WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Most of the time so far, Paul's been pretty straightforward. Aside from that "beside myself" stuff in 5:13, we've handled "jars of clay" and "ministries of death" and "earthly tents" pretty well. But now it gets tough ... or at least a bit more complex. We've gotta tackle "flesh" and "new creation" and "reconciliation" and "righteousness" all at once. So, buckle in, and let's read 2 Cor 5 together ...

2 COR 5:16-21

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. 20Therefore, 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.

• READ AND RE-READ - Rather than asking too many questions yet, let's just try reading a bit. So, 5 times slowly, read the passage above (don't worry, we'll wait). Write down words in the paragraph above that are ... 

  • ... REPEATED - _______________________ 

  • ... IMPORTANT - ______________________

  • ... CONFUSING - ______________________

  • ... USED BEFORE - ____________________

  • ... THEOLOGICAL - ____________________

2 COR 5:16

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.

• "THEREFORE" - What does this word point back to?

• "THE FLESH" - How is this connected to "outward appearance" in v 12?

• "REGARD HIM" - How did Paul view Jesus and why is he seeing Jesus differently now?

2 COR 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

• "THEREFORE" - What does this "therefore" point back to?

• "IN CHRIST" - If Paul is now evaluating Jesus not according to worldly standards, what does that also mean for anyone who is found to be "in Christ"?

• "OLD" - When you look back in 2 Cor 1-5, what are all the "old" things in us and others that we must regard as gone?

• "NEW" - By contrast then, what are the new things God is doing through Christ in His Church and in believers?

2 COR 5:18-21

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.

• "THEREFORE" - And what does this "therefore" point back to?

• "RECONCILED" - What kind of word is reconciled? How would you define it?

• "MINISTRY OF ..." - If that's a definition of reconciling, what would a ministry of reconciliation NOT look like in a believer?

• "THAT IS ..." - To help someone restore their relationship to God, something (or someone) has to be central. For Paul, it's clear - the Someone is Christ. That's why he uses Christ 4 times in these three verses, and in each case, Christ is the "object of a preposition" - meaning he's the point of the phrase. See below:

  • v 18 - "through Christ" ... What happened thru Him?

  • v 19 - "in Christ" ... What was happening in Him?

  • v 20 - "for Christ" ... What are we doing for Him?

  • v 20 - "on behalf of Christ" ... What is Paul saying on behalf of Him?

• ONE FINAL THOUGHT - If Paul's ministry and message was about Christ, why is it so common in Christian circles that we try to solve problems and create systems that deviates from the good news about Jesus? What does Paul seem to be suggesting we need to re-focus on so that this never happens in our friendships, families, or church?

Looking forward to Sunday with you,

Pastor Darren