 
Illustration. Jonah Preaching To The Ninevites. "Be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:20. 1. What message of entreaty has God sent to us through his appointed messengers? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:20. 2. Through whom is this reconciliation made? “All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Verse 18. 3. What was required in order to effect this reconciliation? “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.” Rom. 5:10. 4. What basis for reconciliation was made by Christ's death? “Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself.” Col. 1:20. 5. Through whom is the reconciliation received? “We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [reconciliation, margin].” Rom. 5:11. [pg 105]6. By what union does Christ reconcile both Jew and Gentile to God through the cross? “And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Eph. 2:16. 7. In what prophecy was the work of reconciliation foretold? “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity.” Dan. 9:24. 8. In thus reconciling the world unto Himself, what attitude did God take toward men? “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” 2 Cor. 5:19. 9. What rendered it possible for God to treat sinners thus? “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6. 10. What was Christ made, to release men from sin? “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21. 11. How was He treated? “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5. 12. What did John declare concerning Him? “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away [beareth, margin] the sin of the world.” John 1:29. 13. To what place did Christ carry these sins? “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24. 14. What is the great purpose of Christ in His work of reconciliation? “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight.” Col. 1:21, 22. |
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