Day 1,121: 2 Corinthians 5- Controlled By Love

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

​Meditation
The sovereign grace of God compels Christians to be controlled by Christ’s love for Christ’s service. John Calvin says, “Everyone who truly considers and ponders the wonderful love that Christ has shown us… cannot but be bound to Him by the tightest chain so as to devote themselves to His service.” (Calvin, Second Epistle of Paul, p 74). Love leads Christians to see all of life as service to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
Paul’s focus on the eternal realities include longing for our future body (1-5) and for eternity with Christ (6-10). Until these realities are fully realized, Christians walk by faith and not by sight (7). Walking by faith means the future promises of Christ form and fuel present service to Christ.
 
Paul persuades Christians (11) to embrace this new purpose. Jesus Christ died for us and, therefore, we live for Him. Christ’s love controls Christians to “no longer live for themselves but for Him who for (our) sake died and was raised” (14-15). New creation has come for those in Christ (17), so Christians are ambassadors for Christ, ministers of reconciliation (18-19). Jesus appeals to the world through His people that He has purchased.
 
The love of Christ controls the servants of Christ to communicate the hope of the work of Christ in a world hardened by sin: “The old has gone and the new has come!... Be reconciled to God!” And our message is sure: Christ became sin so we can become righteous (21), an objective fact anchoring our hope and compelling us into Christ’s service.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the purpose Christ has for the people He has purchased?
 
-Do you see all of life as an arena to engage with eternal realities of Christ, new creation coming, and an opportunity for people to be reconciled to God? What does this say about whether you are walking by faith or by sight?
 
-Are you controlled by Christ’s love, bound closely to Him in full service to Him? Take time to consider the amazing love of Christ and ask His Spirit to help you see all of life as service to Him.
 
Key Verse
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.