wkc talk 2 Elizabeth Foord

Looking out from your own little world - 2 Corinthians 5:11 - 6:2

Our world is both wonderful and horrible. It's both beautiful yet bad things also happen. What's our own little world like? Are we living in comfort zone, feeling secure being a Cn that we are saved, and progressing in our life being a good husband/wife or whatever it is that we are looking into for life.

Yet, we have no vitality in us if we only take in and never give out. It's not what God intends our life to be. God wants us to be His people who light the world that He may be glorified.
What are our motivations, messages and methods to take His Gospel into the world?

1. Movitations.

• the fear of the Lord (v10-11)

Our bible knowledge may be great, and we sometimes see the need of the people surround us of the Gospel, but we are lacking in motivation to share it. We should have reverential fear to our Lord because we'll have to stand before God at the end. The accountability here is not refering to our working to earn the salvation (because it's only by grace through faith in Christ), but rather toward the opportunities/gifts that God has given us to glorify Him. Therefore, it's a non-cringing fear that reveres Him by sharing Him knowing that He's both loving and just.

• the love of Christ (v14)

Put together, love of Christ as we're supposed to respond to His love takes away the legalism in fearing Him because we have to stand before Him. Knowing that Christ died for His people, Paul had a different point of view, a new understanding with regard to Christ and His people, that this becomes a compelling factor in Paul's life that drives him under compulsion in sharing Christ. This is not an ego-centric to have such passion, but rather Christo-centric. Evangelism is not a Cn's hobby, rather it's a rescue operation that concerns a matter of life or death of others.

2. Messages

• God reconciled us to Himself through Christ (v16).

The fact that Paul talks about reconciliation means there's a need to be reconciled. Everyone has been alienated by sins from God. We live in disobedience, therefore we're enemies of God. Reconcilition is when two estranged people are brought together. The whole world is alienated to God and one another because of our own choice in rejecting God. Yet God made Jesus who had no sins to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God (v21). Because we've broken the law of God, we have to suffer the consequences of paying for our sins to be alienated and seperated from God. When Christ died on the Cross, the totalilty of the whole said was laid on Him. He was the substitution. The fact that He rose again, shows that God accepted His sacrifice for us.

• A new creation in Christ (v17)

Since Christ died for our sins, we have forgiveness, a fresh start, and we are new creations. We're being transformed but we are not perfect. We have a new life, a new family in God.

3. Methods

• In love (v14)

Gently and lovingly through relationship-building, with sensitivity that the whole world needs to hear.

• Sacrificial way (v15)

Christ died, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them. Because we are new creatures, we have a new way of life. A godly life is important. We have peace in our heart and are contend with God. We all can build relationships that is sacrificially for the good of others.

• Being ambassadors on God's behalf who persuade (v11;20).

"I want you to know this.." that there's no other way to God. Imploring to others of the truth.

Therefore, look out from our comfort zone, and experience the joy of being part of god's plan for salvation. And know the depth of the satisfaction that comes from loving and praying for the salvation of others.