In this passage (2 Cor. 5:14-21), Paul is defending his apostleship and ambassadorship against some unjust charges. Some were challenging Paul’s apostleship and message. They were even attacking Paul personally, as well as his ministry. Paul is defending his apostleship & ambassadorship, in connection with the dispensational change that God had brought in. Paul’s preaching and teaching was consistent to what God is doing today. Paul was accused of being beside himself, or much study has made you mad. All because they had not heard this new information before. They thought Paul was out of line with how things had been.
And Paul wants you and I to know, people have not changed! If we open our mouth boldly and preach this message of reconciliation, the same charges will be brought against us. If we teach that the Great Commission Is NOT our Commission today, and the gospel of the Kingdom is NOT our gospel today, we are going to be marked by the SPOE, as being beside ourselves, or gone mad. They might not say it to your face, but they will say it behind your back. Therefore we better have some authority behind us to explain why. “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Paul is talking about our ambassadorship in view of the great dispensational change that God has brought in. Paul is underscoring the authority we have as God’s ambassadors, to preach and defend God’s message of reconciliation.
We have a two-fold Commission. We are ambassadors to men, and ambassadors to the angelic beings, principalities, and powers, in heavenly places (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 3:9-10; 6:19-20). We have the privilege to impact/ influence men on earth, and the angelic beings in heavenly places with this message of reconciliation, that they both may know the manifold wisdom or the eternal purpose of God.
This impact is only accomplished when we as MCBOC rightly divide the word of truth, when we fellowship, as we are now, studying the fellowship of the mystery. Magnifying, and rejoicing in the genius of the cross of Christ, in connection with the hidden wisdom of God.
Paul said the love of Christ constrains him, motivates him to preach this message. The love of God is being made known to ALL men today, because Christ died for ALL men. Paul is talking about the love of God being made known to ALL men without difference. God is revealing his love for mankind without difference in this dispensation of Gentile grace. (1 Cor. 5:14)
Christ is now giving His life a ransom (payment) for ALL MEN today.” Who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of truth. “Who gave His life a ransom (payment) for all to be testified in “due time” (at the appropriate time). Jew & Gentile in the dispensation of grace. It is not until we come to the ministry of apostle Paul that we have the “due time” testimony. (1 Tim. 2:4-6)
Listen to Paul, “Whereunto, I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and Verity (honesty). Paul was committed by God to make this “due time” testimony. Paul is now preaching the secret of the cross, that God’s love and grace is extended to all men. Since Christ DIED FOR ALL, there is no difference.” (1 Tim. 2:7). This was new information. Paul was preaching the mystery/secret of the cross.
God has broken down the middle wall of partition (division), and made both Jew and Gentile ONE, there is no difference. In view of this Paul says, “Henceforth (from now on) all fleshy distinctions are gone. “Yes, though we have known Christ after the flesh (after his earthly ministry) yet now henceforth (from now on) know we him no more. “ And, we know Jesus Christ was “a minister of the circumcision,” but now there has been a change in status, “one (Christ) has died for all. (Eph. 2:14; 1 Cor. 5:16; Rom. 15:8; 1 Cor. 5:14).
Yes, we have been committed the ministry/word of reconciliation. But what does the word reconcile mean? When you reconcile something, you change its status. Usually from enemies to being friends. Reconcile means the change of status of something, or someone. God has changed the status of the world. In time past Israel was the chosen people, the rest of the world were aliens, strangers, having no hope, and without God in the world. (1 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 2:12).
But now, God has changed the status of the world. He has reconciled (changed the status) of the world unto Himself. Now Jew and Gentile are on the same level. Now we are commissioned (given the authority) to tell men what God is doing today. God is not dealing with men according to fleshy distinctions. And we don’t follow Christ after the flesh (earthly ministry, signs, wonders, miracles, healings are over). We follow Christ after the great dispensational change.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did plead with you by us: We pray you in Christ ’stead, “BE YE RECONCILED (RESTORED) TO GOD” today! This is our privilege today folks. God is actively administering an amnesty program, called “the dispensation of Gentile grace now in effect.” Jesus is the Redeemer for ALL MEN, TODAY! (1 Cor. 5:20).
“For God has made Christ to be sin for ALL of us, Christ knew no sin; that we might (by executive order) be made the righteousness of God in Christ. (1 Cor. 5:21).
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Colman J. Gilliland 