II Corinthians 5: 11-15
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,
The terror of the Lord, knowing that He is our Judge, is why we try to persuade people to believe the Gospel. We don't want them to be condemned.
but we are made manifest to God;
We are readily perceived by God, we are obvious and plain to His understanding of who we are, we have no secrets from Him.
and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
Paul wants to be seen by these brothers and sisters just as clearly and uncomplicated as God sees him.
We all should have this attitude of wanting to be known simply and clearly by those around us, as if we live in glass houses.
We are not again commending ourselves to you
We're not trying to boast to build ourselves up in your eyes.
but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
Paul is the example they can hold up in answer to those who only talk, but don't have the character to back it up.
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
If we seem crazy, God will sort us out; or if we are sane, it is for your benefit.
For the love of Christ controls us,
His Love in us constrains us from doing what would not be good for you.
having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
Because Jesus died for each one of us, it's as though we all died.
and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
This is the Good News, that Jesus is our Lamb of God, whose Blood has more than enough value to pay the sin-debt of every person who ever lived.
Now those who have been saved are no longer to live as though nothing happened to them spiritually, but to consider that they died with Christ on the Cross; and as He rose from the dead with a new Life, so they are to also live their lives as though they are risen from the old life to a brand-new life, with the Holy Spirit living in their spirits now, with the power and authority to live for the benefit of their Lord who bought them.
This is the picture we act out in Baptism. See my blog of June 5, 2019 for this explanation.
O my Father, please help us all to understand what You have done for us in Christ. Help us to take seriously what You have accomplished supernaturally in each one of us, causing us to be born into Your own family, as Your children. And now You are teaching us how to live as royal princes and princesses with the pure and noble character of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, teach us how to think Your thoughts, to have Your attitudes toward the things in our lives, to have the World-View You have, and to understand events according to Your Word.
Send out more workers into Your mission fields, Father; send each one of us to go at least once for a little while, to see what people in other areas face as they live their lives. Broadcast Your Word to every living person, using our mouths, our fingers, our hands and feet meeting their needs, showing them Your Love for them, too.
And may every lost sheep be brought into the safety and belonging of Your One Fold with One Shepherd. And all the rest will have no excuse.
And every eye shall see, every ear shall hear, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim in every language that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Sovereign King, to the glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever, Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
