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2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: Last week, Paul offered great encouragement to the Christian of a future hope in a final resurrection which leads us to life with God forever in the new heavens and the new earth. This week, Paul speaks to his ministry while waiting for that day. In this passage, he seeks to persuade others to rejoice in and believe in the gospel, a message of God's reconciling love. This persuasion was not for his glory or the applause of men, but it was motivated by a reverent fear of Jesus as Judge and the love of Jesus as Savior. Paul understands that in the raising of Jesus from the dead, a new age has now begun and it leads him to view all things through the lens of this coming kingdom. So, he is urgent to declare the message of the gospel and he even calls us to join him in this great work.
Review & Apply
What motivates us to persuade others to consider Jesus as the Christ?
What is our reaction to judgment? How does appearing before the judgment seat of Christ shape how we live now?
How do we meditate on the cross to increase our understanding of Christ’s love?
How do we generally evaluate people? In what ways does the Gospel challenge and shape how we are to think of others?
In what ways can the Christian draw encouragement from the fact that “All this" (our salvation) "is from God”? (v.18)
How would you describe God’s reconciling work in your own words?
How does the truth that, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” change the way we live? (v.21)
In what ways can we grow and improve as ambassadors for Christ?
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