FALL 2013: Leader Guide HCSBEd Stetzer General EditorTrevin Wax Managing Editor

WRITERS

The Gospel Project®Adult Leader Guide HCSBVolume 2, Number 1 Fall 2013

Eric GeigerVice President, Church Resources

Ed StetzerGeneral Editor

Trevin WaxManaging Editor

Philip NationDirector, Adult Ministry Publishing

Faith WhatleyDirector, Adult Ministry

Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102; or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com.

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Unit 1: Mike Cosper is the one of the founding pastors of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he serves as the Executive Pastor of Worship and Arts. He’s the author of Rhythms of Grace: How the Church’s Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel and the co-author of Faithmapping with Daniel Montgomery. He and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters, Dorothy and Maggie.

Unit 2: Ken Fentress serves as the Senior Pastor of Montrose Baptist Church and the Chancellor of Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland. He has formerly served as Dean of Intercultural Programs and Assistant Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ken is married to Linda, and they have three children.

Unit 3: Geoff Ashley is the Discipleship Resource Pastor for The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. He received a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2009 and has been on staff at The Village since 2006, overseeing the development of theological resources.

About the Writers

79Session 7

SeSSion 7

Jesus ReconcilesJesus Restores Communion with God and One Another

Summary and Goal

In this session, we will see that because of our sin, we fail to relate rightly to God and to each other, and the world is groaning under the weight of our rebellion. Through His work on the cross for us, Jesus Christ is restoring the world and reconciling us to God and to one another. As God’s people who have been reconciled, we are now tasked with being heralds of reconciliation in our world.

Steps to Prepare

1. Read the main passages for this lesson, recording your insights and questions:

- Colossians 1:15-20 - Colossians 1:21-23 - Colossians 1:24–2:3

2. Study the Expanded Lesson Content (pp. 82-89).

- Determine what elements of this lesson are most applicable to your particular group. - Consider ways to personalize the lesson content for you and your class.

3. Review the Teaching Plan (pp. 80-81).

- Refine the lesson plan based on your group’s particular needs. - Adjust the plan if necessary.

4. Pray for the Lord’s guidance as you lead your group through this material.

Lesson Outline

1. Jesus reconciles all things (Col. 1:15-20).

2. Jesus reconciles us to God (Col. 1:21-23).

3. Jesus reconciles us to one another (Col. 1:24–2:3).

© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

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introduce the LessonBegin with the story of Joseph and his brothers as an example of the power of reconciliation. Connect this story to Christ, whose reconciling work on the cross changes our relationship with God, others, and ourselves. Discuss the meaning of reconciliation (leader pp. 82-83; personal study p. 65).

How does the difficult task of reconciliation we see in the story of Joseph shine light on the great work of God to reconcile us to Himself? What emotions do you experience when you think about God’s reconciling work for you?

Summarize this lesson and point to Jesus as the One who reconciles us to God, others, and the world (leader p. 83; personal study p. 65).

1. Jesus reconciles all things.As a reinforcement of the previous session, encourage your group to list every affirmation made about Christ as you read aloud Colossians 1:15-20. Use “Further Commentary” for additional insights (leader pp. 83,84).

Discuss what is said about the nature of Jesus Christ in these verses. Emphasize the qualifications of Christ to be the One who reconciles us to God (leader p. 84; personal study p. 66).

Why do you think Paul described all of Christ’s qualifications before listing His accomplishments? In what ways does the reconciliation of all things to God depend on Christ being who He says He is?

Highlight the fact that Christ’s death on the cross not only reconciles people to God but also reconciles the entire universe to God. The gospel has profound cosmic effects (leader pp. 84-85; personal study p. 67). Use the example of The Tale of Despereaux to make this point (leader p. 85).

How does God’s ultimate plan for the world affect the way you view your present circumstances?

For Further DiscussionHow does our reconciliation with Christ affect our present circumstances?

For Further DiscussionWhat role does holiness have in Christ’s purposeful work of reconciliation? In what areas of your life do you have the most trouble pursuing holiness?

Jesus Reconciles

Teaching Plan

Session 7

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2. Jesus reconciles us to God. Read Colossians 1:21-23 and ask the group to answer this question: What does Paul say about our standing in God’s eyes before Christ saved us (v. 21)?

Compare and contrast alienation with reconciliation. Use Paul and the demon-possessed man as examples of Christ’s reconciling power. Emphasize the importance of vertical reconciliation (leader pp. 85-86; personal study p. 68).

Do you know someone who was hostile in attitude before knowing Christ but now is very different after having received Christ? What are some of the differences you have noticed? As a Christian, how has your own disposition changed?

Connect our reconciliation with God to our need to be holy and blameless. Then show the purpose of reconciliation—to share the message of reconciliation with others (leader pp. 86-87; personal study p. 68).

How can we share the gospel in a way that emphasizes our need to be reconciled to God? In what ways can our lives demonstrate the truth that we have been reconciled to God?

3. Jesus reconciles us to one another.Read Colossians 1:24–2:3 and notice the personal references made by Paul the apostle in these verses. Show how reconciliation has a horizontal dimension. Use Ephesians 2:13-14 as another example of Paul’s emphasis on reconciliation between people (leader pp. 87-88; personal study p. 69).

What does it say about us if we claim to be reconciled to God and yet do not pursue reconciliation with others?

Highlight the truth that Paul labored and suffered so that God’s people might be joined together in love (leader p. 88; personal study p. 70).

How does horizontal reconciliation flow from vertical reconciliation? What in your life makes it difficult for you to pursue reconciliation with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

ConclusionConclude the lesson by referring to the universal, vertical, and horizontal dimensions of Christ’s reconciling work on our behalf. Recap the lesson by highlighting the truth that Jesus restores communion with God and one another (leader p. 89; personal study p. 70).

Which of these three aspects of Christ’s reconciling work—universal, vertical, horizontal—do you value the most? Which are you most likely to neglect? What emotions come when you think about God’s reconciling work for you?

For Further DiscussionDiscuss how we can know that we have been authentically reconciled to God according to Colossians 1:23. What does it mean to be grounded, stable, and steadfast in the faith? If someone shifts away from the gospel, were they ever genuinely reconciled to God?

For Further DiscussionSecond Corinthians 5:18-19 is an important parallel passage of Scripture. Explore the connections between our reconciliation with God and our mission as agents of reconciliation.

For Further DiscussionPaul referred to suffering and affliction that accompanied his preaching the gospel of Christ. Discuss what kinds of suffering and affliction he endured by using Acts 21–28; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; and 2 Timothy 3:10-12.

For Further DiscussionDiscuss the unity among Christian believers that is mentioned by Paul in Colossians 2:2. Explain how this unity is achieved through the preaching of God’s Word as Paul did.

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opening illustration and introduction

One of the Bible’s most powerful stories of reconciliation is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph, one of the two youngest sons of the patriarch Jacob, was sold into slavery by ten of his brothers because they were jealous of his favored relationship with their father.

To cover their tracks, the brothers lied to their father Jacob, telling him Joseph had been killed by an animal (Gen. 37:31-33).

Many years passed. Joseph, unknown to his brothers, rose to political prominence as a powerful leader in Egypt. When a famine ravaged the entire region, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food for the family in Canaan. They had to deal with Joseph, but they didn’t recognize him.

After imposing a series of harsh measures upon them, Joseph revealed his identity and confronted the brothers. He forgave them and they were reconciled. He was reunited with his father Jacob and the family. The emotional moment of reconciliation was so powerful that the sounds of Joseph’s sobbing could be heard throughout the area. Joseph’s words to his brothers, found in Genesis 45, showed that he had a heart for reconciliation and not revenge:

“Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

Voices from Church History“True, there is a quarrel, even enmity, but to reconcile means to restore a relationship, to renew a friendship. So an original relationship is presupposed which, having been broken, has been recovered by Christ.” 1

–John Stott (1921-2011)

Jesus Reconciles

Expanded Lesson Content

Session 7

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Joseph recognized that God was guiding his circumstances in order to accomplish the salvation of his family when the time of famine came. Despite the evil done to Joseph by his brothers, God fulfilled a greater purpose: the salvation of Jacob’s family and Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers.

The beautiful story of Joseph forgiving his brothers points forward to the work of Jesus Christ reconciling us to God. It also anticipates the future when Jesus will reveal Himself and all will recognize Him, even the Jewish people who rejected Him (Rev. 1:7). Those who have repented and trusted in Christ will be reconciled to the Father forever. Those who have persisted in rejecting God will receive punishment for refusing reconciliation.

How does the difficult task of reconciliation we see in the story of Joseph shine light on the great work of God to reconcile us to Himself? What emotions do you experience when you think about God’s reconciling work for you?

Reconciliation is a work of God in restoring a relationship that had been destroyed. Nothing is more powerful than seeing ruined relationships restored by the power of God in the gospel of Christ, and God is able to reconcile even the worst damage done by human sin. Reconciliation does not just make for a powerful story, it is a powerful reality!

Lesson SummaryIn this session, we will see that because of our sin, we fail to relate

rightly to God and to each other, and the world is groaning under the weight of our rebellion. Through His work on the cross for us, Jesus Christ is restoring the world and reconciling us to God and to one another. As God’s people who have been reconciled, we are now tasked with being heralds of reconciliation in our world.

1. Jesus reconciles all things (Col. 1:15-20). 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Voices from Church History“The New Testament everywhere emphasizes that God initiates reconciliation. That God’s enmity toward sinners is not merely a passive attitude but one of active hostility may seem incompatible with the doctrine of God’s love. Yet it was while we were considered God’s enemies that Christ as the gift of divine love died for us (Rom. 5:10). That there is a Godward as well as a manward aspect of reconciliation is integral to New Testament teaching. That Christ’s death removes God’s enmity against man—that a new relation exists of God toward the sinner no less than of the sinner toward God—is at the heart of the doctrine of salvation.” 2

–Carl F. H. Henry (1913-2003)

Further Commentary“In Colossians, ‘firstborn’ obviously has the nuance of supremacy and preeminence from the expressions that follow in verses 16-17. Christ is the source-agent and preserver of creation and is worthy of all honor. It is Christ as sustainer (‘by Him all things hold together’) who makes the universe a cosmos instead of a chaos.” 3

–Daniel Akin

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This passage gives us a glimpse of the universal, sweeping nature of Christ’s reconciliation. He reconciles the world to God.

Before we take a look at the cosmic reconciliation described in this passage, let’s see what we learn about Jesus. The apostle Paul gave us some profound statements about the Person of Christ. He began with the truth that Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God and that He is preeminent over all God’s creation. He is Lord of all.

The apostle Paul affirmed seven truths about the Person of Christ. These seven truths give us confidence in the sufficiency of Christ’s work of reconciliation on our behalf: 1. Christ is the image of God (“the image of the invisible God”) 2. Christ is preeminent over creation (“the firstborn over all creation”) 3. Christ is eternal (“before all things”) 4. Christ is sovereign (“by Him all things hold together”) 5. Christ is head of the church (“the head of the body, the church”) 6. Christ is Creator (“the beginning”) 7. Christ is risen from the dead (“the firstborn from the dead”)

These seven affirmations show that Christ is uniquely qualified to bring about reconciliation between God and humankind and the entire universe. No one else could do it. Jesus is the basis for reconciliation with God.

Why do you think Paul described all of Christ’s qualifications before listing His accomplishments? In what ways does the reconciliation of all things to God depend on Christ being who He says He is?

After giving us an exalted view of Jesus in all His glory, the apostle Paul turned to the cosmic work of Christ on behalf of the world. Taking into account the biblical story line, we remember how the entire creation was profoundly affected by the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3). Things changed. There was a divine curse pronounced upon the ground because of Adam’s sin.

Because of sin, the creation needs reconciliation too. That’s why Christ came to reconcile all things to God the Father and to Himself. Paul reflected, in Romans 8:19-22, on the creation’s deep longing for the reconciliation only Christ can provide: “For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.”

Further Commentary“In Colossians…Paul adds a cosmic dimension to the work of Christ. Whether the great Christological passage (Col. 1:15-20) is an early Christian hymn, as many scholars believe, or an original composition of Paul’s, it is a sublime statement of the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ in creation and redemption, in the universe and the church.” 4

–John Stott

Further Commentary“As the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isa. 9:6), Jesus will ultimately quell all rebellion against God and his purposes. For believers, this means present reconciliation to God as his friends. As for nonbelievers and the demonic powers, Christ’s universal reign of peace will be enforced on them, for their rebellion will be decisively defeated by Christ as conquering king (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:7-10) so that they can no longer do any harm in the universe. The basis for Christ’s reign of ‘peace’ is ‘the blood of his cross.’ The cross truly is the pivotal point in human and cosmic history.” 5

–Clinton Arnold, ESV Study Bible

85Session 7

Christ’s reconciling work is the only cure for the brokenness of nature and human nature. Just as humans are freed from sin, so also the creation will be freed from the curse and reconciled as well. Look again at Colossians 1:19-20. The apostle Paul was clear: In Christ, all things (whether on earth or in heaven) are reconciled to God.

In the children’s story The Tale of Despereaux, there is a joyful town suddenly overcome by grief and despair. The weather is affected by the human sadness. No longer is there sunshine or rain, only a dreary cloudiness that descends upon the townsfolk. But at a critical point in the story, one character grants forgiveness to another. A chain reaction of forgiveness is set off, and eventually, even the weather is restored. The sun comes back out. Rain falls from the clouds. One act of forgiveness leads to cosmic restoration.

In a similar way, the gospel is about the reconciliation of repentant human beings to God. But the implications of this reconciliation extend to all of creation. God’s forgiveness, given to us in Christ, leads to reconciliation in all kinds of things.

“Everything” (v. 20) doesn’t mean that every human being will be saved. (Many reject Christ and His gospel and, in so doing, refuse to be reconciled to God.) It means that reconciliation and restoration will extend to all kinds of things, including nature, the environment, and the universe. Nothing is beyond the redemptive accomplishment of Christ.

How does God’s ultimate plan for the world affect the way you view your present circumstances?

2. Jesus reconciles us to God (Col. 1:21-23). We’ve seen the cosmic focus of Christ’s work for us in reconciling

“everything” to God. Watch now how the apostle Paul shifts his focus to the vertical nature of reconciliation. Christ’s work of reconciliation brings people into a right relationship with God.

21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.

The vertical nature of reconciliation focuses on the realm of our personal relationship with God. This is the heart of the good news because it involves our relationship status with God.

Voices from Church History“And he well said, ‘Through Him to make an end of reconciling’; for they were already reconciled; but completely, he says, and in such sort, as no more to be at enmity with Him. How? For not only the reconciliation was set forth, but also the manner of the reconciliation. ‘Having made peace through the Blood of His Cross’…A great thing indeed it is to reconcile; but that this should be through Himself too, is a greater thing; and a greater still,—how through Himself? Through His Blood, but what is yet greater, through the Cross.” 6

–John Chrysostom (circa 347-407)

Further Commentary“Paul explained the need for reconciliation to God by appealing to the Colossian believers’ spiritual condition before their salvation…‘alienated’ from God. Corrupt thinking results in immoral behavior, which in turn produces more wrong thinking and further estrangement from God.”

“The only way believers will be presented holy, faultless, and blameless is if they do not abandon their ‘faith’ in Christ as presented in the ‘gospel.’ Faith refers to the content of the gospel with Jesus as the object (vv. 4,23; 2:5,7,12). Paul warned…about their adoption of syncretistic beliefs that perverted the true message of the gospel, subsequently abolishing their ‘hope.’ ” 7

–Andreas Köstenberger, HCSB Study Bible

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Do you see how Paul described our state before coming to Christ? We were “alienated and hostile” toward God. Alienation and hostility are the opposite of reconciliation and restoration. Alienation from God is an awful state of being separate from God, estranged from Him, without Christ, and without hope in the world (Eph. 2:12).

Paul himself was an example of alienation from God. He persecuted Christians prior to his conversion to Christ (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-9). He described himself without Christ as “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man” (1 Tim. 1:13). But the alienation and hostility of Paul were no match for the life-changing love of the risen Jesus.

Christ’s work of reconciliation provides a stark contrast to the alienation, hostility, and depravity we had in our hearts toward God. In the passage above, we go from “alienated and hostile” to “reconciled,” “holy, faultless, and blameless.” What an astonishing contrast! The gospel produces a profound break with the past.

In Mark 5:1-20, there was a man who was demon-possessed. He was violent, irrational, and out of control. But when Jesus met him, He expelled all the demons from the man and restored his sanity. Mark 5:15 reports, “They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” This man was markedly different after having encountered Christ! Though he had been alienated from God (and everyone else too), he was now reconciled through the power of Jesus.

Do you know someone who was hostile in attitude before knowing Christ but now is very different after having received Christ? What are some of the differences you have noticed? As a Christian, how has your own disposition changed?

The reconciliation that Christ has achieved is highlighted even more because he accomplished it in spite of our sin. Romans 5:10-11 says, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him.”

Not only do we have access to God through the reconciling work of the Son on the cross, but we also have an eternal relationship with Him. We are part of His family so that we might be more like Him—to bear the family resemblance. Holy, faultless, blameless—these are to be the characteristics of the person reconciled to God.

Furthermore, we see in this passage the purpose of our reconciliation—to share the message of reconciliation with others (v. 23; see also 2 Cor. 5:18-21). People need to hear the good news that God wants them to be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Further Commentary“Reconciliation is the translation of the Greek word katallage…The word reflects, as it is used in the doctrine of the atonement, a changed relationship to God…The strongest associations with the actual atonement of Christ are found in Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:16; and Colossians 1:20-21, where it is said that all are reconciled to God by means of Christ’s death. A point made by other writers, which perhaps ought not to be pressed too far but apparently is true to the biblical text, is that the atonement seems to reconcile man to God while it propitiates God toward man. This observation suggests that the atonement had a dual effect—partly on the Father and partly on humanity.” 8

–Paige Patterson

Voices from Church History“For he sees all his iniquities laid on him who ‘bare them in his own body on the tree’; he beholds the Lamb of God taking away his sins. How clearly now does he discern ‘that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself…’ And that he himself is reconciled to God by that blood of the covenant!” 9

–John Wesley (1703-1791)

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The gospel has the power to bring people into a right relationship with God. But the only way people will know is through Christians who tell them the good news.

How can we share the gospel in a way that emphasizes our need to be reconciled to God? In what ways can our lives demonstrate the truth that we have been reconciled to God?

3. Jesus reconciles us to one another (Col. 1:24–2:3). 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my

flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

In addition to the vertical dimension of Christ’s reconciliation, there is a horizontal dimension as well. In other words, reconciliation brings us into a right relationship with God and also brings us into a right relationship with each other.

Christ has reconciled us to one another by His shed blood on the cross. We can see in this passage how God desires to make His glory known among the Gentiles. The separation and alienation between Jews and Gentiles is destroyed by the cross of Christ. Likewise, in Ephesians 2:13-14, Paul declared the dissolution of the barrier between Jew and Gentile in Christ: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.”

Voices from the Church“God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that made him irreconcilable, namely, the God-belittling guilt of our sin.” 10

–John Piper

Further Commentary“Paul rejoiced in his ‘sufferings’ (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 1:5; Gal. 5:24; Phil. 3:10) because they benefited the church. By suffering Paul was ‘completing’ in his ‘flesh’ what was ‘lacking’ in ‘Christ’s afflictions.’ This enigmatic phrase cannot mean that something was lacking in Christ’s atoning work (v. 20). Rather, Paul’s sufferings benefited the church by promoting the spread of the gospel.”

“God’s ‘administration’ (Eph. 1:10; 3:2,9) pertains to God’s plan for Gentiles to receive salvation and to share in the inheritance of God’s people. Paul’s role was to make this message ‘fully known.’ ”

“The term ‘mystery’…refers to something that was previously ‘hidden’ in God’s plan but has now been ‘revealed.’ Here it relates to the inclusion of the Gentiles into the people of God.” 11

–Andreas Köstenberger, HCSB Study Bible

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Joseph Hellerman provides a good summary of how the vertical and horizontal aspects of salvation go together: “There is both a vertical and a horizontal dimension to our position in Christ. We make much in our doctrinal statements and our preaching of the vertical aspect of salvation: the fact we are justified—declared righteous and put into a right relationship with God—when we are saved…But something else happens when we are saved, which is just as real in God’s eyes, on God’s positional ledger sheet, so to speak, as our justification, something I like to call our ‘familification.’ Just as we are justified with respect to God the Father upon salvation, so also we are familified with respect to our brothers and sisters in Christ.” 12

In one of the previous sessions, we saw how God created us to relate rightly to one another. But sin has caused a break in our personal relationships. The beauty of the gospel is that reconciliation takes place on both the vertical and horizontal levels.

To be rightly related to Christ is the basis for being rightly related to others. Christ has accomplished a new unity between factions of people who once could hardly tolerate each other.

What does it say about us if we claim to be reconciled to God and yet do not pursue reconciliation with others?

The apostle Paul confessed his joy in enduring suffering on behalf of the Christians in the region of Colossae. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church” (Col. 1:24). Paul could not make such an assertion unless he had experienced the power of Christ’s reconciliation, especially since it is likely he had not met them at the time he wrote this letter. The only way he could endure suffering on their behalf was because of the relationship they had with him in Christ.

Paul went deeper into his personal affections for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea in order to encourage them in the faith and to strengthen their understanding of Christ (2:2). He struggled and labored for them in order that they might be joined together in love. Unity is the key to understanding the riches we have in Christ.

Today, our culture is saturated with people who place top priority on financial and material wealth and riches. But Christ offers us riches that money could never buy. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him (2:3). Christ makes us truly wealthy by reconciling us to one another by His wisdom and understanding.

How does horizontal reconciliation flow from vertical reconciliation? What in your life makes it difficult for you to pursue reconciliation with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Voices from Church History“Jew and Gentile alike lose their old standing as soon as they are joined unto Christ. The change in them is a new creation by Him.” 13

–E. Y. Mullins (1860-1928)

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Conclusion Like Paul, our suffering and labor are not in vain. We’ve been

reconciled to one another by Jesus’ blood. Why? So that we may labor together to take the good news of God’s reconciliation in Christ to everyone on earth. Together we are Christ’s ambassadors with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-21).

Reconciliation is powerful, with universal, vertical, and horizontal dimensions. There is no greater testimony to the power of the gospel than for those who were separate and alienated to be reconciled and brought together in peace. In Colossians 1:20, we are told that Christ has made peace through the blood of His cross. Through the cross we are reconciled to God and to one another. Atonement has been made for our sin. Because of this, we should pursue reconciliation with each other as Christian believers. Christ reconciles all things to Himself.

Which of these three aspects of Christ’s reconciling work—universal, vertical, horizontal—do you value the most? Which are you most likely to neglect? What emotions come when you think about God’s reconciling work for you?

Prayer of Response“Lord God Almighty, You have worked first with men for You have reconciled Yourself to the world through the cross, and do plead with men to accept reconciliation. It is my responsibility to grasp Your overtures of grace, for if You, the offended party, act first with the word of appeasement, I need not call in question Your willingness to save…You have taught me the necessity of a mediator, a messiah, to be embraced in love with all my heart, as king to rule me, as prophet to guide me, as priest to take away my sin and death, and this by faith in Your beloved Son who teaches me not to guide myself, not to obey myself, not to try to rule and conquer sin, but to cleave to the one who will do all for me. You have made known to me that to save me is Christ’s work, but to cleave to him by faith is my work, and with this faith is the necessity of my daily repentance as a mourning for the sin which Christ by grace has removed. Continue, O God, to teach me that faith apprehends Christ’s righteousness not only for the satisfaction of justice, but as unspotted evidence of Your love for me. Help me to make use of his work of salvation as the ground of peace, and of Your favor toward and acceptance of me the sinner, so that I may live always near the cross.” 14 –Puritan prayer (adapted)

References1. John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006), 189-90.2. Carl F. H. Henry, The God Who Stands and Stays, Part Two, vol. 6 in God, Revelation, and Authority (Wheaton: Crossway, 1999), 358.3. Daniel L. Akin, “The Person of Christ,” in A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel L. Akin (Nashville: B&H, 2007), 503.4. John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ, 192.5. Clinton E. Arnold, ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 2295, n. 1:20.6. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series, ed. Philip Schaff, vol. 13 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1889), 272.7. Andreas J. Köstenberger, HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 2056, n. 1:21; n. 1:23.8. Paige Patterson, “The Work of Christ” in A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel L. Akin, 581-82.9. John Wesley, “The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption,” in John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology, eds. Albert C. Outler and Richard P. Heitzenrater (Nashville: Abingdon, 1991), 140-41.10. John Piper, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006), 61.11. Andreas J. Köstenberger, HCSB Study Bible, 2056-57, n. 1:24; n. 1:25; n. 1:26.12. Joseph Hellerman, When the Church Was a Family (Nashville: B&H, 2009), 132.13. E. Y. Mullins, Studies in Ephesians (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959), 69.14. Arthur Bennett, ed. The Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 45.

90 Leader Guide | Fall 2013

Devotional MaterialEncourage your group to read the three devotional readings included in the Personal Study Guide.

Study Material - “The Work of Christ”—Chapter 10 by Paige Patterson from A Theology for the Church, edited by Daniel L. Akin

- Chapters 31–36 from The Hope of Glory: 100 Daily Meditations on Colossians by Sam Storms

- “The Salvation of Sinners”—Chapter 7 from The Cross of Christ by John R. W. Stott

- “The Church as God’s Missionary Agent”—Article by Ed Stetzer in The Mission of God Study Bible (p. 1237)

Jesus Reconciles

Tip of the WeekGospel Project Resources for Parents

For group members who have children or grandchildren in groups that use The Gospel Project for Kids or Students, we have provided parent devotionals and conversation guides that connect these studies in hopes to encourage family discipleship. Parents or grandparents can carry on a conversation with their child or grandchild that links an element of the adult study with that of the student or kids study. This gives young ones an opportunity to share how they are experiencing the gospel and to see how their parents are experiencing the gospel too. You can find these conversation guides at www.gospelproject.com/additionalresources: For kids: Adults/Kids ConnectionsFor students: One Conversation for Parents

Sermon Podcast

Matt Chandler: “From Alienation to Reconciliation”

Find a link to this at gospelproject.com/additionalresources

Additional Resources