Sermon Tone Analysis

(HCSB)

11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people.

We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.

14 For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.

15 And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.

INTRODUCTION:

There are two questions that are necessary for the church to answer with conviction: What do we do?

Why do we do it?

I- THE MOTIVATION BEHIND WHAT WE DO (VS.

14-15).

14 For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.

15 And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.”

A. There is a motivation that Channels all that we do.

1. “compels us” (συνεχει ημας)—with irresistible power limits us to the one great object to the exclusion of other considerations.

The Greek implies to compress forcibly the energies into one channel.

The idea is not urging or driving, but shutting up to one line and purpose, as in a narrow, walled road.

B. The Channeling force is Christ’s Love

1. “The love of Christ” (ἡ ἀγαπη του Χριστου).

Subjective genitive, Christ’s love for Paul as shown by verse 15. “Compels us” (συνεχει ἡμας).

Old and common verb, “to hold together, to press the ears together” (), “to press on every side” (), “to hold fast” (), “to hold oneself to” (), “to be pressed” (passive, ; ).

So here Paul’s conception of Christ’s love for him holds him together to his task whatever men think or say.

2. The phrase “the love of Christ” means His love for us as seen in His sacrificial death.

( ) “We love Him, because He first loved us” He loved us when we were unlovely; in fact, He loved us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies (see ).

When He died on the cross, Christ proved His love for the world (), the church (), and individual sinners ().

When you consider the reasons why Christ died, you cannot help but love Him.

C- The goal is to penetrate lostness

1.

With the message that Christ died for all (vs.

15a).

(.) “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us”

2. Seeking to disciple all people to Christ.

(vs.

15b).

() “And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.”

() “19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…”

II- THE MANDATE THAT GIVES US A PURPOSE (VS.

11).

“Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people.

We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well..”

A- The mandate is derived from God.

( NLT) “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others.”

B. Our purpose is to persuade people to follow Christ.

() “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us.

We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21  He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him..”

C- We are accountable to God and to one another to fulfill the mandate.

(v.

11b) “...We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.”

III- THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS THAT WE STRIVE FOR (VS.

9-10, 12-13).

(VS.

9-10) “Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.”

(VS.

12-13).

“We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.”

A- The first measure of success is faithfulness in pleasing Christ.

(VS.

9-10) “Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.”

B- The second measure of success is our testimony among fellow believers.

(VS.

12).

“We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

C- The third measure of success is abandonment to the cause of Christ.

(vs.

13) “For if we are out of our mind, it is for God”

() “ My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 1 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.”

D- The fourth measure of success is encouragement of each other to pursue abandonment to the cause of Christ.

“if we have a sound mind, it is for you.”

() “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

CONCLUSION:

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