Over the centuries, the death and Over the centuries, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth have been questioned and Nazareth have been questioned and put to the test but to no avail. put to the test but to no avail.

Mankind is being deceived into Mankind is being deceived into believing that there is no historical believing that there is no historical Jesus, that He is just a myth, that he Jesus, that He is just a myth, that he did not die to save us and that he did not die to save us and that he never rose from the dead. But these never rose from the dead. But these are all desperate lies to cover up are all desperate lies to cover up the truth that Jesus indeed died and the truth that Jesus indeed died and rose from the dead.rose from the dead.

This is the good news: God is This is the good news: God is reconciling the world to himself reconciling the world to himself through the death and resurrection through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And to those he of Jesus Christ. And to those he reconciled to himself, he gave the reconciled to himself, he gave the ministry of reconciliation (vv. 18-ministry of reconciliation (vv. 18-19). Paul expounds the elements of 19). Paul expounds the elements of this glorious Christian ministry.this glorious Christian ministry.

The Driving MotiveThe Driving Motive(vv. 11-15)(vv. 11-15)

The driving motive The driving motive answers the question, answers the question,

““Why should we carry out Why should we carry out the ministry of reconciliation?”the ministry of reconciliation?”

1.1. The Driving Motive The Driving Motive (vv. 11-15)(vv. 11-15)1.1. The Driving Motive The Driving Motive (vv. 11-15)(vv. 11-15)

• The fear of the Lord gives us a The fear of the Lord gives us a healthy sense of accountability to healthy sense of accountability to God.God.

• The love of the Lord compels us to The love of the Lord compels us to be completely devoted to God.be completely devoted to God.

The Definite MovementThe Definite Movement(vv. 16-17)(vv. 16-17)

The definite movementThe definite movementanswers the question, answers the question,

““How are we to carry out How are we to carry out the ministry of reconciliation?”the ministry of reconciliation?”

2.2. The Definite Movement The Definite Movement (vv. 16-17)(vv. 16-17)2.2. The Definite Movement The Definite Movement (vv. 16-17)(vv. 16-17)

• The old perspective has gone. The The old perspective has gone. The new attitude has come.new attitude has come.

• The old person has gone. The new The old person has gone. The new creation has come.creation has come.

The Divine MissionThe Divine Mission(vv. 18-21)(vv. 18-21)

The divine missionThe divine missionanswers the question, answers the question,

““What is thisWhat is thisministry of reconciliation?”ministry of reconciliation?”

3.3. The Divine Mission The Divine Mission (vv. 18-21)(vv. 18-21)3.3. The Divine Mission The Divine Mission (vv. 18-21)(vv. 18-21)

• The mission of God is to remove the The mission of God is to remove the barrier (sin) and bring everyone to a barrier (sin) and bring everyone to a savable relationship with him.savable relationship with him.

• The mission from God is to present The mission from God is to present the message of reconciliation and the message of reconciliation and proclaim Jesus is Savior and Lord.proclaim Jesus is Savior and Lord.

Jesus died the death that Jesus died the death that should have been ours. In view should have been ours. In view

of his great love for us, there of his great love for us, there should be no selfishness in the should be no selfishness in the hearts of all who believe in him hearts of all who believe in him

and live for him.and live for him.