Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul emphasized that the gospel team spared no effort to preach the gospel to the Corinthians as Christ’s ambassadors. It is his prayer and earnest hope that the Word will find fertile ground in their hearts. It is his desire that the Corinthians would be established in the faith. The fruitful heart is good ground, good soil. The heart is basically sinful. The heart that is sanctified by God’s grace, produces fruit.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
The benefit of the Christian faith needs to be explained. This is God’s only way of salvation for mankind. William MacDonald said well, “Paul is not here telling the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. They are already believers in the Lord Jesus. But he is telling the Corinthians that this is the message which he preaches to the unsaved wherever he goes.”
It is a great privilege that God bestows upon us to share the word of reconciliation in the Gospel of Christ. The Apostle Paul speaks of this privilege.
The late Pastor Dr Martyn Lloyn-Jones made this observation concerning the times. We are living in these last times, the last of the last days, the last hour of human history before Jesus would come as Judge, no more as a Lamb, but the Lion from the tribe of Judah, he said, “There is no more urgent question for this present time than just this: What is Christianity? I say that because the gospel is the only hope in the world today. Everything else has been tried and found wanting. Everything else has failed. You will not find hope with the philosophers or with the statesmen, and you will not find it in the so-called religion. Here is hope and here alone.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
It is a great mystery of God’s working to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Realizing how great God is, He orders all things by His wisdom and infinite power to bring to pass the happenings in our lives. The most important is to know Him and to experience His love. He has our interest at heart and fulfils it for His children to see. What infinite wisdom! Incomprehensible, immensely good is He, our God. We are called to count our blessings and share our blessings.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
William MacDonald said well what this verse does not mean, “This verse is a favourite with those who have recently been born again, and is often quoted in personal testimonies. Sometimes in being thus quoted, it gives quite a false impression. Listeners are apt to think that when a man is saved, old habits, evil thoughts, and lustful looks are forever done away, and everything becomes literally new in a person’s life. We know that this is not true. The verse does not describe a believer’s practice but rather his position. Notice it says that if anyone is in Christ. The words in Christ are the key to the passage. In Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new. Unfortunately, “in me” not all this is true as yet! But as I progress in the Christian life, I desire that my practice may increasingly correspond to my position. One day, when the Lord Jesus returns, the two will be in perfect agreement.”
2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
After we become the children of God, with the indwelling Spirit of Christ and the Word of God to guide us, we see men as souls in the light of eternity. Whether they will perish eternally without Christ or will they enjoy life with Christ in this present life. Our knowledge of Christ is not merely enjoying His humanity, One who wrought miracles and comfort the lost with the Word of God. But Christ who died upon the cross for our sins, rose the third day and ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father. We know Him now in His exalted position.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live not for ourselves. Be not self-centred, selfish, motivated for self-interest. But live for Jesus, the One who bought us with His life. Jesus’ life was lived in obedience to the will of His Father. He was obedient even unto death, the death on the cross. His obedience purchased our redemption. Because of our Lord’s willing sacrifice, we are given spiritual life. We shall escape the wrath of hell-fire.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
It is Christ’s love that is imparted to us giving us the capacity to love others. The Apostle Paul himself was a blasphemer. He persecuted Christians. Indeed, if Christ has not had compassion on him, he would have perished eternally. He was turned around by the blinding that came to Him when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He was subsequently healed of his blindness. He was grateful for being connected with His Creator and Sustainer and Saviour. He experienced the peace, love and joy of God imparted to his heart. He testified in Romans 5:1-2, 5b-8, 11 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God… because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
The zeal of the Apostle Paul and his mission team was misconstrued, they were branded falsely as being insane. Their zealousness was for the service of God and for the well-being of the believers in Corinth. They were passionate and fully devoted to the cause of God. This is not the first instance that he was charged with madness, Festus said the same in Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
2 Corinthians 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
The Apostle Paul is not involved in any self-praise. Rather, he wanted to ensure that he defend the authenticity of his ministry. Being attacked, he sought to defend his position as God’s servant. William MacDonald said well, “He wanted the believers to know how to answer these attacks on him, and so he was giving them this information that they might be able to defend him when he was condemned in their presence.”