“In this world we are like Jesus” (1 John 4:17)
Q. What does this look like?
1. It looks respectful
Acts 17:16, “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.”
Acts 17:22-23, “”People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship…”
2 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
2. It looks engaged
2 Cor. 6:14-18, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? (a name for Satan that stresses his deep wickedness)
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Q. Is Paul contradicting the way Jesus lived?
(14) “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers”
Mis-matched = Christians wrongly committed to a partner holding very different values & priorities that run contrary to faith.
TPT: “Don’t continue to team up with unbelievers in mismatched alliances.”
(17) “Come out from them and be separate.”
Lit. “establish boundaries”
Q. Is Paul contradicting the way Jesus lived and the way Jesus taught us to live?
A. Not at all. We never abandon our responsibility to love others but we must be cautious of relationships that will divide our loyalty to Christ.
2 Cor. 5:18-20a, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
1. We have been reconciled
“God…reconciled us to himself through Christ.”
Reconciled = restored to friendship with God
2. We’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation
Q. What is my ministry?
3. We’ve been given the message of reconciliation
2 Cor. 5:19, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.”
Jesus ministers to the Centurion (oppressor) and to the bleeding woman (oppressed). He calls both a tax collector (funding the oppressor) and a zealot (fighting the oppressor) to be His disciples. His body and grave are attended to by a Pharisee (religious leader) and a group of women (marginalized). It seems in life and death He shows that grace is for all regardless of station, because he knows they are all trapped in the same system of sin.
Q. Is this the message most Australians are getting from the church?
A. Sadly no. Most Australians know what the church believes on moral issues but most do not have a clear understanding of what it means to be a Christian.
4. We are Christ’s ambassadors
Ambassador = an diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.
Philippians 3:20, “We are citizens of heaven.”
This is what Jesus did, so as we do this too we will become like Jesus:
Jesus Radically Identified with people
He loved them, healed them, ate food with them, taught them truth
Jesus was Radically different to people
Jesus was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, but He was neither. He was holy and blameless. He was tempted in all ways that we are but He never sinned. That is, He didn’t compromise.
Discussion & further Study
What are your favourite Bible verses and why?
Do you have any experience of being in a Mis-matched relationship with someone who held very different values & priorities to you? If you feel comfortable, share your experiences with the group.
Discuss this verse: 2 Cor. 5:19, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” As a Christian, how does this verse impact you personally? How should this impact the way you behave towards those who don’t follow Jesus yet?
Read and discuss this quote: Jesus ministers to the Centurion (oppressor) and to the bleeding woman (oppressed). He calls both a tax collector (funding the oppressor) and a zealot (fighting the oppressor) to be His disciples. His body and grave are attended to by a Pharisee (religious leader) and a group of women (marginalized). It seems in life and death He shows that grace is for all regardless of station, because he knows they are all trapped in the same system of sin. Is this the message most Australians are getting from the church?
“We are citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and ambassadors on earth. How can these two truths impact the way you live and interact with other people?
Jesus radically identified with people but was radically different to them. How can these two truths impact the way you live and interact with other people?