...the MINISTRY of Reconciliation

So for the last two days I've been doing a lil study on some verses from 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 5:17 is a great verse:

2Co 5:17 (KJVA) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And you should have a deep look into it, the original language is life changing...

But I didn't even focus on that. I read 18 and it grabbed my attention instantly. There was one word that has kept me glued to this verse for a week... have a read

2Co 5:18 (KJVA) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

What is the one word that has kept this verse on my tounge for a week and made me quite excited... ministry!

Why should I be sooooo excited about one word. Well because in context this word 'ministry' should and will change lives.

2 Corinthians 5:18 says pretty much. That God through Jesus Christ has bought us to himself, he has reconciled us to himself but not only that, he has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Obviously this term 'reconciliation' needs some illumination.

• Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English
  
  Reconciliation
  RECONCILIA'TION, n. [L. reconciliatio.]
  
  1. The act of reconciling parties at variance; renewal of friendship after disagreement or enmity.
  
  Reconciliation and friendship with God, really form the basis of all rational and true enjoyment.
  
  2. In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity; the atonement; expiation.
  
  
  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity. Dan 9. Heb 2.
  
  3. Agreement of things seemingly opposite, different or inconsistent.
  
  
• Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
  G2644
  καταλλάσσω
  katallassō
  kat-al-las'-so
  From G2596 and G236; to change mutually, that is, (figuratively) to compound a difference: - reconcile.
  
  G2643
  καταλλαγή
  katallagē
  kat-al-lag-ay'
  From G2644; exchange (figuratively adjustment), that is, restoration to (the divine) favor: - atonement, reconciliation (-ing).
  
  
• Thayer’s Greek Definitions
  
  G2644
  καταλλάσσω
  katallassō
  Thayer Definition:
  1) to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value
  1a) to reconcile (those who are at variance)
  1b) return to favour with, be reconciled to one
  1c) to receive one into favour
  

• RiCO's dictionary of brain
  
  So my understanding is that reconciliation usually occurs when you have two parties/things which are seperarted by some variance/gap/distance and they are bought together.
  In relation to God and the sinner, the gap is widened by our sinful state and God cannot have anything to do with us because of that sin. But God in his Love sent Christ to be the filler, as one fuel member put it on sunday, Jesus "stretched real far and connected the two". Christ is our go between. We can be reconciled/bought to God in favour by Christ.

Isn't that amazing. God has bought us into Favor with himself through Christ.

But that is not what made me get all excited and write a blog... this did

2Co 5:18 KJVA

"...and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation."

Not only have we been set free and bought into favor with God ourselves, but we have been given the ministry of reconsiliation to give to others. This word ministry got me so excited because I had an idea about what a "ministry" entails. I run a ministry called Fuel, it devours as much time as I will feed it, and its hunger is never quenched, for it is a beast, a lovely Christ centered, seething beast!

I know what it means to run a ministry and to minister to those kids the amazing love and power of God. So when Paul says that we have a ministry of Reconciliation I started paying attention.

I look severly into the means of certiain words, especially ministry.

• Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
  
  G1248
  διακονία
  diakonia
  dee-ak-on-ee'-ah
  From G1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate): - (ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).
  
  from
  G1249
  διάκονος
  diakonos
  dee-ak'-on-os
  Probably from διάκω diakō (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.
  
  
• Thayer’s Greek Definitions
  
  G1249
  διάκονος
  diakonos
  Thayer Definition:
  1) one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister
  1a) the servant of a king
  1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
  1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink
  
  
• Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English
  
  Ministry
  MIN'ISTRY, n. [L. ministerium.] The office, duties or functions of a subordinate agent of any kind.
  
  1. Agency; service; aid; interposition; instrumentality.
  
  He directs the affairs of this world by the ordinary ministry of second causes.
  
  
• RiCO's dictionary of brain
  
  Gk: diakonos
  For me: Deakon, Servant, Minister (Christian)
  

So if we are to have a ministry of reconciliation we are to serve people the power and majesty of God through Christ. We are to be ministers of God's reconcilitaion to our fellow man.

This of course takes on a very personal and intimate nature, if the ministry of reconciliation is up to me, by the Holy Spirit out-working through me then my personalilty, experiences and knowledge all become a part of this ministry to my freinds.


Are you a minister of reconciliation in your circle of influence...?

Do you truly understand God's reconciliation for you?

If we do not understand fully what Christ has done in our hearts, how are we expected to give a proper representation to others !

Your In Christ


Kenrick Ryhs Dodson Smith