So 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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Notes

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When Jesus died on the cross, the payment of our sins caused a radical change.  Paul is speaking from personal experience.  He used to see Jesus not as a Messiah but as a man.  His death was merely the resulting consequence of his heresy and defiance of the law.  Once he was converted, Paul no longer looked at the outer appearance of a person.  He was looking inward.  Likewise, we should be less concerned by a person’s status, class, or worldly wealth.  Instead, we are to find people as valuable and precious souls for whom our savior has died. Our question should not be whether a person is good or not, but rather whether they are reconciled with God through faith or not.

To be in Christ and made new does not pertain to practice but instead to position.  When a person becomes saved, they still struggle with the same temptations and have the same history and the same body.  Being made new is a change of identity. By recognizing their fallen position and taking action to reconcile a broken relationship with Christ, a person can step closer to wholeness within Christ.  The decision of salvation has an initiation point, but in reality, it is a daily action and comes at a cost. 

The old is gone.  It can no longer be recovered.  The old dreams, judgments, and agendas are gone. They are replaced by the calling and purpose of Christ, with the Holy Spirit providing intercession.  Not only are we reconciling ourselves to God through the bridge of salvation, but we are also paving a new way forward.  We are no longer led by men and women of the world but by the Creator, whose holy kingdom is eternal. 

God is the source, the author of all things.  None of us can boast.  We are all either trying to rule the world or save the world.  Well, guess what? God already saved the world through the death and resurrection of his only son. He rules the world, and every person, high or low, will bow before Him.  Instead of letting us live with our foolish desires, God has brought about the ministry of reconciliation.  He calls us to be reconciled to Him (Romans 5:10), and He calls us to be reconciled to others (Matthew 5:23-26). 

Part of the reconciliation process is believing that God is not holding our sins against those of us who are “in Christ” and have chosen to live a new life.  Although we still struggle with worldly trials, we can be confident that our loving Father has forgiven a multitude of offenses.  We will have to account for our actions before the judgment seat.  And yet, we will not suffer death or be permanently separated from God (Romans 6:23).  Those who trust in Christ can be reconciled to God.  We must do our part to pursue and be committed to the ministry of reconciliation, both by bringing people to the Lord and by reconciling ourselves to each other, for we are bringers of light, opening doors for rebirth and healing.

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MEMORY VERses

Odilon Redon. Death: “My irony surpasses all others!”, plate 3 of 6, 1889. The Art Institute of Chicago

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Related Verses

More verses about rebirth:

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PRAYER INVITATION

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