Integrity- People of God

Many people will ask, what is my purpose? Or why am I here? For those who know they are here for God’s use, many still will say, they do not know what is their ministry. God has given us all the ministry of reconciliation, and that is to restore the fellowship of people with God and with one another.

2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry 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. NKJ

Jesus came and paid the debt we owed for our rebellion and sin against God and He died so that we could return to our createdpurpose of love and fellowship with God.  Through Christ we have an even greater relationship as sons or daughters of God not just His crowned creation. We now, through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, have the ability to be adopted into the family and household of God. 

Ephesians 1:5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Therefore, our ministry is to give people the same hope for their future that we have received, that God is pursuing them. Because of His love for us, Jesus His Son, came and lived as a man and died and conquered death, so that He would take away our sins and we can now be in fellowship with God the Father. All who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior have this hope for their eternal life and future. Now as an ambassador we are to speak on the King’s behalf, pleading and imploring others to be restored and reconciled to God. 

Revelations1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 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.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJ

We are to no longer judge people according to their, ethnicity, economic or social status.  We are not to judge people because of their former lifestyle, because if they are in Christ they have been given a new birth and are a new creation in Christ. The old things that had them entrapped and enslaved to their old lifestyle, such as hate, unforgiveness and the disdain for others, have been forgiven by Christ.   God is in the process of making them new by transforming their minds, the way they think and thereby their actions. 

2 Corinthians 5: 16-17 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

In Christ, we are a new creation, the old things that we were a part of, is no longer part of who we are, they are passing awayand we are becoming new in Christ for the old has died. We should no longer look at a person from the world’s view, those who are in bondage to the addictions of this world, but to see them as God’s Image bearer. God created all humanity in His image.

Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” NKJ

All humanity is made in the likeness of God and all are image bears of God, whom he created and loves. God is constantly pursuing after us, wanting us to turn from darkness to HisMarvelous Light. Though the enemy has marred humanity so that they no longer know or understand their created purpose, God is continuously coming after, wooing and engaging us to turn to Him.  But He always leaves the choice up to us as part of our God given, sovereign will. 

2 Corinthians 5: 14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again

The love of God compels, requires and coerces every Christ follower to judge others worthy of God’s salvation because they too are the image bearers of God. The lifestyle of all Followers of Christ should reflect God’s love and this show of love will beused to appeal to others, that through us the love of Christ will be seen and shown to the lost

Just as Jesus who was sinless became sin for us so that we might be made right with God. We too can, face humiliation,shamed or disgraced and still be humble before others, while allowing the love of Christ to live through us so that a life or a soul may be saved!

The ministry of reconciliation is to reunite people back into a relationship and the family of God through the gospel of salvation. Which is, Christ died to destroy the barrier that was between us and God and now we may live an abundant life. The love of God gives us all hope that we can be reconciled and transformed not just into the image of God but into His character, His nature and integrity, because of the love God has shown us through Christ. 

Everyone’s ministry is to be reconciled to God and to one another. It is the love we show to one another and the unlovely that the world may know they too can be reconciled to God. 

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”