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. 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.

2 Corinthians 5:11-12

 

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 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.

2 Corinthians 5:13-15

 

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.

2 Corinthians 5:16

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

 

There was a tie when Paul had judged Christ by human standards and had set out to eliminate the Christian faith from the world. But not now. Now his standards are different. Now the man whose name he had sought to obliterate is to him the most wonderful person in the world, because he had given to him that friendship of God which he longed for all his life.

William Barclay

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

 

Sin – any failure to reflect the image of God in nature, attitude, or action

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23

 

For the wages of sin is death,

Romans 6:23

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

 

Christ’s blood was the price paid at the expense of God Himself, and was required to reconcile the exercise of mercy with justice, not as separate, but as eternally harmonious attributes in the one and same God.

Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown

 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

 

We are no longer defined by our failures, but by Jesus’ faithfulness.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

 

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

2 Corinthians 5:13

 

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

2 Corinthians 5:13 KJV

 

Paul knew that there was a time for calm, sensible conduct, and he knew too, that there was a time for the conduct which to the world looks mad. He was prepared to follow either for the sake of Christ and of men.

William Barclay

 

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

 

We are no longer defined by our failures, but by Jesus’ faithfulness.