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14 For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Their Ministry Commended

Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness]. For He says,

At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you,
And I helped you on the day of salvation.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—(A)

14 For gar the ho love agapē of ho Christ Christos controls synechō us hēmeis, since we have concluded krinō this houtos: that hoti one heis has died apothnēskō for hyper all pas; therefore ara · ho all pas have died apothnēskō. 15 And kai he died apothnēskō for hyper all pas so that hina those ho who are living zaō might zaō no longer mēketi live zaō for themselves heautou but alla for the ho one who died apothnēskō for hyper them autos and kai was raised egeirō. 16 So hōste from apo now nyn on we hēmeis · ho regard oida no one oudeis according kata to the flesh sarx. Even kai though ei we once regarded ginōskō Christ Christos according kata to the flesh sarx, yet alla now nyn we regard ginōskō him in that way no longer ouketi. 17 Therefore hōste if ei anyone tis is in en Christ Christos, there is a new kainos creation ktisis; what ho is old archaios has passed parerchomai away ; behold idou, what is new kainos has come ginomai! 18 · ho And de all pas this is from ek · ho God theos, who ho has reconciled katallassō us hēmeis to himself heautou through dia Christ Christos and kai given didōmi us hēmeis the ho ministry diakonia of ho reconciliation katallagē; 19 that is hōs, God theos was eimi in en Christ Christos reconciling katallassō the world kosmos to himself heautou, not counting logizomai their autos trespasses paraptōma against them autos. · ho And kai he has entrusted tithēmi us hēmeis with en the ho message logos of ho reconciliation katallagē. 20 Therefore oun we are ambassadors presbeuō for hyper Christ Christos, as hōs though · ho God theos were making parakaleō his appeal through dia us hēmeis. We implore deomai you on behalf of hyper Christ Christos, “ Be reconciled katallassō to ho God theos.” 21 He made poieō him ho who knew ginōskō no sin hamartia to be a sin-offering hamartia for hyper us hēmeis, so that hina in en him autos we hēmeis might become ginomai the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos.

Thus de as coworkers synergeō with him, · kai we urge parakaleō you hymeis not to receive dechomai the ho grace charis of ho God theos in eis vain kenos. For gar he says legō, “ In the time kairos of my favor dektos I heard epakouō you sy, · kai in en the day hēmera of salvation sōtēria I helped boētheō you sy.” Behold idou, now nyn is the acceptable euprosdektos time kairos; behold idou, now nyn is the day hēmera of salvation sōtēria!