For this Series we’ll focus on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. It will be broken up into two parts. Today we’ll be in 2 Corinthians 5:11-15, Out with the Old, and next week we’ll be in verses 16-21, in with the new.
What are some things for which you are thankful in 2021, or some things that you hope to see/accomplish in 2022?
My prayer for us is for a unity in this body that feeds our growth into God’s purposes for each of us.
That we would be a vibrant representation of Him to the world around us.
Jesus says in John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 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 have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
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[b] 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.
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Corinth
Corinth was a major city in ancient Greece and Rome.
It was situated on a major trade route and a cultural cross roads.
At one point in 5th century BC, Ancient Corinth boasted a population of more than 90,000.
It was established by the Phoenicians, Conquered by the Dorians (Hellenists), then the Romans.
In 1 BC, Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth, and it began to once again become a hub.
It is known for its temples, and massive infrastructure/engineering.
It sits at the base of a mountain called the Acrocorinth mountain which is about 1800 feet above sea level, and received freshwater from the flow off the mountain.
Because of the worldliness of the city, the church was frequently pulled and stretched by external pressures that had seeped in to the minds and hearts of the membership…and actually became the source of challenge for Paul, and was why he wrote some of his letters.
All of this serves for the basis of what we read in Paul’s letter here in 2 Corinthians, which was written about 55/56 AD.
The purpose of 2nd Corinthians was threefold:
1. To strengthen the church
2. To recognize/acknowledge repentance
3. To encourage repentance among
those who had yet to reconcile.
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Verse 11
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
Here we see that all too familiar word, “therefore” which as we have said before requires us to go back.
Bema is a term for the place in ancient Roman courts which was where the authority (judge) would pronounce judgment on the accused.
So for Paul to use that terminology here would have had specific meaning and context for the church at Corinth.
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Verse 10 says;
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Which leads us to the “Therefore…”
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
This word fear is the word Phobos, the root for phobia.
Why fear?
You remember, Jesus says in Matthew 10:28,
16 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
You see there is an eternal perspective to this “terror”.
And if you have received Christ as Lord, now your terror is for those whom we have been sent to persuade.
Does this set some urgency in your evangelistic efforts?
It should…but you should also move evangelistically knowing that it is not you that brings the change or transformation. You are simply one of the influences that the Lord uses.
Now that we know Christ, we do not have a spirit of Fear, but one of Power and Love, and Self Control.
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Verse 11 of our text goes on to say:
But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
Verse 12 says:
We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
We see the words “commending ourselves to you again…”
This is referring to 2 Cor 4:2 where Paul said,
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
My Study Bible has a note that says:
This is because Paul is not motivated by money, and also he does not crave human approval. Paul refused to tamper with God’s word by watering it down or changing it to suit what people want to hear. Rather Paul’s open statement of truth commends him to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God as judge, and shows that he does not proclaim a secret or hidden gospel only to a select inner group.
This gospel is for all.
And it appeals to the conscience of the hearer.
A response to the Gospel of Jesus is required. That response is acceptance, and change…or rejection and condemnation.
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Just a quick word here also about the prosperity gospel, and other false gospels.
There are some that believe that if they trust God and “do well” that all will go well with their lives…and if they are good, and worship, then they will have health, wealth, and general peace.
Conversely that if they have an absence of those things, then there must be a spiritual issue in the person’s life who lacks them.
This is a false Gospel.
Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble…but to take Heart…He has overcome the world.
The peace that we enjoy is not because of silence in our circumstances, but because of security in our savior.
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Verse 13-15 of our text today says:
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 have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Verse 13 speaks to the fact that some in Corinth may have thought Paul crazy by some of his teachings.
Paul again was motivated by these three things:
Please God
Commend the Reconciliation
Encourage further Repentance and Reconciliation.
His expressed purpose was to persuade others not to seek or urge others to seek these exotic religious experiences…the crushing weight of the prosperity gospel that we just talked about.
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Look at verse 14
What does Paul say controls him/us?
The love of Christ…and why is that?
Because of the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ.
Verse 15 is why this passage is placed under the title “out with the old”.
When we come to Christ, it is a call to come and die…die to sin and to self, and live to Christ.
He died that we may be reconciled, and may know life.
Luke 9:23
If we are living for Him, we will let the old go. It doesn’t mean that we discount where we’ve been, or retain that as our testimony. We simply turn from our old way and run to Him.
Repent means to turn.
Who needs to repent?
Is it only non-believers?
No…we must have a continual attitude of laying down our baggage at the feet of the cross and not picking it back up.
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This is an invite for all in this room and watching on line!
You don’t have to be weary or heavy laden.
You can lay your burden down at the foot of the cross, and commit to living for Christ.
Maybe this is the first time you are hearing this, and you need to initially trust in Him.
The truth is, whether you are hearing this for the first time or the 101st, You can come to Him with your heart, because He knows your heart.
Do you have doubts?
Then bring those to Him…He knows they are there.
Do you have unanswered questions?
Join the body! We don’t have all our questions answered, but we know the one who holds the answers, and whether He gives them to us or not, we can follow Him.
Will you trust Him today?
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