Christ reconciled us

Article for March 30, 2025

2 Corinthians 5:16 16From 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.

When we think of the biblical term, “of the flesh,” we might equate it to our sinful desires.  Many sins come from trying to satisfy the flesh over satisfying the spirit.  Many sins are about satisfying our personal desires.  We sin to either make us feel good or make others feel inferior.  Many like to put others down to make themselves feel more important.  I’m sure we know a few of those.

Here, Paul, is saying we at one time regarded Christ according to the flesh.  Some who were haughty in their faith surely thought Jesus was a sinful man as He claimed to be the Son of God.  they accused Jesus of commanding evil spirits to leave under the auspice of Beelzebub.  Others thought Jesus Christ was God in the flesh of man and knew that He was the only one in the flesh that desired not the flesh.

God’s word tells us Jesus did not desire those things of the flesh but desired those things of the spirit.  As Jesus talked to Nicodemus in John 3:5-6, one needs to be born of the spirit. We belong to God who makes us children of Him.  John 1:12-13 lets us know we who believe are to be called the children of God.  We therefore are not born of the flesh, but we are born of God.  God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Jesus came in the flesh to bring us salvation.  Jesus took our sins that came from our flesh and died because of them.  Not that our sin killed Jesus, but that Jesus died for us because of our sin.  Jesus saved us also from the punishment we deserve because of our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

We know that sin separates us from God and if we are left to our sin, we would suffer eternal death.  Jesus came to give us a rebirth that reunites us with God and makes us the children of God.  This is called the ministry of reconciliation.  Jesus came to save us through this reconciliation that confirms us to be God’s possession.  This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God the creator of everything, sends His only begotten Son to save what evil and sin tried to steal from Him.  We have a creator who does not abandon us but creates the means to save what was originally His in the beginning.  God actually pays the ransom to save us from captivity of sin and evil who tried to kidnap us all.

Can you imagine being kept from your loved one who someone held ransom?  Would you not find a way to recue that loved one and even go as far as to pay the ransom amount?  Would you then open your arms to receive back those who were stolen from you?  This is our God who loves us and our God whom we love for saving us from eternal death and punishment alongside the evil one.

2 Corinthians 5:19 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Here is the best part.  Our flesh causes us to sin (that’s not the best part), but Jesus Christ who died for us because of our sin forgives us our sins (that’s the best part).  Jesus not only forgives us our sin, but He will not hold our sin against us (ok, that’s the best part).  We are given a new lease on life as we enter our new life (this part is pretty good too). 

This is the true rebirth, realizing that our Lord perfects our rebirth that we are now born in the spirit.  We will have a body of flesh, but this body will not rule our lives, rather our spirit will rule our lives, and this is our Lord Jesus Christ’s doing.  As we are reinstated to be the children of our creator, we are all now of the spirit of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For 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 it! Get excited for God has saved you so that you can tell others of this salvation which is for all.

Luke 3:5-6 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

This is the good news that can be spread to all for this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 12:3–4 3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

We have a God of salvation.  The world thinks God is about condemnation, because some who claim to know God portrays God as a God of punishment.  The real truth is Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins, so we will not have to suffer eternal death.  How could Jesus bring wrath on those sinners who believe in Him and the Salvation He bought for us with His human life?  Thank God for His resurrection, that we will experience too.

Isaiah 12:5–6 5“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 6Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

Written by Pastor Curtis May.