Principles Of Paul’s Ministry (1:3-7:16)
The Defense Of The Ministry (2:14-7:4)
Reconciliation Through Christ (5:11-21)
The Apostolic Ministry, 5:11-6:10
LOVE: THE CHANGING POWER OF GOD'S
2CORINTHIANS 5:11-17
Reading: Ro. 8:35; Eph. 3:19 Col. 3:1-11
Songs: God Is Love; I Gave My Life for Thee
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A. Ask different people what they think of love and you will get different answers. Some speak of it as a ball and chain and others of freedom in love. As we read in the Bible of God's love, we come to see love controls, not in the sense of removing freedom but in the sense that godly love prohibits dishonoring the love.
B. Paul wrote about how he conducted his ministry with respect to the judgment. God’s love motivated him. Let's take a look at what Paul wrote to some of our brethren in the first century on the matter.
I. THE COMPELLING POWER OF GOD'S LOVE (5:11-15).
A. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ... (5:11; Psa 112:1-2).
11 Knowing <1492> (5761) therefore <3767> the terror <5401> of the Lord <2962>, we persuade <3982> (5719) men <444>; but <1161> we are made manifest <5319> (5769) unto God <2316>; and <1161> I trust <1679> (5719) also <2532> are made manifest <5319> (5771) in <1722> your <5216> consciences <4893>.
1. Knowing the penalty for sin (Rom 6:23a) and that for those who refuse obedience to the gospel that God can only deal with them from wrath (2Th 1:7-9); that is out of justice instead of mercy (Rom 11:22), Paul was motivated with all of his might to "persuade men" to flee from sin to mercy in Christ.
a. persuade, Strong’s - 3982. peiyw PEITHO pi’-tho; a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):— agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield
AV-persuade 22, trust 8, obey 7, have confidence 6, believe 3, be confident 2, misc 7; 55 1) persuade 1a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe 1b) to make friends of, to win one’s favour, gain one’s good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one 1c) to tranquillise 1d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something 2) be persuaded 2a) to be persuaded, to suffer one’s self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing 2a1) to believe 2a2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person 2b) to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with 3) to trust, have confidence, be confident
5719 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - IndicativeSee 5791
Count-3014
(1) Paul wanted to persuade people to understand through teaching the scriptures, the eternal consequences of dying, having failed to obey the gospel and to live faithfully (cp. Joh 3:36; Act 24:25).
(2) When you and I truly understand the terrors of the Lord's judgment (Act 17:30-31) directed toward those outside of him, we too will turn our lives toward directing people in obedience the gospel.
(a) Only through obedience to the gospel initially and continued faithfulness, will people be prepared to give a personal account to the Lord for the actions of their lives (Act 10:42; 2Co 5:10).
(b) An understanding of the "terror" of the Lord or the awful, threatening consequences of meeting God unprepared should bring soberness to our minds and induce us to become evangelistic (1Ti 4:16).
(3) God is a merciful God but his love is such that he will also chastise those who do not live in such a way as to receive his mercy (Rom 11:22; 2Th 1:6).
b. In addition to teaching with words, we must not forget our godly example (cp. 1Co 9:19-23).
2. In this then, we should realize that God’s love should not only that is not the only thing that motivates us toward evangelism. God’s love should also motivate us follow closely to him in obedience.
B. "the love of Christ constraineth us ..." (5:12-14).
12 ¶ For <1063> we commend <4921> (5719) not <3756> ourselves <1438> again <3825> unto you <5213>, but <235> give <1325> (5723) you <5213> occasion <874> to glory <2745> on <5228> <0> our <2257> behalf <5228>, that <2443> ye may have <2192> (5725) somewhat to <4314> answer them which glory <2744> (5740) in <1722> appearance <4383>, and <2532> not <3756> in heart <2588>. {in appearance: Gr. in the face}
13 For <1063> whether <1535> we be beside ourselves <1839> (5627), it is to God <2316>: or whether <1535> we be sober <4993> (5719), it is for your cause <5213>.
1. False teachers at Corinth were glorying in their personal appearance.
Paul pointed out that whether he and his companions in the gospel seemed out of mind (cp. Act 26:24-25) in their zeal for the gospel or otherwise, (vs 12-13).
14 For <1063> the love <26> of Christ <5547> constraineth <4912> (5719) us <2248>; because we thus <5124> judge <2919> (5660), that <3754> if <1487> one <1520> died <599> (5627) for <5228> all <3956>, then <686> were <599> <0> all <3956> dead <599> (5627):
15 And <2532> that he died <599> (5627) for <5228> all <3956> ...
2. Paul emphasized the impact that God’s love had on him (Joh 3:16; Rom 5:8).
a. constraineth, Strong’s - 4912. sunecw SUNECHO soon-ekh’-o; from 4862 and 2192; to hold together, i.e. to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy:— constrain, hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng
AV-be taken with 3, throng 1, straiten 1, keep in 1, hold 1, stop 1, press 1, lie sick of 1, constrain 1, be in a strait 1; 12 1) to hold together 1a) any whole, lest it fall to pieces or something fall away from it 2) to hold together with constraint, to compress 2a) to press together with the hand 2a) to hold one’s ears, to shut the heavens that it may not rain 2b) to press on every side 2b1) of a besieged city 2b2) of a strait, that forces a ship into a narrow channel 2b3) of a cattle squeeze, that pushing in on each side, forcing the beast into a position where it cannot move so the farmer can administer medication 3) to hold completely 3a) to hold fast 3a1) of a prisoner 3b) metaph. 3b1) to be held by, closely occupied with any business 3b2) in teaching the word 3b3) to constrain, oppress, of ills laying hold of one and distressing him 3b4) to be held with, afflicted with, suffering from 3b5) to urge, impel 3b51) of the soul
5719 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - IndicativeSee 5791
Count-3014
b. If one word could describe God's love for us through Jesus it would have to be “selfless” (vs 15a).
Transition: In dying he did not dy for his own deeds. In dying, he dead for our deeds that we might live to him.
II. THE CONFORMING POWER OF GOD'S LOVE (5:15b-16).
A. "... that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him ..." (5:15b-d).
15 ... that <2443> they which live <2198> (5723) should <2198> <0> not henceforth <3371> live <2198> (5725) unto themselves <1438>, but <235> unto him which died <599> (5631) for <5228> them <846>, and <2532> rose again <1453> (5685).
1. Understanding the greatness of God's love for us should encourage us to put aside living to serve our own personal desires of our flesh in order to service God with our lives (cf: Mat 16:24; Rom 6:2; 14:8; Gal 2:19; Php 1:21; 1Th 5:10.1Jo 2:15-16).
a. As we come to understand the greatness of God's love toward us, it should result in great changes in our attitudes about living, we start giving our lives to God in loving service to him.
b. The Bible informs us, that the test of our love for God is obedience toward his word (Joh 14:15, 21-23; Heb 6:9; 1Pe 1:22; Jam 1:22).
2. As we consider the demonstration of God's love toward us, we are constrained or urged by it to die to our desires and struggle against sin, putting away our old selfish attitudes (Luk 6:46-49; Rom 6:1-6).
3. One of the changes we make is in our attitude toward people.
B. "henceforth know we no man after the flesh" (5:16).
16 ¶ Wherefore <5620> henceforth <575> <3568> know <1492> (5758) we <2249> no man <3762> after <2596> the flesh <4561>: yea <1161>, though <1499> we have known <1097> (5758) Christ <5547> after <2596> the flesh <4561>, yet <235> now <3568> henceforth <3765> <0> know we <1097> (5719) him no more <3765>.
1. "Wherefore" joined the previous thought of no longer living unto ourselves, but unto Jesus with the thought of no longer viewing people on the bases of physical appearance.
a. Paul’s used of the phrase “after the flesh” or “in the flesh” to portray various ideas (cf. Rom 7:5-6; 9:8; 1Co 10:18; 2 Cor. 11:18, 22).
(1) In the context of our passage he referred to an unconverted view of Christ.
(2) In answering the unbelieving Jews who "...glory in appearance, and not in heart" (v 12) Paul mentioned that he who once had an inaccurate view of Jesus, no long viewed Jesus any more after the flesh.
b. Paul ceased to make superficial judgments about people based on their appearance (v 12), and started to regard people only on the basis on their spiritual status - saved or lost (Rom 2:28-29; 1Co 5:12-13; Gal 3:28; 6:10; Eph 2:11-22; Col 3:11).
c. Just as God shows no partiality or favoritism (Acts 10:34-35; Ro. 2:11) so we in Christ are not to deal with people partially or out of personal favoritism.
d. We no longer view people according to skin color, wealth, sex, education or politics.
2. Similarly, Paul repudiated his original, erroneous, superficial view he had as a Jew, of Jesus and as a Christian, Paul viewed Jesus with a spiritual mind, as the Christ.
Transition: In essence Christians become new people in Christ.
III. THE CHANGING POWER OF GOD'S LOVE (5:17).
His love transforms us.
A. " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: ..." (5:17a; cp. Gal 6:15)
17 Therefore <5620> if any man <1536> be in <1722> Christ <5547>, he is a new <2537> creature <2937>: old things <744> are passed away <3928> (5627); behold <2400> (5628), all things <3956> are become <1096> (5754) new <2537>. {he is: or, let him be}
1. The Bible is explicit as to how to get into (Gal 3:27) Christ, so there should be no question about the need to be baptized in his name for remission of sins (Act 2:38).
2. Where difficulty arises is with the life expected of those in Christ.
a. new, Strong’s - 2537. kainov KAINOS kahee-nos’; of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while 3501 is properly so with respect to age:— new
AV-new 44; 44 1) new 1a) as respects form 1a1) recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn 1b) as respects substance 1b1) of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of
For Synonyms see entry 5852 & 5935
b. When the gospel was taken to Corinth, many heard it, believed and were baptized (Act 18:8).
c. Paul wrote that those baptized into Christ were baptized into his death and raised to live a new life (Rom 6:3-6).
(1) If that does not occur, we will be in danger of God’s wrath (1Co 9:24-27).
(2) To the Colossians Paul wrote, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col 3:10; also Eph 4:24).
(3) This necessitates a change in our lives, from living sinfully to living righteously (Col 3:5-9).
(4) This is the point Paul was trying to make.
(5) It Christ we’re directed to give up our old way of living and to develop into the image of Christ (Col. 3:9-10).
B. "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," 5:17b.
1. Repentance is a change of will, brought about by godly sorrow and followed by transformation in our lives (Mat 21:28-29; Luk 3:8-14; 24:46-48; 2Co 7:8-10); Old motives, aims, and views are to be changed in order to live the new life in Christ.
2. The influence of the gospel results in new view and purpose for our lives!
3. We now view life through our obedience to Christ.
Conclusion:
Does God’s love compel, control and change you?
Sources:
3. pages, 351-353
8. page 39
9. Vol. 40, No. 15, April 12, 1991, pages 1-3
10. 2Co. 5:14-17
David P. Brown, DID PAUL KNOW CHRIST "IN THE FLESH" (i.e., PERSONALLY, WHILE HE WAS UPON THE EARTH)? (2 Cor. 5:16) , DIFFICULT PASSAGES IN 2 CORINTHIANS, NO. 2, STUDIES IN 2 CORINTHIANS, THE EIGHTH (1989) ANNUAL DENTON LECTURES, Dub McClish - editor, Valid Publications, Inc., Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, Texas 76201
in charity through Christ, Ra y mo nd Wi s e man