We see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour.
Hebrews 2:9
Reconciliation
Notes of an address by
D W Paterson
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
1982
Part 5 of 5
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5. The results of reconciliation.
We’ve had the need of reconciliation, we’ve had the ministry of reconciliation, we’ve had the basis for reconciliation, we’ve seen the scope of reconciliation. What are the results of reconciliation?
Now with this in mind I thought we should turn to the well known scripture in the fifteenth chapter of Luke.
The results of reconciliation have to be viewed on two sides. The first side upon which I am afraid that we tend to be defective and deficient is the divine side. In this scripture we learn the results of reconciliation from God’s side. And when it is the result of reconciliation, you find the merriment of God. I believe this is the best description you can say on the divine side. We tend to look at it too much from our side.
But the God who said, “let us make man” is the God who said, “let us make merry.” And if in this picture we find the life of heaven in the Lord Jesus by sanction linking to all those who are Christ’s. I think we get a little picture of the divine merriment in regards to reconciliation.
You remember on the occasion of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, it was said glory to God in the highest on earth peace goodwill to man. We know in the world to come in the reconciled sphere everything would take character from Christ. Every family in heaven and upon earth will have some feature of Christ connected with it. And I think you will remember the scripture I believe it is in the minor prophet Zephaniah chapter three verse seventeen. “He will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
You know there will be a responsive company. The question has been raised, will there be any singing in heaven? I do not think there will be any doubt about it. There is going to be a response from all these various circles from everyone that has breath shall praise the Lord.
Now in the fifteenth chapter of Luke you get a little picture of it. And we must read this chapter first of all from the divine side. The merriment, It is first of all the Father’s. But I want to spend a little moment on our side of this. What have we got of reconciliation as far as you and me is concerned?
I would like what we have in the fifth chapter of Romans You will remember it says
v11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Now, I want to bring this right home to your heart and mine. How far do you think you’ve embraced this ministry of reconciliation? And how far are we really joying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think this is a very very important matter.
I know the saints here well enough. I know the testimony in other parts well enough to be able in these closing moments of this certain history just before the Lord comes. There are many exercises to be carried, many sorrows personally, family wise and in the meetings.
Bur now I would find what is the counter balance to all this. And in the fifth chapter of Romans, “we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now do we? What does it mean to be brought into the gain of this tremendous statement? Well I tell you what I think it means. I believe it means that we are intelligent as to what God has established. Reconciliation is not a matter of attainment. It is what God has established. It is a present substance that exists. This matter of reconciliation is absolute in the Lord Jesus Christ How far have you and I received it and have it built into our experience.
Listen again carefully to the scripture, “we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the reconciliation.” Now received it. Have we received it by faith? Have we really embraced the fact that we are in the position of favor, grace in the beloved we could not nearer or dearer be than we are at this moment, have we received it. That’s the first point. Have we seen the light of it. Have we embraced, have we made it our own?
Well this is the first point. Again when we received it we find that all that which belongs to Adam’s race has not only been discerned, not only been judged. But it’s been put away at the cross.
That is one side. And then all that which heaven found in the Lord Jesus Christ is established now in the blessed man at God’s right hand and it is available to you and me. We will only get the gain of the ministry of reconciliation in the measure in which we are formed by it. How far is it really given up, that order of things that God has put to judgment and put to one side. How far have we really embraced that which has been established for God’s pleasure? How far are we really in the gain of this reconciliation?
You see in Luke’s gospel is really the gospel of reconciliation
In Chapter seven we learn that God is favorable. In Chapter ten we find that the Lord takes care of you. And in chapter fifteen we find that the Father really has pleasure in you.
Now are you conscience, my dear brother and sister, are you conscience that you bring a lot of merriment and pleasure to the heart of the Father? Are you, are you really aware that the joy of ministering pleasure to the heart of the Father at this moment? Well it is definitely possible. And I’ll tell you how to work it out. We do not only work out individually in our history, but when we move from the gentile epistles to the Jewish epistle of Hebrews, when we move on to the line of approach you find that there is a response in the sanctuary from hearts that are in the enjoyment of this center, and hearts will overflow in worship, priestly service to God Hebrews 10, and worship to the Father, John 4. You see there is every opportunity of using the index as to how far you are in the gain of the ministry of reconciliation. How far are our hearts responsive to God?
It is a very interesting matter, the matter of reconciliation. It’s not only a question of relief but positively we’re set up with dignity that we can respond Godward. And the measure in which we are in the gain of it will be the measure of our response individually and in the assembly.
Now as I close I just want to mention two little points.
In Romans eleven we know that the world needs reconciliation verse 15. He has set a time the gospel goes out to the wide wide world. This is the other reference to reconciliation seven points, but I would fail if I didn't give you the eights point. What is the relation between reconciliation and new creation? Well the answer simply is this dearly beloved that every thing that is in the gain of reconciliation will go into God’s eternal state. And so the very matter we’ve been handling tonight in all their preciousness Godward, manward every little bit of response in your heart and mine this will go on to the countless ages of eternity. It’s not only limited to the world-to-come but it will go on to eternity.
Now I am conscience as I close how very inadequate we have handled it But I am praying earnestly perhaps you may see the preciousness of the subject, and the many gaps that are left to fill in your selves and rejoice in this wonderful matter that has reached us at such infinite cost, the truth of reconciliation.
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Yours in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Don Lewis