Live in Christ’s Victory
Sunday, March 19, 2023

2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Introduction
Because of Jesus Resurrection, I am a New Creation controlled by Love
I. New LOVE (v.14-16)
v.14 – “For the love of Christ controls us…” it is not our love to Christ that is in view here, but rather it is Christ’s love for us.
Controls - “to hold together” law upholding the state, God holding together the cosmos
“the example of Christ’s love controls our actions and leaves us no choice but to serve
God and you.” Murray J. Harris
“because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 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…”
In Christ believers experience not only death to sin but also resurrection to
righteousness. As a result, they are no longer to live for themselves, but for Him who
died and rose again on their behalf.
II. New CREATION (v.17)
v.17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”
‘new creation’ literally means “a new species of being, never before created”. You have
very literally become a brand-new creation, never before created. 
Greek word kainos, which means, “fresh, of a new kind, unused, unworn, unheard of”.
“and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24
“and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of
Him who created him…” Colossians 3:10

III. New MESSAGE (v.18-21)
v.18 – “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”
Reconciliation has to do with the relationships between God and man or man and man.
God reconciles the world to himself.

v.20 – “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
An ambassador is both a messenger for and a representative of the one who sent
him, and believers are messengers and representatives of the court of heaven. And just as an ambassador lives in a foreign land, so also do believers.
“Be reconciled to God” – Our new message!
“It is not so much reconcile yourselves as ‘be reconciled.’ Yield yourselves to him who
round you now the bands of a man would cast, drawing you with cords of love because
he was given for you...Submit yourselves. Yield to the grasp of those hands which were nailed to the cross for you.” C. Spurgeon
v.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.”

This is the heart of the gospel!