2 Cor 5 - 3.28.23

Scripture

II Corinthians 5:17-19

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.

Observation

“If it sounds as if Paul is calling us to grit our teeth and try harder to be good, then we are missing the point of 2 Corinthians. Paul intends for us to see the world in a completely new way, so that our actions stem from this new understanding, not from trying harder.” (Theology of Work Bible Commentary)

Application

God reconciled us to himself. He looked on us in all our sin and created a bridge to allow us to have relationship with Him. He reconciled us to Him – not counting our sins against us – simply because He loves us. And He says that we are new creations – in the likeness of Him. As we have received reconciliation, God has called us to the ministry of reconciliation. That means sharing the Good News. But it also means that, as new creations, we should view others as God does. We should not see people from a human point of view, as something to be judged or adored based on our opinions or observations. But instead, we should view everyone we come in contact with as someone Jesus died to save. We are to spread a spirit of love and reconciliation in every situation – reconciling people to people and people to God. “Finally, being seeds of God’s creation, of course, requires that we remain in constant fellowship with Christ. If we do these things, we will be in a position to bring Christ’s power to reconcile the people, organizations, places, and things of the world so that they too can become members of God’s new creation.”

Prayer

God, thank you for this reminder. I so gladly accept your love and forgiveness and I am so stingy in sharing it with others. Transform me and help me to see others through Your eyes and fill me with Your love for them. I want to be a reconciler.

- Debbie Dunn