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Of all Paul's letters in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians was probably hardest to write. It's certainly the most intensely personal. Because false teachers were attacking him, Paul felt compelled to spend half of the letter (chapters 3–7) reviewing his ministry and listing his credentials to demonstrate the validity of his message. In the process, we glimpse what motivated him to unreservedly pour his life into a pitched battle for hearts and minds.

2 Corinthians 5:11,2 Corinthians 5:13-18

1. What happens when a person becomes a Christian, according to verses 17-18a?
2. How is this different from reeducation, reformation, or rehabilitation?
3. Why might some of the Corinthian believers have wondered if Paul was unbalanced (v. 13)?
4. Might verse 16 be describing how Paul's critics in Corinth were evaluating him?
5. To what extent have you died to the old life you used to live (v. 14b)?
6. To what extent are you still living to please yourself (v. 15)?
7. What would it take to have your actions motivated and regulated by Christ's love (14a)?

Ask God to complete His work of making you a new person: uninhibited by what the world thinks about you, passionate about pleasing Christ.

11 It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

13 If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us.[a] Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live.

15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now!

17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, I want to fully follow You, even when it's controversial or risky. Please give me the grit it takes.

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