No longer live for ourselves11Because we know what it means to live in fear of the Lord, not wanting to displease Him in any way, we do all we can to persuade others to believe the truth of the gospel. God knows this is our intention and I trust you also realise this.12We are not trying to promote ourselves again, but we do want you to be proud about what we are doing. Then you will have a ready answer for those who are interested in what the world offers, instead of being concerned about the condition of their hearts before God.13We are only being faithful to God in what we do, even if it appears to some that we are out of our minds. We are actually in our right minds, and so you are able to benefit.14It is our love for Christ that compels us to action.15But if He died for all it means that those of us who have received His risen life should no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who died and was raised again for us!16So from this point onwards we will not assess anyone by worldly standards. We used to have a very worldly view of Christ, but that is no longer the case.17Now we are sure that if anyone is in Christ, made one with Him by their faith in Him, then that person is a new creation. The old person he was has died, is buried and finished with – gone forever. Now he has become a new person.Message of reconciliation18All this is entirely the work of God Himself. He alone could reconcile us with Himself, and He has done this through Christ. This is why He has now given us the ministry of reconciliation, to see others made one with Him in His love.19In Christ, God was doing all that was necessary to reconcile the whole world to Himself, a reconciliation that can only take place when men's sins are forgiven and God no longer regards them as guilty.20This means we are Christ's ambassadors; He reaches out to others through us. This is why we beg on Christ's behalf that all of you be reconciled to God, so that you live at one with Him.21Look at what it cost God to make this possible! He caused His perfect Son, who was sinless, to take all our sin upon Himself. He suffered the punishment for sin that we deserve, so that now we might become those who live in right standing with God!
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)