Sunday, November 1, 2015

Irreconcilable

 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 10-12; Corinthians 5:12-21, 6:1

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come (times of stress); for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving (irreconcilable), slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a FORM OF GODLINESS but denying its power
(denying the power of godliness). And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, SO DO THESE ALSO RESIST THE TRUTH, men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs (Jannes/Jambres) also was."

irreconcilable - incapable (unwilling) of being brought into harmony or adjustment; implacably opposed (Webster's)

"For we do not commend ourselves again to you but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God, or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 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. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet 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. 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. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you (the Corinthian church) 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. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain......."

"But you (Timothy) have carefully followed my (Paul's) doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.....

reconcile - to bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or consistent; to restore to communion in a (the) church (Webster's)

Paul taught the Corinthian church that they must allow themselves to be brought into agreement; they must allow themselves to be made compatible and consistent on Christ's behalf so they may be ambassadors for Him as Paul had become; to be brought into communion with Jesus Christ. We are charged the same way!

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