2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13 † “A Godly Point of View”

INTRODUCTION

Isn’t it interesting how two people can see the same information and come away with radicallly differing conclusions? The experiences that shape us and the context that forms us becomes what we call our “perspective” or point of view. In this section of 2 Corinthians, Paul helps us see how knowing Jesus transforms and shapes the way believers see God, themselves, and others. We will look briefly at three overarching truths of what we will call a godly point of view. Let’s dive in.

CHRIST’S LOVE CONTROLS US

The first truth that I want us to explore is that when a person follows Jesus, their point of view is impacted by a change in what controls their thoughts and actions. Look with me at 5:11-15. As we read this section it might be helpful to consider two questions: (1) what power or motivation controls my behavior, and (2) who or what am I living for?

2 Corinthians 5:11–15 ESV

11 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. 12 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. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 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.

Paul’s opponents were looking at his ministry and life through a worldly point of view. They were “boasting about outward appearance and not what is in the heart.” Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth that the godly perspective looks deeper than what is on the outside. The godly point of view sees that Jesus’ powerful love changes what we live for. In fact, it does more than change what we live for, it changes who we live for (15). To live under the control of Christ’s love means to consider every thought and action in light of what brings the most honor to Jesus’ name. To be a believer in Jesus doesn’t just mean that we occassionaly go and sing songs about God or even that we mark out some of our time as more sacred than the rest. In reality, a Christian perspective understands that when we fully embraced what Jesus has done for us in the gospel, the response is to live a life that honors Christ’s work. The Bible teaches us that this is something that has to happen to us and not because of us. Christians have been transformed by the Holy Spirit into something brand new. Our new life in Christ is marked by the power of his love controlling the direction of our lives. This is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

CHRIST’S MISSION CALLS US

The second truth I’d like for you to consider this morning is that a godly point of view enables us to see that Christ’s mission calls us. Look with me now at 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2

2 Corinthians 5:18–6:2 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 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. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 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.

I love the way that Paul both recognizes that reconciliation is God’s work (“all this is from God”) and at the same time he understands that God has invited his people into his mission (“he gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” “we are ambassadors for Christ,” and “working together with him”). A person who is controlled by the love of Christ should also see that they are now abassadors for Christ, joining him in announcing the reconciling power of Jesus.

Do you see your life as a partnership with God to appeal to others to respond to Jesus’ grace and love? In what ways does Paul’s zeal for seeing others come into a relationship with God challemnge you to consider your own perspective of the purpose of your life? I fear that too often Christians have an understanding that the love of Christ should control us, but we fail to see that part of what God intends to do through us is make us ambassadors for his kingdom with the gifts, talents, and abilities that he has given each of us.

CHRIST’S PATH COMPLETES US

The godly perspective sees the love of Christ that controls and transforms us, sees the mission of God that calls us, and finally sees that Christ’s path completes us. In this passage, Paul has challenged the Corinthians to not view his ministry and teaching in a worldly way, but to recognize the deeper realities that drive his life and ministry. In doing so, he’s helping the Corinthians see how their lives fit into God’s plan of reconciliation through Jesus. The last part of this section might seem strange to us as I’m sure it did to the Corinthians in their time. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Paul lays out what we might call his “paradox” of ministry. He puts seemingly opposite ideas right beside each other. I believe that Paul does this to help shape the perspective of the believers. You see, only when you have a godly point of view will what Paul describes make sense. Let’s look at these verses together:

2 Corinthians 6:3–10 ESV

3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

What Paul describes here isn’t just his own ministry experience (though I believe every person who wants to be a leader in the church should study this section in great depth). No, Paul is describing the path of Jesus that sacrifices self for the glory of God. From the world’s position and perspective, Jesus laying down his life made no sense. Kings are supposed to conquer, not be conquered. Yet, from a godly perspective, we see that there has never been a greater conquest in history than Jesus’ victory over hell, death, and the grave.

The Corinthian Christians are struggling to remember that the path of following Jesus is the path of the cross. Paul reminds them here that though the world sees Christians’ deep love for others and commitment to their purpose as ambassadors as “having nothing” we recognize that in following Christ we “possess everything.”

This might be the most challenging point of the message for me. I want us to consider this morning tho whole perpective or point of view that we are to live out. We are controlled by the power of Jesus’ love, we are called to the mission, and we also must see the path of the cross clearly. In what ways are we fighting against the path of self-sacrifice for the sake of living out God’s love rather than pursuing it? In what ways do we still not believe Jesus’ words that “anyone who will find his life must lose it?”

At this point I think a quotation from Jonathan Edwards might be helpful for us to understand the “paradox” of life-giving service for the name of Jesus:

“But whoever has tried self-denial can give in his testimony that they never experience greater pleasure and joys than after great acts of self-denial.” Jonathan Edwards

CONCLUSION

Tapestry, By God’s grace, let’s evaluate our point of view. Are we more shaped and driven by the perspective of the world, or are we owning the point of view that comes from seeing and embracing the great love of God displayed through our Savior Jesus Christ? Let’s pray.