We Make It Our Goal To Please Him, Ron Ward
NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST
Passage: 2Corinthians 5:16~21  
Key verse: 17
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(A) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(B) the new creation(C) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(D) 18 All this is from God,(E) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(F) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(G) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(H) as though God were making his appeal through us.(I) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(J) 21 God made him who had no sin(K) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(L)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 : 2Co 10:4; 11:18
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 : S Ro 16:3
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 : S Jn 1:13; S Ro 6:4; Gal 6:15
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 : Isa 65:17; Rev 21:4, 5
- 2 Corinthians 5:18 : S Ro 11:36
- 2 Corinthians 5:18 : S Ro 5:10
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 : S Ro 4:8
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 : 2Co 6:1; Eph 6:20
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 : ver 18
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 : Isa 27:5
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 : Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Pe 2:22, 24; 1Jn 3:5
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 : S Ro 1:17; S 1Co 1:30
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. A changed viewpoint (6-17)
When we invite Christ into our lives he changes us. Becoming a new creation changes the way we look at others, at ourselves and at Christ.
2. Reconciled to God through Christ (18-19a)
The change is not superficial. We were enemies of God, sinners living in rebellion against God. But Christ came and took our sins and died on the cross so that we might be righteous and have peace with God. This is the key to having peace with men.
3. The ministry of reconciliation (19b-21)
God made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might have God's peace and be God's righteous people in the world. He made us Christ's ambassadors. That is, he entrusted us with the task of bringing Jesus to the world, and the world to Jesus. This is the ministry of reconciliation. God wants all the world to be reconciled to himself, so that he may restore all things and bless all people.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your peace. Help me to bring others to you by sharing Jesus with them.
One Word: A new creation; an ambassador for Christ