Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” —2 Corinthians 5:18
Jim Elliot was a missionary to tribal people and died as a young man, speared by the very people he was seeking to bring to Jesus. He wrote in one of his journals:
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
Paul wrote of a similar sentiment to the church at Corinth. When he said, “We make it our aim to please him,” Paul was expressing that he lives his entire life in light of a hope that his actions will bring delight to God each day. He also understood that pleasing God meant fleshing out the “ministry of reconciliation” in “persuading” others to know the living God. He said, “the love of Christ controls us,” and we are “ambassadors for Christ,” thus God is “making his appeal through us.”
If you have ever been mocked for sharing your faith, you should be pleased to know that you are not only in the company of Paul (v.13), but also of Jesus (Mark 3:21, John 10:20). Both gave us extraordinary examples of what it looks like to confront the lost with a sense of urgency, or, to stand as a fork in the road.
The statement, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God,” is indicative of a crisis proclamation, or a DTR moment (Define The Relationship). Paul is no milepost on a single road, but a fork, passionately pointing others to the narrow road that leads to life. He is not afraid to challenge people to know God because he is obsessed more by the love of Christ than he is by the fear of man. Billy Graham echoed, “A crisis man—isn’t that a tremendous thought—that when a person meets you, they are faced with making a decision one way or the other concerning Christ in you?”
Paul concludes the chapter with the most important aspect of reconciliation, that God “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” In other words, God the Father made Christ to be regarded and treated as “sin” even though Christ himself had never sinned (Hebrews 4:15; Galatians 3:13). Because He bore our sins on the cross, believers now have a legal status of “righteousness” that comes from the Christ who “knew no sin.” God is the one who reconciles, but He has bestowed upon us the ministry of fleshing out and sharing our witness with others. Where will you be a fork in the road this week?
PRAYER
God, thank you for the righteousness that comes to us through your Son, Jesus. He alone has carried all of our sins and imputed unto us the legal status of being justified in your presence. May this good and unmerited grace that has brought us into a right union with you also constrain us to be a fork in the road for others. We thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to do this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- Why did Paul try to persuade others to follow Christ? (2 Corinthians 5:11)
- Why was Paul concerned about justifying his ministry to the Christians at Corinth? (v.12)
- What motivated Paul? (v.14) How did Paul change the way he looked at people? (v.16)
- What is true about every person in Christ? (v.17)
- How is a Christian an ambassador? (v.20)
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