" A New Creation"

2 Corinthians 5: 16-21

March 17/ 18, 2007

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Not seeing them by worldly criteria

-not by looks, wealth, education

-not as tools to be used by us

-these are the worlds way

Paul says he once regarded Christ this way.

-worldly way, failure, blasphemous

How do we regard Christ? What do our actions say? Lord? Or someone to use?

-ATM or the one you owe your life?

-When do you come to church?

-How often? On time? Gratefully?

Take time out here. What do we look like?

If we are reflected in the clear mirror of the law, we are sin stained and rebellious.

This separates us from God, condemns us.

But God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ. In Christ we are new creations. We are the righteousness of God.

This is all building on the fact that Jesus died in our place, taking all sin on Himself and giving us His perfection before God.

Jesus’ work of reconciliation give God a new view of us so to speak. When He regards us through according to the Gospel, He sees us not in the mirror of the law but through the window of the cross.

Think of it this way, our sin leaves it red stains on us, whether we see them or know of them or not. The cross is a window, a stained glass window, the color of Jesus cleansing blood. God looks through it and sees only us, not the red stain of sin. That stays on the cross.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

All of this is contained in the "therefore" in the first verse.

Since God views us through the cross, don’t view anyone by worldly standards. See them through the cross of Christ.

Here note the order, it is very important. It is because God has made you a new creation in Christ, see others as God sees them.

It is not see them this way so He will see you

Nothing is added to what Christ has done.

"Creation" is a significant choice of words. Creation was from nothing and by the power of God’s Word. So it is with us as new creations.

-We add nothing, Christ provides all.

-God works the miracle by His Word

God works this miracle in us and we respond by living as a new creation regarding no one according to the flesh but serving as God’s ambassadors of reconciliation.

We are here to deliver God’s message of reconciliation to all around us, family, neighbors, community, nation and world.

This message is spoken and lived. God has reconciled us to Himself, this is the source of peace and the message of peace we have to share.

May it give you the peace that passes all understanding . . . .

SDG