Free Bible Commentary
“2 Corinthians 5:16-21”
Categories: 2 Corinthians“Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
---End of Scripture Verses---
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature” (verse 17). When Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus by night, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ (John 3:3). To be “in Christ” is to adopt a whole new worldview. When a person is truly “renewed” in Christ, he becomes a “new creation” (Galatians 6:15), and sees things through a completely different set of lenses. “The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
While it is true that “God loves me just the way that I am,” He loves me way too much to allow me to stay that way! He wants to change me, improve me, mold me, remake me into something more beautiful and useful to Him and His kingdom. He wants me to adopt the characteristics of His Son Jesus by molding my life after the pattern and example that He left with His life on earth. “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
Paul is using the terminology of “true conversion” in today’s passage. A change that leads to “reconciliation” with God (verses 20-21), and a new life of “righteousness…in Him” (verse 21). Jesus bore the weight of our sins on Calvary’s cross to intercede on our behalf, and restore our relationship to God the Father that sin had fractured. As babes in Christ, born again by the blood of the Lamb, we are to no longer live our lives as servants of sin and self, but as servants of righteousness and God (Romans 6:19).
Eric Parker wrote: “Paul was clearly establishing that Christians die to the world when they are converted. They do not take stock in appearances, which is the exact opposite approach as the false teachers leading the Corinthians astray. He also makes a claim to being an eyewitness of Jesus’ activities just as the other apostles were (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16-21). The old manner of looking at men has passed away and the Corinthians were guilty of sin by acknowledging people through that manner. We become new creatures in Christ with a new plan and aim.”
Please read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 for tomorrow.
You are invited to worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ!
3741 Taylorsville Road. 9:30 AM Bible class. 10:30 AM worship period. 5:00 PM worship period.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
- Louie Taylor
