Made New and Sent | 2 Cor. 5:10-21
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Main Point: Christ’s death changes how we live our lives.
Take Away: We start living for eternity today.
Intro
Hey y’all.
Have you ever thought about how life might be different if something in the past had not happened?
So here is a question for you? I was listening to a history podcast, and the host asks this question
In the last 126 years, who is the most influential person? Because that person lived it had the greatest impact.
More of a fun history exercise but who do you think it is?
Gavrilio Princep
Heard of him?
Guy who assassinated Arch Duke Ferdinand.
Started WW1 - which shaped the modern world, beause there was a WW2 and so on and so forth.
Reason I ask that is because, things matter.
Events matter and shape how the world operates.
here is what I want to do tonight.
Sunday is easter, and we have been praying for people to come, to hear the gospel.
So as we head in to Easter weekend,
I want us to look what does easter mean for us?
for us and our world
How is our life different because of What Christ did the first easter.
Context:
So where are we?
2 cor 5:10-21
if you need a bible
let me set the stage for you
Corinth; they are in rejecting Paul and the gospel. Not all of them but some. Want to live their lives how they want.
This is pretty normal for the Corinthians, this is the second letter they get
written by Paul
Paul is answering the question “why does it matter how I live?”
and he is doing this by making an argument that christ changes our lives.
And the text reads like an arguement
lots of therefore.
so we are gonna go through it like that, try to see how does he construct his argument? How does it flow?
Here is the Main idea for tonight:
Christ’s death and resurrection changes how we live our lives.
So lets do read the pray and then let’s read this passage together.
Pray
read this with me
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
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.
16 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. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 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.
SO what is going on?
so far in the text he has been building the case that christ is worth more than anything.
IN the passgae right before this, is talking about how he longs to go on to Christ
But that he is still here, which means he still has a mission.
I was gonna start in verse 11, but whats the first word of verse 11?
There for, so I looked at 10
and that sets up the whole of the passage.
2 Corinthians 5:10 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
So let’s break down his argument
first thing i want you to see
Point 1: We will be held accountable
v.10 is reality - defines it
we will give an account to christ.
v. 11 - life is different, we persuade others to come to know this reality.
v. 12 - WE are living this out right now
That is why the are here, to tell them
To warn them of the reality of what is coming and the good news that has come through Christ
You will give a account
Sets up his whole argument — makes them think
App: Think about your life, what would your account be right now?
You might have the right behaviors
But The heart has to be right or the behaviors don’t matter.
Culture says live how you want to but just be a good person -
what does good person mean?
How can we be a good person if we don’t know what good is?
same with Paul’s day
What this isn’t is behavior modification.
Verse 13 is transition - Paul isn’t crazy and they don’t really believe him. This more of a rhetorical device than anything.
Saying, it doesn’t matter if you think we are crazy or not, we are still going to preach this to you.
Point 2: Christ died so you can live in a different way
So then look at verse 14 2 Cor. 5:14
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
He sets up his argument, and answers the question:
“What does his death have to do with my life?”
argument v.14 -we are compelled by Christ. The love of Christ controls us.
ESV uses control, CSB uses compels. KJV uses contrainith.
But here is what he is saying.
Have you ever felt compelled to do something? Were you can’t not do something?
Have you ever gone to thanksgiving and just didn’t eat anything?
No, you are controlled, you are compelled, you can’t not get a plate.
Then the back half of the verse is,
Died for all, which means all were dead,
or needed some one to die for them.
Because of Christ’s death, we are compelled to live differently
Look at v 15.
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.
Christ died so you can live a different way, living for Christ’s sake not our own.
Why? Cause living for yourself leads to death
John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
he is teaching us not just how to think, but how to live. There is a way that leads to truth and life that is only found in him.
Evidence: living for yourself only leads to death
Example: History of Corinth
Destroyed in 146 because of rebellion
Boomtown, full of vice, greed, even by ancient standards was a wild place.
Imagine a FBC Vegas
Known for being a cut throat tow, competitive place.
Everyone was self centered.
This is counter cultural for us too:
We can see this in our world, there are people who have all the money in the world, all the success and they are the most unhappy people.
With this brings some tension.
There are some in Corinth who are reading this saying, i’m too bad, too far gone
Probably some of you have thought the same thing.
Look at verse 16
16 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.
Paul is saying, it doesn’t have to be this way, what matters is the future.
Ex: Paul’s own life of missing Christ the first time.
Look at Paul, he wanted them all dead after first.
What do we see Paul doing the first time we see him in Acts?
Stephens execution.
This is the crux of the gospel here.
Christ has died, the old sins, the old way are gone.
Christ took care of it, and then goes one step more,
lets keep going.
Point 3: Because of Christ you are made new
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 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.
argument - v. 17 - Christ took care of the sin problem, now wants your life.
Sanctification, Christ changes us, he makes us like him
that’s sanctification: process of becoming life christ.
takes time but should be noticeable.
If you are in christ you are made new.
v. 18-19 - if you are in christ you join in his ministry
We were saved for this reason
This ministry of reconciliation, we were saved to join in this
verse 20
2 Corinthians 5:20 “20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Ambassadors are useless if they never go anywhere.
we were made for something, not just from something.
Truth: This is what Christ’s death means for out life. 3 Things
Three Things
We are saved
Because of Christ - when we stand before the judgment seat, all that is seen is who Christ is and what he’s done
That’s what it means when he says, in verse 21, 2 Cor. 5:21
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.
We have his righteousness on us.
This is what make us be able to give an account
we are made new
There is nothing you can do or have done that is too bad for him to not save you.
Christ makes all things
that is what Paul is saying, you are made new
Colossians 3:9–10 “put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self.”
we are sent out
We are sent with this good news.
So this is the truth
Because of Chirst’s death our lives are completely different.
Our relationship, our work, our goals, our family it is all changed and given a new purpose.
We have some friends who as they were coming in to retirement decided to become missionaries.
Not just anywhere, to northern Africa, one of the most hostile places on the planet for Christians.
Why? Becasue Christ is worth it, Christ saved us from death.
Truth: Connect to Good Friday.
This is what makes good friday good. Christ died for you. You should have been on the cross
go back to the question i ask you a little bit ago, ask yourself: Would your account stand?
Alister Begg - On what basis should you be allowed in?
Because Christ, not Because I
Our lives are changed because we don’t have to go to the cross.
See this:
We start living for eternity today. How we think, what we do, where we go, what our jobs are, leveraged for the gospel.
As we go in to Easter, think about the life changing reality Christ resurrection has on our lives and the purpose of our lives.
Y’all pray with me.
