2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. Verse 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! Verse 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; Verse 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. Verse 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Verse 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Devotion
This passage from Paul’s letter contains one of the most amazing statements in Scripture: “If any one is in Christ, she is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” It’s the verbs that are amazing – not what one might expect. It doesn’t say, “One may become a new creation, if they work hard enough,” nor does it say, “The old might eventually pass away for the really exceptional people.” No. It’s a done deal. This is unadulterated good news – intense gospel in purest form. And, as with most amazing things, we’re tempted to doubt it.
Prayer
God of surprises, as we hear these words describing who we are and what has come, nudge us past our doubt, to embrace the amazing world of being “in Christ” and to see these bizarre verbs as a mirror of reality. Amen.