New Creation

2 Corinthians 5

​What is it that motivates you to do the will of God? What drives you as a repentant, baptized, follower of Jesus to walk after Him, to answer the call to fish for men, and to bear much fruit?
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In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul reveals his spiritual motivations for service and pursuit of ministry and mission by pointing out the future judgment seat of Christ, his love for Christ, the power of the Gospel, God’s Good News message of salvation and hope, and the commission of the Lord to impact the world with the Gospel for the Glory of God and His Kingdom.

“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 (ESV)

Paul and the other Apostles were determined to represent the Savior, and reconcile the sinners in Corinth and throughout the land with God through Jesus Christ alone.

Mindful that God would someday judge him and compelled by Christ’s love, Paul was eager to proclaim the gospel with everyone, everywhere, everyday, every way possible. We too should be compelled as followers of Jesus, indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit to make Him known to the world and those nearest to us.

We are ambassadors for Christ, pleading with the unsaved to receive His offer of eternal life and all promises proclaimed throughout the preserved Word of God. In Him, we are reconciled by His grace.

According to Dr. Harold Wilmington, “Christians, like ambassadors, are citizens of the state they represent, chosen for the assignment, and are called home before war is declared.” We have been adopted by God, grafted into His family through Jesus for a purpose—to be an Ambassador and to make disciples that make disciples.

Here and in Romans, Paul shares that creation is groaning and God’s people also groan, yearning for the Lord Jesus to come again. How about you?

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the Son of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:22–23 (ESV)

Paul longed to see Jesus come in his lifetime as many of those of us do, as we are all warn out from the despicable sin and blinded first century-like culture for which we live. Many groan for the sound of the trumpet and the sight of the horse ushering our Savior Jesus. I for one am eager to see Jesus face to face and the events spelled out in Scripture.

God’s Word gives us the truth about death and beyond, and God’s Spirit guarantees that God’s children will go to heaven. We claim this by faith and walk with confidence, and what peace it gives! It is the hope and future of all who believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His sinless life, crucifixion and shed blood for the sins of all humanity, burial in a borrowed tomb, the resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the visible ascension into heaven where He is preparing a place for all those who believe. Do you be believe? Will you believe, trust and follow after Jesus; seeking to do His perfect Will for your life and design?

“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 (ESV)
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Today, will you surrender to the will of God, lean on His Spirit and power, and unashamedly and unswervingly live by the authority of the Word of God? Will you walk by faith, and not by sight? Will you courageously share Jesus with those in your circle of influence as you seek to Glorify Our Sovereign and Transcendent God?

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