14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,(A) and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all(B) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(C) but for the one(D) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.[a] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,[b] yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(E) the old has passed away, and see,(F) the new has[c] come!(G) 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.(H) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(I) to himself,(J) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors(K) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,(L) “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin(M) to be sin[d] for us,(N) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” For he says:

At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.[e](O)

See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!(P)

Footnotes

  1. 5:16 Lit anyone according to the flesh
  2. 5:16 Lit Christ according to the flesh
  3. 5:17 Other mss read look, all new things have
  4. 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  5. 6:2 Is 49:8

14 The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. 15 He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.

16 So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!

18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation.

20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God. Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain. He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation.[a] Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!