(no subject)
So...I'm quickly deciding that 2 Corinthians is one of those books that I love because it challenges and encourages all at once...I can't even begin to say how much I feel like I'm learning about what living for Christ really is and involves...and how far short I fall from where I should be. We're still in 2 Corinthians 5...I'm thinking of just typing out this chapter at least and posting it somewhere as a reminder for me. I just want to post the section of the chapter we're in now...it's worth taking time to read!
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 is talking about while on earth our spirits groan because we long to be in Heaven with Christ and that we know that once we die here we'll be with Jesus. With that in mind, here's verses 9-17.
2 Corinthians 5:9-17
9. Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15. and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
16. 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.
17. Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Pastor explained this passage wonderfully! Verses 11-13 are more Paul's response to those in the church attacking his authority as an apostle and his credibility. Then vv. 14-17 is saying that the love Christ has for all of us is that He died for all, and we were all dead, but those of us who have found life through Him now should be living for Him and not themselves because He died and rose for us because of His love. Then v. 16 (which is kinda confusing) Pastor was saying that "according to the flesh" is a phrase that can also be translated "according to human standards"...which now makes this verse so much clearer. Before we know of Christ according to human standards...once we're born again we don't know Him that way anymore...then we know Him as our Lord and Savior. And the 1st part of the verse makes sense too...we don't see people according to human standards, but as people that Jesus also died for and loves. And then v. 17 just flows right after saying that because of being born again God has made us new creatures! Because of the fear of God (all who are born again will stand before the judgment seat of Christ vv. 9-11) and because of the love of Christ (He died and rose again for us vv. 14-16) we should be living every day working to be pleasing to the One who has saved us and loves us and the One we are accountable to and will answer to one day.
And as Paul says it should...these things are changing the way I think and act...I still have so far to go...but it's something I've been working on and learning so much about lately! I just want to share it because I'm excited about it even though I know I still have so much work to do!
I know I wasn't gonna get into all of this...but I can't help it! This is such an amazing book...I've come to absolutely love the book of 2 Corinthians! God is so good to have given us His Word. I have so much still to learn and grow...but I love that every time I open His Word I learn something new!
Even when I have a bad day and just want to cry...God is good and sends me just what I need to hear to fix my attitude and also encourage me. God is good. God is faithful. God is truth. God is love. God is my Heavenly Father who has saved me from my sins and the punishment I deserve and adopted me as His own to a future I don't deserve and could never deserve even if I tried to work for it. My Father holds me in the palm of His hand and never lets go. My Father helps me up when I fall...again and again. My Father corrects me when I'm wrong, carries me when I'm weak, walks beside me every day, and loves me no matter what.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 is talking about while on earth our spirits groan because we long to be in Heaven with Christ and that we know that once we die here we'll be with Jesus. With that in mind, here's verses 9-17.
2 Corinthians 5:9-17
9. Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15. and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
16. 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.
17. Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Pastor explained this passage wonderfully! Verses 11-13 are more Paul's response to those in the church attacking his authority as an apostle and his credibility. Then vv. 14-17 is saying that the love Christ has for all of us is that He died for all, and we were all dead, but those of us who have found life through Him now should be living for Him and not themselves because He died and rose for us because of His love. Then v. 16 (which is kinda confusing) Pastor was saying that "according to the flesh" is a phrase that can also be translated "according to human standards"...which now makes this verse so much clearer. Before we know of Christ according to human standards...once we're born again we don't know Him that way anymore...then we know Him as our Lord and Savior. And the 1st part of the verse makes sense too...we don't see people according to human standards, but as people that Jesus also died for and loves. And then v. 17 just flows right after saying that because of being born again God has made us new creatures! Because of the fear of God (all who are born again will stand before the judgment seat of Christ vv. 9-11) and because of the love of Christ (He died and rose again for us vv. 14-16) we should be living every day working to be pleasing to the One who has saved us and loves us and the One we are accountable to and will answer to one day.
And as Paul says it should...these things are changing the way I think and act...I still have so far to go...but it's something I've been working on and learning so much about lately! I just want to share it because I'm excited about it even though I know I still have so much work to do!
I know I wasn't gonna get into all of this...but I can't help it! This is such an amazing book...I've come to absolutely love the book of 2 Corinthians! God is so good to have given us His Word. I have so much still to learn and grow...but I love that every time I open His Word I learn something new!
Even when I have a bad day and just want to cry...God is good and sends me just what I need to hear to fix my attitude and also encourage me. God is good. God is faithful. God is truth. God is love. God is my Heavenly Father who has saved me from my sins and the punishment I deserve and adopted me as His own to a future I don't deserve and could never deserve even if I tried to work for it. My Father holds me in the palm of His hand and never lets go. My Father helps me up when I fall...again and again. My Father corrects me when I'm wrong, carries me when I'm weak, walks beside me every day, and loves me no matter what.