Therefore, 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. 

II Corinthians 5:17-18 

How is it that ‘all things are of God?’ Within the context, Paul is speaking of the transformation of the redeemed person. The first portion of our text makes that clear. Salvation involves a creative act on God’s part. He brings us from death to life. He transforms us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Christ. We are new creations in Christ. Paul goes on to make the broad sweeping statement that ‘all things are of God.’ This is certainly true of all the things that are new regarding the redeemed person, but it is also true in a larger sense. All things are indeed of God. All the things that constitute the universe are of God. All the hanging together of it is of God. All the course of history is of God. All the conclusion of the course of events to the end of the age is of God. Redemption in all its respects is of God. Therefore, when we come to be in Christ as new creatures that is all of grace and all of God. We are utterly dependent upon Him for all things for time and for eternity. Before we go any farther into this year let us face the fact that all things are of God.  

Our Glorious, Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that You rule over all. 
We praise You that You overrule all things 
for Your own glory. 

Therefore, 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. 

II Corinthians 5:17-18 

How is it that ‘all things are of God?’ Within the context, Paul is speaking of the transformation of the redeemed person. The first portion of our text makes that clear. Salvation involves a creative act on God’s part. He brings us from death to life. He transforms us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Christ. We are new creations in Christ. Paul goes on to make the broad sweeping statement that ‘all things are of God.’ This is certainly true of all the things that are new regarding the redeemed person, but it is also true in a larger sense. All things are indeed of God. All the things that constitute the universe are of God. All the hanging together of it is of God. All the course of history is of God. All the conclusion of the course of events to the end of the age is of God. Redemption in all its respects is of God. Therefore, when we come to be in Christ as new creatures that is all of grace and all of God. We are utterly dependent upon Him for all things for time and for eternity. Before we go any farther into this year let us face the fact that all things are of God.  

Our Glorious, Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that You rule over all. 
We praise You that You overrule all things 
for Your own glory. 

Therefore, 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. 

II Corinthians 5:17-18 

How is it that ‘all things are of God?’ Within the context, Paul is speaking of the transformation of the redeemed person. The first portion of our text makes that clear. Salvation involves a creative act on God’s part. He brings us from death to life. He transforms us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Christ. We are new creations in Christ. Paul goes on to make the broad sweeping statement that ‘all things are of God.’ This is certainly true of all the things that are new regarding the redeemed person, but it is also true in a larger sense. All things are indeed of God. All the things that constitute the universe are of God. All the hanging together of it is of God. All the course of history is of God. All the conclusion of the course of events to the end of the age is of God. Redemption in all its respects is of God. Therefore, when we come to be in Christ as new creatures that is all of grace and all of God. We are utterly dependent upon Him for all things for time and for eternity. Before we go any farther into this year let us face the fact that all things are of God.  

Our Glorious, Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that You rule over all. 
We praise You that You overrule all things 
for Your own glory. 

‘Be Reconciled To God’

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.

II Corinthians 5:20

As Paul continues to discuss the subject of reconciliation, he presses his point home. He makes a free offer of the Gospel. He argues from his position as an ‘ambassador for Christ’. He goes on to boldly say, ‘as though God were pleading through us.’ He heightens the appeal by saying, ‘we implore you on Christ’s behalf.’ He follows with, ‘be reconciled to God.’ We are the spiritual inheritors of Paul’s evangelistic mission. We have a moral and spiritual obligation, as well as the high privilege of proclaiming the Gospel. ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’ Therefore, while we who write, edit and produce this little work, aim primarily, at the edification and encouragement of believers, we have the compulsion to make a gospel appeal often. Here is our desire: that you, Reader, whoever you are, or under whatever circumstance you abide, would be reconciled to God. He has given the Life-Blood of His Only Begotten Son to pay the price for your redemption. He has sent messenger after messenger to you with constant, tearful pleadings. Your soul hangs in the balance. Your eternity is at stake. As Paul did to the Corinthians, so we do to you. ‘On Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.’ Do not end your day, your year, or your life without embracing this Christ, Who stands with open arms to receive you.

Our most Gracious and Loving God,
we rejoice in the Gospel message,
and in Christ, Who is at the heart of it.
We praise You, that we have from You,
this sacred trust of proclaiming it to all the world.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘The Word of Reconciliation’

…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.

II Corinthians 5:19

The Apostle Paul was very clear about his mission. His parting words to the Ephesians were, ‘For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.’ He, like the rest of the Apostles, ‘ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’ As he completes our text for today, he declares that God had, ‘committed to us the word of reconciliation.’ Paul could be very clear and concise in delivering this ‘word of reconciliation.’ He summarizes it with simple elegance, ‘For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures….’ We are the spiritual inheritors of this mission and message. In our day and generation, God has ‘committed unto us the word of reconciliation.’ This is why we preach Christ. It is neither by religion, nor theological disputing, nor organizational structure, nor elaborate attempts at cultural relevancy, nor entertainment that God reconciles the world unto Himself. It is by Christ, and it is ‘by the foolishness of preaching’ that God saves ‘those who believe.’ All those other things are, at best, irrelevancies, and at worst obstructions to the declaration of ‘the word of reconciliation.’  For the desperate, destitute, sighing, dying world to have peace with God, it must have Christ, and Christ Alone. Here is our to message you. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’ ’Be reconciled to God.’

Our Gracious, Holy and Wise God,
we praise You, that You have bestowed upon us,
the High privilege of declaring Christ.
We rejoice that we have this privilege daily,
of making Christ known to those who are as yet,
not reconciled to Him.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning