January 21, 2024
Pastor John Hering
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we came to this conclusion: One died for all; therefore, all died. 15 And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again.
16 As a result, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we knew Christ according to the flesh, we no longer know him that way. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come! 18 And all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us. We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Micah had to be careful that no one would catch him looking his computer. He was trying to concentrate on the work he was supposed to be doing, but he just couldn’t stop the thoughts from popping into his head. He just had to look. Problem was that he was looking way too often. Probably the 10th time he looked at it in the last hour. He just couldn’t wait to see. Where there any changes in the Dow Jones? Did his investments hit it big? I get why people can be obsessed with checking their investments so often. The thought of a happy, rich, and successful future consumes them.
That same morning in a house down the street Gabby got up and immediately grabbed her phone and headed to SnapChat. “What? Only 3 people?” She switched to Instagram. “Are you kidding me? Only 10 people liked my recent pic? I spent ten minutes trying to get that perfectly semi-scandalous pose right!” She switched to TikTok, but Gabby nearly threw her phone when she saw that only one person had viewed her video that she thought was hilarious. Gabby tried so hard. She posed and puckered her lips like everyone else. Gabby didn’t even know it was happening, but the thought of being cool and popular consumed her.
It happens quickly. Certain things in our lives reach the point that the compelling can become compulsive. All-consuming greed compels us to the point of compulsive thoughts about money. All-consuming obsession with their children can lead parents to become the most vengeful, spiteful helicopter parents you could ever imagine if any child, coach, or teacher should cross their perfect little angel of a child.
Do you ever stop to think about these kinds of things? Do you ever pause to ask yourself one really big question—What’s my motivation here? Why am I really checking my finances, sharing this on Facebook, driving my children, shouting at the umpire at a little league baseball game? Why am I so superficially nice to my coworkers but so secretly evil when I gossip about them? Why am I so convinced that I am 100% absolutely right about the election, about COVID, about you name it but all those people are morons and totally wrong? What’s my motivation here? Why do I do what I do? Today the Apostle Paul redirects our attention to a higher reason for the reason we do what we do.
Christ’s Love Compels Us
To Control our Life
If we actually take time to think through the choices that we make— the things that we think, say, post, share, do—how often might we be left feeling utterly embarrassed? How shameful that I let greed guide my life and control my life and even my gifts to God and his church! How awful that selfishness and pride lead me to argue with my spouse. How deplorable that my online presence is driven by a desire to prove others wrong, or to show I’m better than you. The fight with our sinful nature is so real, and so difficult. And oh, how often sin controls and compels us! But that’s why we’re here, friends. Church is not for putting on your Sunday best to fake it and pretend you’re doing OK. Here, in God’s own house, repentant sinners run to the cross. We run to Jesus for healing and help for every ounce our guilt and shame that we bear.
And to our surprise and utter joy, despite what I said or did or posted in the last few days, week after week we receive from our God what we least deserve—love. Not anger or wrath or punishment. Not death. Not even hell. But week after week we receive mercy and grace and forgiveness. Why? God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. And it is that love newly received each day and each week in worship that can fill our hearts to such a degree that it will control the way we live.
That’s what the apostle Paul told us: “14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we came to this conclusion: One died for all; therefore, all died. 15 And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again.” That’s it. Christ’s Love Compels Us! It controls our lives. It’s our motivation for everything we do. Why? Because we are convinced of something. We have come to know and believe that, “One died for all; therefore, all died.” In Christ we are dead to sin and alive in Christ who controls our hearts and lives. One person, Jesus Christ, as true God and true man who died as the perfect substitute and Savior for us is our control motivation. For our greed, our anger, pride, and selfishness. He took all of it onto himself to pay what we deserve and then rose to life to prove we have been given a new life and relationship with God forever. He did it for all. And so, ”And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again.” Christ’s love is so unending and life-changing that it becomes compelling—Life Changing to the point that we would now want to live for him instead of for ourselves. In Christ we get to be generous, protect the good reputation of others and help us to stop and thing, “Before I say this, 1) Is it true? 2) Is it kind? 3) Is it necessary? Yes, Christ motivates us to control our lives and
To Change Our Point of View
So, what does that look like? What does it look like to have Christ’s love compelling us to have Christlike love for God and for our neighbor? Paul tells us in the next verse, ”As a result, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.” This simply means we don’t regard others from a worldly point of view. So, how does the world look at others? What if we looked at people and didn’t automatically classify them as white or black or brown? What if we didn’t look at their clothing or cars and classify them as rich or poor or successes or failures? What if we didn’t look at people as someone we should argue with because they are pro-vaccine or anti-vax, or pro-Trump or pro-Biden, or Republican or Democrat? What if, in every situation at home or work or in public or private we regarded everyone from a spiritual point of view? What if we looked at them as human beings with souls that Christ purchased and bought back from the depths of hell when he died to pay for their sin too? Seem like a figment of your imagination? It’s not. We can and we will do this because Christ’s Love Compels Us.
Listen as Paul continues to describe the change: “17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come!” You have a completely new life in Jesus. Though we sin each day and each week, every sin is drowned in his blood. We are washed clean and wake each morning dressed in Christ’s love and forgiveness. We wear Christ as our robe of righteousness each day. The old stuff—the sin, the guilt, the death—it’s gone. The old has gone, and the new is here in Jesus.
And while this might seem impossible to us, we recognize it didn’t happen because of us. This is from God. Take a look: “18 And all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” All this change in my life is directly from God. He is the one who fixed everything. The fancy word for that is reconciled. To reconcile means to restore a relationship, like turning enemies into friends who are at peace. This is what God did. He reconciled us to himself through Christ. All of the sins and guilt that separated us from God has been taken away through Christ and his cross. Though you were once an enemy with God, you’ve been reconciled. You are a friend, a child, of God and now at peace with him.
And so, God has then in turn given us this ministry of reconciliation. We get to serve God and serve neighbor with that good news of reconciliation. We get to live in such a way and regard other people and serve other people in such a way that we love them just as God loved us. How can we do this? Why can we do this? Christ’s Love Compels Us! Christ’s love is so compelling that we don’t only serve others in love, but we also share the message of love. Take a look: “And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us.” Can you believe that? Christ loves me, Christ loves you so much that he didn’t only die and rise for us miserable sinners to give us a new life in him, but Christ also now sends us out as his own personal ambassadors. God himself chooses to go to work in us and through us every day.
What a privilege to be a “mini-Christ!” What a privilege that with a new life in Jesus, you get to redirect your life to live on behalf of Jesus. Other people get to see Christ’s love in the way you conduct yourself at work. Other people get to see Christ’s love in how you carefully choose your words and your posts on social media. Other people get to see Christ’s love in how you look for ways to use your financial blessings to serve the Lord. Other people get to look at your light shining, and can begin to understand the Light that shines in the darkness. Other people see your love and can begin to know God who is love. How can we do this? Why can we do this? Christ’s Love Compels Us to Change Our Point of View!
So, what would Paul have to say to such people, then and now, after writing such powerful words about love? Listen to verse 20: “We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” What a message! All of your sins Jesus took onto himself, and everything Jesus is and has done, he gave to you. You have a completely new life here and in heaven. So, Paul implores us, “Be reconciled to God.” Live what God has made you—a friend of God!
So, what if . . . What if this week, before you opened your computer to check your investments, you thought first about Christ’s love? What if before you pressed send on that email or text you thought first about Christ’s love? What if before you shared a post or reply or comment on Facebook or Instagram you thought first about Christ’s love? What if you paused before blowing up at your spouse or your children or your coworkers and you thought about Christ’s love? Seem impossible? It’s not. All this love is from God, and given to us in Christ who reconciled us. And so, dear friends, live in freedom and joy knowing that Christ’s Love Compels You to Control your Life and Change Your Point of View all to his glory. Amen.
