2 Cor 5:16-21 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according
to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19. namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Before and After ("From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh")
v16 "From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh"
The context of changed 'worldviews'
v13 "If we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you"
1 Cor 1:18 "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God"
Remember that we've been talking about the impact on life and ideas that our acceptance of Christ (and the resurrection) has...
Christianity is a completely distinct worldview - living for what comes after life starts to sound like a good idea.
Ergo...this probably means that we see things differently than we used to (when we were in rebellion to God)
This is confirmed by his discussion of reconciliation.
This also fits with the 'therefores' we've been seeing.
the whole section is about the impact of the hope of the resurrection on our thoughts/ideas.
Basically, Paul is saying that we used to see things incorrectly, but God opened our eyes.
not like God.
to the greeks at least, it was stupid.
1 Cor 1:22,23 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23. but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24. but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Differences: old vs new, trespasses vs reconcilation
The core differences of the gospel are not our coming resurrection.
indeed, "all things" are different.
especially our reconcilation with God.
2 Cor 5:20,21 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf
of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.
"We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God"
Who is Paul addressing the appeal "We beg you...be reconciled" to?
- this is to the church at corinth?
- this is to unbelievers within the church at corinth?
- this is what he says to unbelievers
this works best :
-contextually (parallels his persausion in 5:11
-gramatically (the direct you in 6:1 stands out - we know when he starts talking to them)
-theologically (is the most consistent with other pauline ideas)
Paul speaking as God's ambassador, "as though God were making an appeal through us"
The ambassador speaks for the sender.
ok, but what is the message... we beg you, be reconciled
It is God who begs you to be reconciled.
(this is amazingly ridiculous to me)
persaude? no, beg.
rom 5:6,7
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
Recall The Gospel
1. God is holy, requiring holiness.
This isn't a statement on why.
It's just a description of the way God is.
2. All men, including myself, are sinful and the enemy of holiness deserving hell.
Again, whether you feel it or not, it's true.
God has revealed that hell is the punishment for our sin.
We have some internal conscience, but we often lose that in our sin.
3. Christ takes the penalty of my sin so that God's holiness might be satisfied on my behalf (through faith).
The previous items are descriptive of reality and not particularly encouraging.
I'm often left feeling that God is less kind or less compassionate than I wish for thinking only about the first two items (holiness and sin).
This changes all of that.
It is this holy God who "begs" for reconciliation.
begs me to be reconciled
gives himself in my place
Do not doubt the love of God!