2 Cor. 5:5-6:2 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight--we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, that you may have an answer for those who take pride in appearance, and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but fo Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU"; behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--
1. v.7 - Our journey here on planet earth is a FAITH walk. Heb. 11:1,6 ; Rom. 10:17
Faith people ..{a} live from the inside out - not the outside in. {b} they care less of image - and more for integrity. {c} status go - not- status quo ...
2. v.9 - Our passion should be to PLEASE GOD. We have been called to live holy life's.
The bible teaches thru-out that we are to be holy as Christ is holy.
3. v.14 - Our motivation to share Christ with others is___________. " LOVE "
Our ability to reflect and release "agape" love is based on whether we have received GOD's love.
I can't give what I ain't got. Once I have it - I can give.
** We do not share Christ out of guilt ... to compete ... to compare ... to criticize ... Rom. 12:3 -
we share Christ out of love ! ! ! the love of Christ motivates, compels, drives...
4. v.20 - We are ambassadors for God ! We are to share the message of reconciliation. If we know HIM, we are to show HIM. Rom. 1:14-16 .... eager, under obligation, not ashamed... We are not given options. We have been commanded. I have heard people say at times ..God has been convicting me about sharing my faith.....I do not believe that God convicts where God has commanded. It's like this - husbands love your wifes. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do not provoke your children to anger. Go into all the world and make disciples. Study to show yourself approved.
? How do you minister or share the message of reconciliation ?
teach, mercy, helps, hospitality, caring, sharing, evangelism,.... If you hang out with a person who is strong in the area of evangelism, and that is not a strength - the guilt. |
