Pay No Regard

Context

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church

He has written to them at least two times and this is letter is not the first time that he wrote to them

The first time he wrote to them to encourage them to be united as a church

This time he is writing to them to urge them to be united with him in the most important mission known to humans; the ministry of the Gospel

In this particular section Paul is reminding the Church that it is up to them to bring a message of hope that is realized by the possibility of reconciliation

They have a purpose as a church

They needed to be reminded of this purpose as it seems they are getting caught up in the rejection by the world

Some of us have experienced this especially as new believers; the response of others can be varied; a couple extremes:

Some find it hard to believe that you are a Christian; after all they knew you before

When we tell people of our faith

Some

“You are a l

Some claim you are a hypocrite and judgemental

To be clear; there are some abuses and truths found from either extreme

But Paul sets the record straight and articulates what the believer is

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

Regard according to the flesh..

REGARD - That is to know through reflection; to know personally; to understand

FLESH - Sinful humanity; worldly system

That is how the world regards people

The WORLD regards

by sight

What you look like

by service

What have you done for me

by long memories of where you came from

The mistakes you’ve made

Your failures

Your labels

Your weaknesses

Your strengths

We don’t regard people according to the flesh even though we used to regard Christ by worldly standards but now know that was not accurate

Why don’t we regard according to the flesh?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This is in answer to WHY we no longer regard people according to the flesh

BECAUSE those in Christ are a new creation

In Christ you are not

What you look like

Or what you’ve done

What have you done for me

Or where you came from

Or the mistakes you’ve made

Your failures

Your labels

Your weaknesses

Your strengths

None of that defines you in Christ

English Standard Version Chapter 5

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

This idea of reconciliation is the idea of an exchange; an exchange that settles accounts

In this case (and almost all the cases where Paul uses it) it refers to the great exchange that leads to the great change

It is God that does the reconciling

But notice He also gives us the ministry (or service) of reconciliation

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

It is through Christ that God reconciled the World to himself

That is settled the account

English Standard Version Chapter 5

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We have a responsibility to be a representative for Christ

That is how God has chosen to advance this message; appealing through us

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.

The Gospel

It is through the power of the Gospel that we pay no regard according to the flesh