5:11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2For he says,

"In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."

1. Now (5:20b)

2. Then (5:21)

3. Never (6:2)

Conclusion: Now or Never

I am really enjoying getting to know some Indonesian people. So far I still only know three words in Indonesian though: bagoes, remaja and boule. . .

. . . a couple of other friendly comments . . .

I'd like to thank the Remaja leaders for inviting me to speak on the Remaja Birthday theme "Now or Never".
As I was thinking about the theme I worked out it's all about decisions, isn't it?
 

Life is full of decisions. Some decisions matter more than others. Some decisions are easy to make but some are very hard. Some decisions can wait but other decisions have to be made straight away. There are some decisions that we will never make unless we make them straight away- Now or Never decisions. The decision to become a Christian is often this kind of decision. Tonight we are going to try to help you make that decision. We can't make that decision for you. Only you can make that decision.

. . . more talk about decisions:
. . . "Time Runs Out" . . . computer games . . . Olympics . . . telephone calls . . . "Time Runs Out" . . .

In Remaja we study the Bible very carefully because we know it is the only way to know God better. Tonight though, we will only look at three sentences from the part of the Bible we just heard read for us. I will be making three points from these sentences: point 1. Now, point 2. Then and point 3. Never.

In point 1. we will think about what the Bible means by calling us to "be reconciled to God." We will see that it is about making decisions. We will see that these are decisions we want to make Now. That is point 1. Now.

In point 2. we will think about what the Bible means by "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us..." We will see that it is all about a decision God made 2000 years ago. We will see that our decisions now are based on God's decision Then. That is point 2. Then.

In point 3. we will think about what the Bible means by "... now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation." We will see that it is all about our decisions again. God has already made his decision and now it is up to us. We will see that if we don't decide to live with God now, time will run out and we Never will. That is point 3. Never.

Well, now we all know where we are going, let's turn to point 1. Now. Before we do though, will you join me in asking God to help me speak and for God to help us all to listen.

Lord God, our Father in heaven, please help me speak your truth just as you teach it in your Bible.
Please help us all to listen carefully and understand why what you are telling us is so important. Amen.
 

"Be reconciled to God."

(This is about making decisions. These are decisions we want to make Now.)

"Be reconciled" means "you are enemies, decide to change and be friends".

. . . details . . .
 

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us . . ."

(This is all about a decision God made 2000 years ago. Our decisions now are based on God's decision Then.)

"Sin" means "Enemy of God".

Jesus never rejected God. He was always God's friend, never his enemy. But God rejected Jesus as if he was an enemy. God rejected Jesus instead of rejecting us. He did it to make friends with us.

. . . details . . .
 

". . . now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation."

(This is all about our decisions again. God has already made his decision and now it is up to us. If we don't decide to live with God now, time will run out and we Never will.)

"Salvation" means "friends with God forever".

. . . details . . .
 

Tonight we have heard what God tells us in his Bible. We have heard about the decision God made Then 2000 years ago. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us..." Jesus never rejected God. He was always God's friend, never his enemy. But God rejected Jesus as if he was an enemy. God rejected Jesus instead of rejecting us. He did it to make friends with us. "... now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation." God has already made his decision, now it's up to us. But time will run out. ". . . now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation."

. . . conclude summary . . .

Are you reconciled to God? Are you God's friend?
Are you making decisions that show you are God's friend? Or do you need to start?
Do you need to be reconciled to God? Do you need to start being friends with God?

In a group this big there are always people who are not God's friends and need to start.
If you know this is you I want to talk just to you for a while.

. . . talk through benefits . . . remove obstacles . . . warn of costs . . .

As I said at the beginning we want to help you make this decision. What we would like to offer you is . . .