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Today’s Theme for Prayer – God Desires to Forgive Me
Deeper Sense of His Mercy for Me
2 Cor 5:16-21
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Grace Prayed For
Pray for boldness to be an ambassador for Christ: Ask for the courage and compassion to share the message of reconciliation with others, inviting them to experience the same transformative love that you have received.
No Longer According to the Flesh: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
This passage in 2 Corinthians unveils a profound truth about our identity in Christ and the transformative power of His love. It’s a call to see ourselves and others through the lens of grace, recognizing the radical newness that He brings.
“From now on we regard no one according to the flesh.” This statement marks a decisive shift in perspective. We are no longer to judge or define others based on outward appearances, social status, or past actions. Instead, we are to see them through the eyes of Christ, recognizing the potential for transformation and new life that resides in each person.
This shift applies even to our perception of Jesus himself. “Even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.” We move beyond a merely human understanding of Jesus to a deeper recognition of His divine nature and His redemptive work in our lives.
The heart of this passage lies in the declaration: “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” This speaks of a radical transformation, a complete rebirth. Our old selves, with our failings and imperfections, are gone. In their place, we are made new, clothed in Christ’s righteousness and empowered by His Spirit.
This new creation is not our own doing but a gift from God. “And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ.” Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, the barrier of sin that separated us from God has been removed. We are brought back into right relationship with Him, reconciled and restored to His love.
But this reconciliation is not just for us to enjoy privately. We are given the “ministry of reconciliation,” entrusted with the message of God’s love and forgiveness for the whole world. “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.” We become His representatives, His messengers of grace, inviting others to experience the same transformative power that has changed our own lives.
The passage concludes with a powerful reminder of the cost of our reconciliation: “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus, who was perfectly sinless, took on the burden of our sin, becoming a sacrifice in our place. Through His death, we are made righteous in God’s sight, clothed in His perfection and declared blameless.
This passage invites us to embrace the fullness of our new identity in Christ. It calls us to see ourselves and others through the lens of grace, recognizing the transformative power of His love. It challenges us to become ambassadors of reconciliation, sharing the good news of His forgiveness with a world in desperate need of hope. As we live out this calling, we experience the intimacy of walking hand-in-hand with Jesus, participating in His redemptive work and bringing His love to a broken world.
Growing in Intimacy with Jesus
Moving beyond the physical: “We regard no one according to the flesh… even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.” This encourages you to move beyond a limited, earthly understanding of Jesus. As you encounter Him through Scripture, prayer, and the experiences of His Spirit, you gain a deeper appreciation of His divine nature and His work in your life. This expanded vision fosters intimacy.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post