For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:  that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  (16) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The second letter to the CORINTHIANS was written by the Apostle Paul to the church he founded at Corinth. Paul had been dealing with problems there caused by false teachers – including Judaizers – who were telling the newly converted Christians that they needed to become observing Jews and follow the Mosaic Law – creating factions and sowing doubt about Paul’s authority. There were also cults of the personality – one group claimed to be followers of the teaching of Paul; another followers of Peter; another followers of Apollos.

So not only does Paul make the life death and resurrection of Christ Jesus the heart of his gospel, in our verses today he makes the life, death and resurrection of our Lord the basis for how we view others. Equality of all believers in Christ is a foundational truth. How we view Christ determines how we view others.

Paul is teaching that men should seek God’s approval rather than men’s. The love of Christ motivates Paul and the death of Jesus is for every believer.  Every believer dies in Christ to sin and is raised to a new life – a new man – and the new man is what he is because of Christ.  We faithful are all equal in the sight of God. Therefore we cannot practice discrimination.

So the main point of our text is how the faithful view others who believe in Christ Jesus. Pride and arrogance and feelings of superiority are rubbish. Riches can buy a man nothing eternal – we are not saved by wealth, gifts, popularity or status in this world. Nothing in this world compares to new life in Christ.  when we see ourselves as we truly are in Christ we dare not see ourselves as superior to anyone else before God. A wonderful lesson which will greatly enhance our everyday dealings with others and ultimately greatly increase our joy.