Be Reconciled - Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 5:21-26; Colossians 3:1-17

Sunday School Lesson – Be Reconciled – May 27, 2007

Our scripture is Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 5:21-26; Colossians 3: 1-10; 12-17.

This is our final lesson in our series “Being a Peacemaker.” To be a peacemaker, peace has to be broken. When peace is broken there needs to be reconciliation.

As a human the first peace we must make is with GOD through CHRIST. As GOD reveals areas in our lives that need to come under HIS authority and rule, we as Christians, need to make peace with ourselves. This also includes any broken relationships that need to be reconciled. GOD wants us to have right relationships with others, so we can have a right relationship with HIM. We may have to deal with issues we have or have had with GOD or with others.

I have had to confess issues I have had with HIM and ask HIM to forgive me. Several of my issues came from false notions and assumptions I had made about GOD. I had to grow and mature enough to understand that I tried to make GOD in my image.

Suppose we need to settle an issue with a person. First we need to assess ourselves and to determine our role, if any, in the issue. We need to pray and ask GOD to prepare our heart and the heart of the person with whom we have to discuss the issue. We can ask others to join us in prayer for the situation as we contact the person to resolve the issue. We should pray for guidance regarding how to approach the person e.g. personal visit, telephone, letter, or invitation for coffee, etc. to break the ice.

Often the LORD has prepared the way, the heart and the attitude of the person before you approach him or her. Often the person you are approaching wanted to resolve the issue as well and the issue is settled and relationships are restored.

But there are times things do not go well and the issue is not settled or the person will not meet or discuss the issue with you. If you meet with the person and the situation turns adversarial then leave. Try to let the person know that you hope to reconcile the issue in a spirit of love and forgiveness. Continue to pray for an opportunity to resolve the issue. Once you have reached out, you can know that you have done your part in trying to resolve the issue. You may need to let time go by and try again.

What if the issue is between you and a person who has died or the person will not communicate with you? You can write them a letter or a note confessing your part, if any, regarding the issue. Say in the letter what you would say to the person as if they were present. Or pull up an empty chair and ask the deceased person or the person who refuses to communicate with you to sit in the empty chair. Again you can either speak to the person in the empty chair or you can read the letter. I suggest writing or recording your message.

If you have written a letter or note or recorded the message, when you have finished the monologue write “done or resolved or finished” across the letter or note. You can throw the written material in the trash or burn it. Consider the issue(s) resolved and that you have been reconciled with that person or persons. If you are the type that needs a reminder, then just put the written or recorded material in a safe place and refer to it when the issue crosses your mind. You may need the assurance that you have resolved the issue so you can stop thinking about it.

It is vital that we know ourselves and deal with our issues before we can resolve issues with others and for us to be peacemakers. You may recall Galatians 6:1 in last week’s lesson:

Galatians 6:1:
- 1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted also.
Galatians 6:1 deals with an issue of sin. In our day it could be adultery, pornography, addictions e.g. drugs, gambling, lying, cheating, stealing, alcohol, abuse, sex to name a few.

When a Christian grows and matures in CHRIST, we realize how far short we fall when we compare ourselves to CHRIST. It is very dangerous when we as Christians think we will not be lured into sin. We must realize we can also fall into the same or similar trap as the person we are trying to restore.

Recognizing our vulnerability results in a less condemning nature while we focus on the restoration. We must not enable the person we are trying to help. Remaining firm with compassion and love with an understanding heart is important when restoring a person from wrongdoing. Our focus needs to be on resolving and restoring and not condemnation. The wrongdoing is Satan’s attempt to enslave the person and prevent them from the power, joy and fellowship with CHRIST. Restoration includes restoration with CHRIST as well as others.

Not all efforts will end in restoration but many will. Only GOD knows the results of any effort. GOD never takes away our right to choose. Life is about making right choices. Every Christian must maintain a right relationship with GOD through CHRIST because GOD provides the power for us to overcome the world and the flesh.

Be Ready to Restore:
Our first scripture deals with an issue where a wrong was done to a brother. It teaches us as Christians to be prepared to mend broken relationships.

Let’s read Genesis 50:15-21:

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the wrong we caused him.” 16 So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: 17 ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the wrong they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when their message came to him. 18 Then his brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.[4] Gn 45:7; Rm 8:28 21 Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.[5] Lit spoke to their hearts

Most of us know the story of Joseph as recorded in the Old Testament. Joseph’s brothers were very jealous of him. His Dad, Jacob, had given him a coat of many colors and Joseph had told his brothers about a dream he had. In the dream his brothers bowed down to worship him. This did not endear him to his brothers and they planned to kill him. But Reuben talked his brothers into selling Joseph into slavery rather than killing him.

They killed an animal and put the blood on Joseph’s coat and told their father, Jacob, that a wild animal had killed him. Joseph ended up in Egypt and through the hand of GOD he was eventually elevated to be second in charge in Egypt. A famine came into the area that impacted Jacob’s family and forced them to go to Egypt for food. Joseph recognized his brothers and forgave them. Jacob came to Egypt and died there. When Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were concerned that Joseph may seek revenge.

It is not clear that Joseph’s father really said what the brothers said he said on his death bed. But that was not an issue with Joseph because he had forgiven his brothers completely. But notice in verse 16, Joseph’s brother said when your father died. They did not say when our father died.

It seems as if the brothers were prepared to hear Joseph say, “You are not my brothers!” But when they told Joseph what his father asked them to do, the words of the father restored them as brothers. Clearly they sought reconciliation with their brother.

Joseph is an example of spiritual maturity. Joseph’s weeping shows that he had forgiven them. I think it also touched his heart that what they had done was recognized and acknowledged as wrong and resulted in them reaffirming their faith in GOD. His brothers had made peace with GOD and now they were reconfirming their desire to be reconciled with Joseph.

Joseph saw that all things work together for good when your desire is to follow GOD in all areas of your lives. The wonderful words flowed from the lips of Joseph in verse 20 - 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.[4] Gn 45:7; Rm 8:28

Joseph’s words are a testimony to his brothers. GOD is in all things working for good. Romans 8:28: 28 We know that all things work together[16] Other mss read that God works together in all things for the good[17] The ultimate good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

This story teaches us that we need to restore broken relationships, seek opportunities to reconcile with those with whom relationships have been broken and reach out in kindness when the relationships have been reconciled.

Make Reconciliation a Priority:

JESUS tells us in this scripture that reconciliation with fellow humans is vital before we can worship GOD in spirit and truth.

Let’s read Matthew 5:23-24:

23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

JESUS is speaking. HE is giving us a vital lesson in the true worship of GOD. HE is saying it is more important to mend broken relationships before worshiping GOD. This is a situation when a Christian remembers that a fellow Christian has a problem with him or her. We are to go immediately to settle the matter. Or at least do our part in trying to resolve the matter.

When we have a problem with our fellow Christian whom we have seen, how can we worship GOD in spirit and truth whom we not seen? JESUS tells us to clear the air and resolve the matter. Then we can worship the FATHER in spirit and truth.

1 John 4:20-21:
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.[11] Other mss read seen, how is he able to love . . . seen? (as a question) 21 And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.

Forgive Completely:

Paul tells that just as GOD forgives us completely, we need to forgive completely. Forgiveness is an act of the will and is our opportunity to show grace to others just as GOD had shown grace to us.

Colossians 3:1-10:

1 So if you have been raised with the • Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your[1] Other mss read our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly:[2] Lit death, the members on the earth sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath comes on the disobedient,[3] Other mss omit on the disobedient 7 and you once • walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practices 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator.

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians at Colossi and to us as well. When we consider that we have been born-again and belong to GOD, we in essence were raised from the dead with CHRIST at HIS resurrection. Our citizenship is no longer earth but heaven. We need to set our minds on heavenly things. CHRIST in us is being revealed to those on earth as we become more like HIM.

For us to become more like HIM we are constantly putting to death our flesh as Paul reveals in verse 5. We were all once flesh and we know what it is like to allow the flesh to rule.

Notice in verse 8 Paul tells us to “put away” and in verse 9 “put off” the old person or the flesh. In verse 10 he says to “put on” the new or born-again person that is in us.

Paul is comparing our old life in the flesh to our clothes. Paul tells us to take off our old self like we would our old clothes and to put on our new freshly cleaned clothes that only GOD can provide. Our new clothes have been washed in the blood of the LAMB. SO take off our old selves and put on our new selves, which is the image of JESUS. Let others see JESUS in us.

All who have asked CHRIST to forgive them of their sins and for HIM to come into their lives are going through the process of being made into the image of CHRIST.


Let’s read Colossians 3:12-15:

12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. . 14 Above all, [put on]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. love—the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.

The Apostle Paul gives us rules for Holy living. Therefore Christians you know you are GOD’S chosen ones. You know GOD has made you Holy through CHRIST and HE loves you so much that HE sent HIS ONLY SON to die for you. GOD loves every Christian and set them aside to be a special vessel to be used by HIM for HIS purposes. This is the process of sanctification.

Since GOD loves you with your imperfections, you need to consider this when you encounter Christian brothers or sisters who are also imperfect. So have the mind of CHRIST in you by “putting on” the virtues that the HOLY SPIRIT can manifest through you. Have the same attitude toward your fellow brother or sister in CHRIST as CHRIST has toward you. The attributes or characteristics that Paul lists are fruit produced by the HOLY SPIRIT WHO lives in us and WHO controls our lives.

CHRIST hanging on the cross uttered these words in Luke 23:34a, “FATHER, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” CHRIST loved the world even unto death. Paul reminds each Christian to “put on” love which will produce and maintain unity among the living body of CHRIST, the church. Love coupled with the characteristics of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience will produce a very strong unity.

The root word used in the original text for forgiveness comes from the word used for “Grace” or “unmerited favor.” Grace is something a person cannot earn or even deserves but is freely given by GOD to each of HIS children.

Then a Christian is to allow the peace that only GOD can give, to fill your heart with thanksgiving. Peace is the knowledge of well-being and wholeness under GOD’S rule. This is what is meant when our Jewish friends greet each other with “Shalom.” It is the joy and security of knowing you are GOD’S child. This “knowing” is confirmed at the very core of your being, your heart. Armed with this knowledge our attitude is to be one of thanksgiving. The root word for thankful is also the root word for “Grace.” Notice that the scripture says, “Be thankful.” This is not a choice but a command which in essence is telling us to be thankful always and make thanksgiving a habit.

Our focus must be upon our relationship with CHRIST. When the relationship is as it should, then we will have the right relationship with our fellow Christian brother or sister and we will be equipped to serve our LORD.