, He did so in response to religious
leaders who criticized Him for eating with sinners—something they would never do. Jesus ate with
these people because He loved them and wanted to influence them and draw them to Himself.
1. Jesus prefaced His statement about repentance with these words: Those who are well have no
need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and
not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Matt 9:12-13, ESV).
2. Jesus was quoting the Old Testament prophet Hosea. God spoke those words to Israel at a time
when they were enjoying prosperity and growth, but inwardly, they were morally corrupt and
unfaithful to the Lord, through repeated idol worship (which is called spiritual adultery).
A. Because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, they were about to experience judgment and be overrun
by the Assyrian Empire. God raised up Hosea to call His people to turn from their sin.
B. Hosea quoted God to the people: I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices.
I want you to know God; that’s more important than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6, NLT).
3. Here we see God’s heart. I want to be merciful to men, but you must come to me on my terms.
You must worship me alone, and you must be merciful to each other. That’s more important
than outward religious rituals. The call to repentance is an expression of God’s mercy.
4. It has become popular in some circles today to dismiss repentance as “Law” and “religion”, and say that
Jesus has freed us from both. Sadly, the words Law and religion have been made into bad words.
God’s Law (His standard of right and wrong) is good and righteous, and religion means devotion to God.
a. When God delivered Israel from Egypt He gave them the Law of Moses, a system of ceremonial
rites and rituals meant to picture the coming Messiah (lessons for another day). Those rituals were
done away with once Jesus came, but God’s Law (His standard of right and wrong) endures forever.
b. It is wrongly said that if anyone tells you that, as a Christian, you have to do something (such as
repent for sin), they’re putting you under the Law. There’s no more “do” because it’s “done” and
we’re under grace. However, that is contrary to the clear teaching of the New Testament.
1. Let’s look at what an eyewitness of Jesus said about this. In Acts 20 Paul the apostle met with
the leaders of the church at Ephesus. Paul had established this group of believers and spent
three years with them, teaching them the faith.
2. Paul knew that this would be his last meeting with them. He reminded them of his love and
care for them, and of the message he gave them. Note several statements Paul made.
A. Acts 20:20-21—I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and
teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of
repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (ESV).
B. Acts 20:24—I do not count my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may
finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the
gospel of the grace of God (ESV).
3. Notice that Paul stated that he taught them that they must repent (turn to God) and trust in (have
faith in) Jesus. Note also that Paul called this message the gospel of grace.
c. In previous lessons we’ve been making the point that God’s plan for us is that we become sons and
daughters who are like Jesus in character (Rom 8:29). This is a process that begins when we
commit our lives to Jesus and won’t be fully completed until we see Him face to face (I John 3:1-2).
1. Therefore, our initial commitment to turn from sin to God has to be reinforced by daily choices
to continue to turn from sin. Because we are not yet fully Christ-like in every part of our being,
from time to time, we still fall short of God’s standard. We offend God through our sin.
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2. And although we don’t cease to be sons and daughters of God when we sin, it is appropriate, for
the sake of the relationship, to express our remorse and ask our heavenly Father for forgiveness.
3. Another eyewitness of Jesus, John the apostle, wrote: If we confess our sins to him, he is
faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong (I John 1:9, NLT).
C. Conclusion: Salvation is more than getting our sins forgiven so that we can go to Heaven. It’s about the
transformation and restoration of human nature, so that we can be restored to our created purpose as Christ-
like sons and daughters of God who express Him to the world around us, through our character and behavior.
1. Jesus became a sacrifice for sin so that we can be made righteous. Righteousness comes from a word
that means right in character or action. The word was formerly spelled rightwiseness.
a. God reconciles us to Himself through the sacrifice Jesus, in order to make us, not only right with
Himself, but to make us right in ourselves (in all of our thoughts, motives, words, and actions).
1. Note what Paul wrote in Rom 5:1—Therefore, since we are justified—acquitted, declared
righteous, and given a right standing with God—through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we]
have…peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Amp). Peace means harmony in
personal relationships (Webster’s Dictionary).
2. Then note what Paul wrote about our character and behavior in Titus 2:14—(Jesus) gave his life
to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his own people, totally
committed to doing what is right (NLT).
b. Jesus didn’t die just to make it possible for God to forgive us. He didn’t die just so that the God can
declare us or count us righteous. Jesus died to make us righteous in character and behavior.
1. II Cor 5:21—For our sake he (the Father) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God (ESV).
2. II Cor 5:21—So that we might be made good with the goodness of God (J. B. Phillips); That we
might become [endued with, viewed as in, and examples of] the righteousness of God (Amp).
2. God is righteous. He is right and does what is right. Jesus died so we can be made the righteousness of
God in Him. Remember, God has both communicable (transmittable) and non-communicable (non-
transmittable) attributes.
a. God’s non-communicable attributes are those that are His alone, those that belong to His essential
being and personality as God Almighty (Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, Eternality).
b. God’s communicable attributes, commonly called His moral attributes, can be shared by His sons
and daughters. God’s family is supposed to demonstrate these moral attributes: holiness,
righteousness, justice, mercy, goodness, patience, long-suffering, love.
c. When we believe on Jesus, we come into vital union with Him. We are now in Him and He is in us.
We’ve received His Spirit into our being. We’ve received His righteousness, with the goal being to
produce righteousness in our lives—or conformity to God’s Law, His standard of right and wrong.
1. The night before Jesus died He told His apostles: When I am raised to life again, you will
know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:20, NLT).
2. True Christians have union with Christ through shared life. We have the indwelling Spirit of
God is in us—Christ in you (Col 1:27). We receive life from Him so that we can live a new
kind of life, one that is fully pleasing to Almighty God.
A. But our cooperation is required. There must be a willful turning from sin and a willful
submission to God’s Law with a dependence on the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to help us.
B. Rom 5:10—For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (ESV).
3. Repentance is about relationship and reconciliation with Almighty God—initially and throughout our
life. We have much more to say next week, but that’s all for tonight.