2 Corinthians 5:11-17

Intro:

There are a few events in life where you can call life changing

Getting your driver’s license is one of them

Graduating from college is another

Getting married to the love of your life

Becoming a parent was probably the most life altering

I still remember when Jen told me she was pregnant with Caleb

My life changed from that moment

I am a completely different person after being a dad for the last 18 years

Dennis Rainey says when you get married you lose half of your life, when you have children you lose the other half

Paul points out another life changing event today, when you receive Jesus

He describes it as the old life passing away, and you becoming a new creation

Because you are a new creation there is cause for confidence, you are controlled by love, and the old you has been replaced

Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Transition:

Paul had just announced the inevitable post-resurrection appointment for all of God’s children: “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” (v. 10).

And, as Paul voiced it, he himself felt its fearful weight on his own soul because as an apostle he would have to give a strict account at the judgment seat for how he lived out his apostolic calling.

I. Cause for Confidence vs. 11-13

Because you are a new creation you have cause for confidence

vs. 11 Clear Conscience

The first cause is your clear conscience

Paul was being accused of being crazy

How can the Christian prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ?

No doubt some of the enemies at Corinth were saying, “Just wait until Paul stands before the Lord!”

But Paul was not afraid, because he knew that his conscience was clear

To begin with, he must maintain a clear conscience

1 Tim 1:5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The truth about each one of us shall be revealed and Jesus Christ will commend us for those things that have pleased Him.

vs. 12 Character Counts

Second, we must take care not to depend on the praise of men

This verse relates to 2 Cor. 3:1, where Paul referred to the “letters of commendation” that the Judaizers prized so highly.

If we live only for the praise of men, we will not win the praise of God at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

To live for man’s praise is to exalt reputation over character, and it is character that will count when we see Christ.

Actually, the Corinthians should have commended Paul! Instead, they were “promoting” the Judaizers who gloried in appearance (see 2 Cor. 11:18), but were unspiritual in heart.

vs. 13 Ignore the Criticisms

Finally, we must ignore the criticisms of men

Paul’s enemies said that he was crazy. Paul said that he was “mad” when he was persecuting the church (Acts 26:11), but his enemies said he was “mad” since he had become a believer himself (Acts 26:24).

But people said that our Lord was mad, so Paul was in good company (see Mark 3:21).

“If I am mad,” Paul was saying, “it is for your good and the glory of God—so that makes it worthwhile!”

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

II. Controlled by Love vs. 14-15

Because you are a new creation you are controlled by love

How can such opposite emotions as fear and love dwell in the same heart?

Certainly they are found in the hearts of children who love their parents and yet respect them and their authority

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” (1 John 4:19).

He loved us when we were unlovely; in fact, He loved us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies

When He died on the cross, Christ proved His love for the world

vs. 14 He died that we might die

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

vs. 15 Live for Christ

This is the positive aspect of our identification with Christ: we not only died with Him, but we also were raised with Him that we might “walk in newness of life”

Because we have died with Christ, we can overcome sin; and because we live with Christ, we can bear fruit for God’s glory

Romans 6:10-12 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

He died that we might live through Him: “God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).

This is our experience of salvation, eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

But He also died that we might live for Him, and not live unto ourselves (2 Cor. 5:15).

This is our experience of service.

It has well been said, “Christ died our death for us that we might live His life for Him.”

If a lost sinner has been to the cross and been saved, how can he spend the rest of his life in selfishness?

Christ died that we might live through Him and for Him, and that we might live with Him.

III. The Old has Been Replaced vs. 16-17

Because you are a new creation the old has been reoplaced

vs. 16 Flesh is not a gauge

He also died that we might share in the new creation

Our new relationship to Christ has brought about a new relationship to the world and the people around us.

We no longer look at life the way we used to.

He also died that we might share in the new creation (2 Cor. 5:16–17).

Our new relationship to Christ has brought about a new relationship to the world and the people around us.

We no longer look at life the way we used to.

Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

Because “all things are become new,” we also have a new view of people around us.

We see them as sinners for whom Christ died.

We no longer see them as friends or enemies, customers or coworkers; we see them the way Christ sees them, as lost sheep who need a shepherd.

When you are constrained by the love of Christ, you want to share His love with others.

vs. 17 Old Replaced by the New

Eph 4:22-24 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.