Oh Be Ye Reconciled to God
Ask yourself...Is your life reconciled to God?
Your soul’s eternal destiny will depend on your answer.
Jesus said. (Matt 12:30) “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
We were sinners, (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We were enemies of God, (Nahum 1:2) “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”
We were alienated from God, (Colossians 1:21) “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled”
We were separated from God, (Hosea 9:10) “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.”
We were cast out of the Garden of Eden, we were LOST! (Genesis 3:23) “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (2 John 1:9) Whosoever transgresseth, hath not God.”
(Ephesians 2:12) “That at that time ye were without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
WE WERE LOST!
Reconciled means brought back in line.
We can reconcile a checkbook to match the bank balance.
How are we Reconciled to God?
First Look CLOSELY at (John 3:16) “For God SO loved/the world that He gave/ His only begotten Son/that whosoever/believes in Him/should not perish/but have everlasting life.”
God gave His Son up to die for ME!
(Romans 5:10) “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
The Man Saul was definitely an enemy of the Church. He held the garments at the stoning of Stephen, (Acts 7:58). Saul consented to the death of Stephen. (Acts 8:1) He agreed to Stephen being murdered! Saul persecuted the Church and made Havoc of it. (Acts 8:3) Saul cast MANY men and women in prison. Saul even went to obtain arrest warrants for those in Damascus, to bring them to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1,2) Saul was an enemy of God! But God told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel for the Gentiles.
(Acts 9:15) (Through the teachings of Ananias, Saul was baptized and became reconciled to GOD.) In (Acts 13:9), Saul became Paul. He was no longer an enemy of God; he was a messenger of God to the Gentiles. He had been reconciled!
We ourselves were enemies, but through the death of Christ we are reconciled and saved by His life.
(2 Corinthians 5:18) “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, Oh be ye reconciled to God.”
Reconciliation involves keeping the commandments of Christ
Jesus said, “keep His commandments”. (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Do we love the Lord enough to keep his commandments? We show our love for Christ dying on Calvary’s cross by keeping His commandments.
IN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF OUR LORD, WE ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.
(John 15:10) “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
What is our duty?
(Ecclesiastes 12:13) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (We cannot KEEP commandments that we do not know!
We must study the word of God
(2 Tim 2:15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
We must pray
(1 Thessalonians 5:17) “Pray without ceasing.” Always be in a prayerful mind set.
Get your heart and life right with God
Is Thy heart Right with God?
Is it washed in the crimson flood?
(Can you imagine the blood of Christ flowing down the cross?)
Are you cleansed and made Holy?
Are you humble and Lowly?
Are you right in the sight of God.
Are you a Christian? You can become a Christian right now.
Believe that Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God? (John 8:24) “For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
Repent of your past sins? Jesus said, “(Luke 13:3) “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Unless we repent, we perish. That is the consequence of SIN.
Confess that Jesus is the ONLY begotten Son of God? Jesus said in (Matt 10:32) “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Be baptized for the remission of sin, in the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost? (1 Peter 3:21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Perhaps you’re a member of the Church and now you realize that you need to be reconciled to God. Your life is not what God would have it to be. Anything from dust on your Bible to sin in your soul can keep you out of Heaven. (James 5:16) “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Are you reconciled to God?
• Is there sin in your soul?
• NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
The lesson is yours, The Invitation is YOURS,
Come Now as we stand and sing.
