RECONCILIATION2 Corinthians 5.11-21

PERSUADING PEOPLE

2 Corinthians 5.11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known

to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

Knowing how to fear God Knowing that God knows us

Knowing others through our conscience

COMMENDATION

2 Corinthians 5.12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on a man's position and not on his heart.

We persuade men to come to Christ We are not commending ourselves

We commend people not based on their social status or appearance but what is in their heart

COMMENDATION

“We do not say this, as if we thought there was any need of again recommending ourselves to you, but to give you an occasion of rejoicing and praising God, and to furnish you with an answer to those false apostles who glory in appearance, but not in heart, being condemned by their

own conscience.”

(from John Wesley's commentary on the whole Bible produced between 1754 and 1765)

UNDER CHRIST’S CONTROL

2 Corinthians 5.13 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 are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

How others may see us: We are beside ourselves (not in character; strange; over

passionate) We are controlled by the love of Christ

We are convinced that one has died for all

UNDER CHRIST’S CONTROL

“For if we are transported beyond ourselves - Or at least, appear so to others, speaking or writing with uncommon vehemence. It is to God - He understands (if men do not) the emotion which He himself inspires. If we be sober, if I

proceed in a more calm, sedate manner, it is for your sakes - Even good men bear this, rather than the other method,

in their teachers. But these must obey God, whoever is offended by it.”

(from John Wesley's commentary on the whole Bible produced between 1754 and 1765)

CHRIST DIED FOR ALL2 Corinthians 5. 15 And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died

and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded

Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

Because Christ died for all: life in Christ is possible for all

life is no longer for ourselves but for Christ life is renewed and recreated

GOD RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF

2 Corinthians 5.18 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.

Through and in Christ: God has reconciled us to Himself

God no longer count our sin against us God gives us a new responsibility, that is, to bear the

message of reconciliation to others

AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5.20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf

of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Having reconciled us to Himself, God makes us ambassadors of Christ

God makes His appeal to others through us God enables us to implore urgently, to beg eagerly to be

seek reconciliation with God

THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION

2 Corinthians 5 .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.

The righteous God is able to reconcile sinners such as us to Himself because:

Christ who knew no sin, was made sinful with our sins Christ made it possible for us sinners to become the

righteousness of God instead