For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. (II Corinthians 5:12)
In the previous lesson, Paul stated what the apostles and disciples ultimate goal was; Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (II Corinthians 5:9) Remember, there were still some in the church in Corinth who doubted that Paul was a real apostle. Paul had explained that he and all the apostles and disciples were suffering tribulation just like they were, For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. (II Corinthians 4:15)
Based on all of this, Paul was letting the church in Corinth know that they had every opportunity to boast on their behalf. The proof that Paul and all the other apostles and disciples were sent by God was written in their hearts, and not in appearance of performing rituals and traditions of men. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:5-6)
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (II Corinthians 5:13-15) It can't be stated any plainer than this. Christ Jesus is the One who died for ALL; He died for ALL! And because He rose again, we can now live and not just be alive.
But we should live no longer for ourselves, but for Him. Christ Jesus gave up everything for us, and because of His obedience, God heard and answered His prayer, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." (John 17:1-5)
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:16-17) Just as God glorified Christ with the glory which He had with Him before the world was, God will also glorify us through Christ Jesus, by making us a new creation. We may appear the same on the outside, but we are changed on the inside, and this change will shine in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (II Corinthians 5:18-19) This change in us is to serve a greater purpose. We can't be content and satisfied in just knowing that we are saved and will spend eternity in the presence of God. We have each been given the ministry of reconciliation. Just as Jesus told Mary and Joseph, we have to have the same mind, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)
The message of reconciliation is about love and forgiveness and salvation. This is a dying and lost world, but we who are saved, who have accepted Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord have a message that can change this world and lead others to this same saving knowledge and new life. God is real and God is approachable, but God is holy. We can't come to Him any way we want. We have to come to Him in the way He commands. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself; therefore we have to believe in Christ Jesus to be reconciled to God.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:20-21) God does not want to punish us for our sins; He wants to forgive us for our sins, and He made that possible by making Christ Jesus, who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,... (I Peter 3:18)
That's what reconciliation is all about. God did all that needed to be done, by sending His Son, Christ Jesus to die for our sins, so that sin could no longer keep us separated from God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17) AMEN!
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