29. READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-21
[2 Corinthians 5:11] "Since, then, we know what it is
to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to
God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. [12] We are
not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an
opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who
take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
[13] If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we
are in our right mind, it is for you. [14] For Christ's love
compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and
therefore all died. [15] And He died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for Him Who died for them
and was raised again.
[16] "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly
point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so
no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [18] All this is from
God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world
to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.
And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We
are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making
His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be
reconciled to God. [21] God made Him Who had no sin to be sin [or,
"be a sin offering"] for us, so that in Him we might
become the righteousness of God."
