The Old Has Gone, The New is Here (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

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6/30/24
Rev. Clint Smith

The Old Has Gone, The New is Here (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

The Apostle Paul passionately proclaimed that the love of Christ compels us all to understand that Jesus died for everyone, and therefore, everyone who believes dies to sin and to self. He went on to explain that those who place their faith in Him no longer live for themselves but for the One who died and was raised on their behalf.

Imagine a powerful image of two rivers merging, creating a rush of energy—this is descriptive of the powerful love of Christ that drove Paul to share the Gospel. When we speak of the “love of Christ,” we can see it as both Christ’s love for people and the Apostles’ love for Christ.

When someone expresses their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are immediately reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Their old way of life has passed away, and a new life has begun. (John 15:1-10; Romans 6:9-11)

Because believers have been reconciled to God, the love of Christ compels each of us to love the lost enough to share the good news. We are entrusted with God’s everlasting message of love and reconciliation—we are Christ’s ambassadors. We implore others, “on Christ’s behalf, let God reconcile you to Himself.”

The sin of the world is the sin of everyone —past, present, and future. Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the world and triumphed over it. This does not mean that Jesus Himself sinned or was guilty of sin. John 1:29; Galatians 3:13

Jesus, though sinless, was treated by God the Father as if He were not, for our sake. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Through His gracious lovingkindness, God reconciles us to Himself for eternity. John 3:16; Hebrews 13:8

What compels us to share the good news of Jesus with others?

Words every Christian needs to know related to this passage of Scripture and to Christianity in general: Atonement, Conversion, Faith, Imputation, Justification, New Birth, Reconciliation, Repentance, Resurrection