Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

(20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:  we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Second Letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul.  It is generally believed that there was a “severe letter” written to the Christians at Corinth addressing deteriorating conditions within the church undermining Paul’s authority and this letter was written between 1st and 2nd Corinthians.  This letter has not survived.  Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in response to favorable reports of the reaction to the severe letter;  to encourage the Christians at Corinth to contribute to the Jewish Christian poor at Jerusalem;  to express his affection for them;  to emphasize his apostolic authority and to expand on his pastoral teachings.

The verses we are studying today from this pastoral letter discuss the theology of the consequences of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and concern regeneration and reconciliation.    Man’s old thoughts and practices are to be replaced with a new heart and a new nature.  This regeneration is grounded in grace through faith whereby we become new people in Christ – all the old has passed away.

Reconciliation is a privileged gift from God.  Man was separated from God because of a breach of faith and sin entered the world.  God was willing to be reconciled with man and this was accomplished by the death of Jesus on the cross.  Jesus was a man without sin who became sin sacrificed for our redemption.  God is the initiator of this reconciliation and entered into a new covenant of grace – freely justifying by grace all those who believe.  Reconciliation is an accomplished fact and also an ongoing process.  It must be personally appropriated.  Humankind must accept what God has done.

Paul writes that God has communicated this message of reconciliation to him and to the other apostles to administer the gospel on Christ’s behalf.  All that remains for men to do is receive what God has effected.