2 Corinthians 5:16-21
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, the new creation has come: [a] The old has gone, the new is here!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 people’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[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Have you ever experienced a fresh start—like starting a new job, moving to a new city, or entering a new season of life? It’s exhilarating, full of possibility, and leaves the past behind. But imagine a fresh start that goes even deeper than your circumstances—a transformation at the very core of who you are.
This is what Paul is describing in 2 Corinthians 5. When we are in Christ, we are not merely given a clean slate; we are made new. Our old self, burdened by sin and failure, is gone. The new self, forgiven and empowered by God’s grace, has come. This is the essence of the gospel: a radical, heart-changing transformation that only Christ can bring.
In this new identity, we are also entrusted with something extraordinary—the ministry of reconciliation. God, through Jesus, has reconciled the world to Himself, no longer counting our sins against us. But the story doesn’t end there. We, as His followers, are now ambassadors of that reconciliation, called to share the message of God’s grace and invite others into this life-changing relationship with Him.
We as believers have been given an incredible responsibility. Every word we speak, every action we take, we are a representative of Christ and His love to the world. This is why it is important to lean into this transformation and reconciliation being offered by the Spirit of God. If we say we are followers of God, then we represent Christ with everything, not just when we feel like it. This is a beautiful responsibility as we participate with Christ as co-creators in bringing the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the transformative work of your Spirit. I pray that you would continue to do good work in and through me as I continue to live out your call for my life. I thank you for the incredible responsibility of being an ambassador of your kingdom, and I pray that I would represent your kingdom well in all that I do. I thank you for your Love and your Grace. Amen
Blessings,
Pastor Lake
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