Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  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. 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.

Do you feel like a new creation this morning?

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That may feel like a loaded question – I’m trying to channel my inner Paul.  This letter he wrote to the church of Corinth was part of a series of check-ins meant for an embattled community.  Even though we’re reading Second Corinthians, this is the fourth letter he sent them (sadly, two of his letters are lost).  The reason Paul was continually concerned with the church in Corinth was because they were weak, precarious, and threatened.  Corinth was a place of idolatry and immorality, and false teachers were twisting the words of his previous messages.

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First Corinthians provided the church direct feedback about moral issues and answered questions about sex and marriage.  This resulted in false teachers sowing seeds of doubt, denying Paul’s authority and smearing his name. He responded with this intensely personal letter that sought to defend his position, decry the naysayers, and point people to the truth.

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And so, we come to today’s passage in chapter five where Paul describes the ministry of reconciliation and calls believers “new creations”.  I’ll go back to my original question: do you feel like a new creation?  He doesn’t say you are reformed.  He does not say you are rehabilitated or that you are an improved version of yourself.  He claims you are a new creation, that the Holy Spirit has given you new life, and that you are remade on the inside.

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Why would God do that?

Well, our prideful, sin-saturated nature separates us from him.  We cannot convene with a spotless, righteous God as wretched servants of the enemy.  God desires a relationship with you and me, and that is impossible while we are slaves to sin.  In order to fellowship with God, we must be reborn – the old must go, the new must come.  And he makes this possible via reconciliation through Christ.  Through Jesus’ sacrifice, he reconciled us to God so that we could be forgiven.  There is nothing we could do to make this happen – God came rushing to our aid.

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Jerry Bridges has a great quote on this:

“God did not wait for a change of heart on our part. He made the first move. Indeed, He did more than that. He did all that was necessary to secure our reconciliation, including our change of heart. Even though He is the One offended by our sin, He is the One who makes amends to Himself through the death of Christ.”
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It is only through reconciliation that we can be made into new creations.  But perhaps you’re wondering about times we stumble even after being born again.  Can God’s reconciliation ever be undone by our sin?  Are we at risk of becoming untethered from God’s grace?

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No. Christ accomplished reconciliation on our behalf so we cannot break it.  There’s nothing you or I can do to ruin reconciliation. There are times when we may disobey or go astray, but our new selves are no longer in league with the enemy.  Our new selves hate the sin that can still influence us – we take no joy in it.

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And what of that last part of today’s passage about being Christ’s ambassadors?

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As believers, it’s our responsibility to take God’s message of reconciliation to all people.  That’s a weighty responsibility – as a new creation you are expected to represent Christ to the world and spread the word of reconciliation.

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How are you fulfilling your commission as Christ’s ambassador?

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Sometimes it can be simple…sometimes it’s difficult.  Strike up a conversation with a friend, neighbor, or even a stranger, and ask them how you can pray for them.  Call up an estranged relative or friend and mend a relationship.  Speak grace-filled truth to a friend who’s making destructive decisions.  Offer to lead an ACF small group.

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We’re in the ministry of reconciliation – let’s grow the team.

Dear God, thank you for reconciling me to yourself.  I do not deserve it, and there is nothing I could do to earn it.  Help me to be a bold and courageous ambassador for you.  I love you.  Amen.