14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 NKJV
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Why was it impossible for Paul to live for himself? Because his Lord set the best example by dying for everyone.
“The love Christ showed for us makes us want to love and serve him and you, because when he died, the penalty for sin was paid and we died to ourselves, but through his resurrection, we live to please him by serving you.”
So, Paul has now singled out two reasons why Christians serve: knowing that they are responsible to Christ and being aware of Christ’s example of self-sacrificing love, or Christ as both Savior and Judge.
Since he became a Christian, Paul felt he had no choice but to give his all to help other people for Christ’s sake.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:11-12 NKJV
Also, he was sure of two things about the death of Christ. The first was that since one person died for and in place of everyone else, everyone had died. What is this death at the end? Either the death they deserved because of their sin.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:11-13 NKJV
In neither case was it a physical death like Christ’s. Instead, it was a “death” that could happen to anyone. Paul is not saying that everyone, no matter what they do or how they act, has their sins forgiven or lives in a selfless way.
There is universalism in the sense that no one is left out of God’s offer of salvation. However, there is a particularity in the sense that not everyone takes advantage of the benefits that this salvation offers.
Paul’s second strong belief was that if you die with Christ, you should live for Christ. He isn’t talking about everyone, though. He is only talking about “those who live” in union with the risen Christ. Even though everyone could have died when the Man who stood for them died, not everyone was raised when he rose. But for those who rose with Christ to walk “in newness of life.”
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2
Slavery to sin and self has ended and devotion to Christ and His church has begun. Christian self-denial leads to a life centered on Christ and full of care for others.
Sometimes we, the church have forgotten who’s church we are to be serving. It’s easy to look at other people and their sins and lose sight of what it is we are doing in the “the church.”
The church is not our church, it is not the Church of the Nazarene or any other denomination. The church referred to here is the church of Christ, not the denomination, but the Bride of Christ.
God want’s our churches full of people more than we do. But what He want’s is people who are coming to Him and not a church, a building, a program, or other types of functions. God want’s a people who come to His Son to be renewed in His likeness through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
What often happens is that we get the cart before the horse and put functions, events, and other things in front of Christ and the death and resurrection are often set aside.
Paul says that the second result of Christ’s death and resurrection (vv. 14–15) is that whenever a person joins the body of Christ by faith, God makes something new.
One set of circumstances or relationships has ended, and a new set has taken its place.
Paul makes it clear that the two orders are not the same.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Ephesians 4:23 NKJV
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 NKJV
It is by and through this death with Chris that the person in Christ is “new,” even though he does say that the present age and the age to come exist at the same time (e.g., 1Co 10:11; Gal 1:4).
Who doesn’t like trying something new, especially when what they’ve been doing in the past has proven to be unproductive or flawed?
Consider the longing we feel for a brand-new automobile or home appliance when the one we have is beyond repair.
But even with the incredible technology of today’s most recent models, such replacements aren’t even close to being able to compare to our biggest need, which is a new life.
We are all born with a sin nature that has separated us from God, blinded our brains to spiritual insight, enslaved us to sin, and doomed us to eternal punishment.
This sin nature also causes us to sin, which further separates us from God. However, in order to save us, our heavenly Father sent down His Son into this world, and now He provides us with a completely different nature.
When Jesus spoke about the necessity for us to undergo a second birth, This is what He meant in the encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-7).
When we place our faith in Jesus as our savior, the Holy Spirit renews our spirits, and we emerge from that experience as brand-new individuals in Christ. The person we were before we received salvation no longer exists, and we have been replaced with a new self that will never go away.
Even though the believer’s physical body has not altered, their spirit has been reborn into something brand new.
However, when Jesus returns, our physical bodies will likewise be remade, and they will be liberated from the effects of sin as well as any other consequences that make us weak.
Let us rejoice together in the wondrous future that lies ahead of us!
There is power in the name of Jesus. The phrase “pray in the name of Jesus” is often used by Christians, and it refers to the practice of praying to God and asking for His help, guidance, or protection.
Two things about the death of Christ. The first was that since one person died for and in place of everyone else, everyone had died. What is this death at the end? Either the death they deserved because of their sin.
It’s odd how we often acknowledge that we take on too much, and try to accomplish things in our own strength, and need to rely more on Jesus. And yet we continue to do the same thing over and over.
The conscience is a divinely given moral compass that can be swayed by many factors, such as our background, experiences, and thoughts. What is important is the truth that one has to inform their conscience.
Life is rough for most people today. Just when we have hope of a life returning to normal, we are seeing things none of us have ever seen in our lifetime.
To grasp the magnitude of our deliverance, we must first comprehend where we came from. We are not exempt from the repercussions of our actions because we are descendants of Adam.
