2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Paul earnestly desired the heavenly glory (v. 2) but while waiting for it he did his utmost just as earnestly to be pleasing to the Lord (v. 9). Having nothing to hide either from God or men (v. 11), he no longer lived for himself; body and soul, he was the slave of Christ who had died and been raised for him (v. 15). Now the Lord had called him – as He does each redeemed one – to a very high office: that of ambassador of the sovereign God with the aim of offering reconciliation to the world on His behalf. In order to carry out this mission and persuade men, two great driving forces pressed upon the beloved apostle: the awfulness of judgment: he knew how much the Lord is to be feared (v. 11); and the love of Christ for souls, a love without which the most eloquent preacher is merely sounding brass (v. 14; 1 Corinthians 13:1).
Of what then does the message of reconciliation consist? Christ, the only man without sin, has been identified on the cross with sin itself in order to pay the penalty for it. By that act God has graciously cancelled the sin which separated us from Himself (v. 21). "Old things are passed away". God does not repair them. He delights in making "all things new"; yes, in making you too a new creation (v. 17). But first of all, are you reconciled to Him?