Selwyn comments on this verse, 2 Corinthians 8:21 (NIV):“For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.”

He writes: “Paul’s concern to uphold his reputation so that Christ was not dishonoured, should have something to teach all those who are in Christ. His words indicate that we must first do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. But not only in the eyes of the Lord; we must do right also in the eyes of men. It is possible to be so taken up with being in Christ that we listen only to what He says and become indifferent to what others might be saying. This verse corrects us.”

As you may expect, I don’t agree with one possible interpretation of Selwyn’s last sentence. If we are listening correctly to God (Jesus) - then whatever actions follow – are, the right actions. Sometimes, the eyes of men are not good at discerning what is right. As did many Pharisees – who listen to Jesus and/or saw His actions; for example, Jesus healing on the Sabbath was a stumbling block for some of the legalistic Jews.  If we carefully listen to Christ then it’s impossible for us to become indifferent to the views of our fellow Christians.

In addition, even if we do or say things which are judged in a negative light, by non-Christians – we should never be indifferent to their feelings; at all times, are ‘presentations’ of Christ within us – should be gracious and polite.

What do you think?

I liked today’s study- today in Australia it’s the shortest day – and it’s fairly overcast where I live – today, is a dark and gloomy day; in a way it reminds me of the day when Jesus died -  when the light of this world was buried for a moment.

Selwyn writes: “There is no doubt that we look into the heart of redemption when we look at the verse ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:19). When humankind first sinned God began to suffer, for it is the nature of love to feel intense sadness when the one it loves goes astray. … At the cross we see God and ourselves – God as suffering love, and ourselves as causing that suffering. Only at the cross can we see our sins for what they really are. Elsewhere they may seem understandable, but in the light of the cross they are intolerable.”

Sometimes I think it’s tempting to imagine that Jesus died for those terrible sins other people commit – we haven’t done that much wrong;  and by reducing the seriousness of our sins, we distance ourselves from our personal responsibility for putting Jesus on the cross.

The truth is there isn’t a person who doesn’t need the death of Christ to save them from eternal death. If you were the only person ever created by God, Jesus would still need to be sacrificed on a cross to save you. It only takes one sin, for you to be marked as an outlaw. It only takes one sin, by you – to nail Jesus to the cross. If we approach sin, in this personal way -  then we can never escape the realisation that it’s our own sins which have crucified Jesus.

Then we can really feel the darkness of the day – if we continue to sin. What do you think?

Selwyn continues to discuss the important point that when we become a new creation in Jesus – we live life in a different way. Our self-centeredness is replaced with a spirit which comes from God – we seek to demonstrate our love for Jesus by the way we love others.

Again, Selwyn presents this fact in a very clear and concise way: “Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are ‘created in Christ Jesus to do good works’, and this is what we WANT to do. If this shift in attitude does not take place then we should ask ourselves: Am I really converted? Have I really repented of my sin and yielded my nature to Jesus Christ?

A chorus we used to sing when I was a child goes like this: ‘Things are different now, something happened to me, since I gave my heart to Jesus.’ If there is no difference, we need to ask ourselves: am I really a part of this new creation?”

In many parts of the world – the Christian faith is under increased attack and our freedom of speech, to tell people the good news, is being eroded in many countries. Now, the differences between the Christian faith and the general ways of this world are becoming more apparent. To express a Christian view on a public issue is to put oneself into the spotlight of public opinion – which is becoming more negative with the passing of each day.

Yet, with God’s help, we will stand firm – and our differences will  shine out to those who are seeking a relationship with our living God – and, reveal the one and only way to have eternal life with Jesus. What are your views?

Selwyn continues to look at the text ‘If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

He goes on to say, in today’s study that ‘at conversion’. “A new personality emerges with a purpose, with meaning, with a new direction. The old has gone, the new has come. Basic human nature remains, but the false (corrupt) world of sin and evil begin to pass away. The selfish self trying to make itself God is cleansed and is no longer dominant but directed. This new creation is as supernatural as God’s original creation” of life and this world as we know it.

I like today’s prayer – it’s a prayer that is born in the heart of a person by the creative power of God’s Spirit: “Heavenly Father, I open my heart now to receive Your Son, Jesus Christ, into my heart as my Lord and Saviour. I repent (I want to change, and to stop doing what’s wrong) of all my sins and ask You to forgive every one of them. Reveal Yourself to me more each day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Any comments?

I think that the verse which Selwyn concentrates on: 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”. Is a fantastic verse to meditate upon – to call upon the Holy Spirit to fully reveal to us the meaning of this verse – to experience new life to such an extent that if we looked back at our old life, we would see a stranger. Do you?

There are two groups living in this world: those, who know Jesus; then there is the second group – those who don’t know Jesus. One issue that we are forced to deal with, especially in western culture, is that there are many people in the second group who call themselves Christians. There is one reall, good test – do their lives demonstrate the work of a new creation – do their words and actions show that their old ways have gone?

I’ll quote a lot from today’s study – mainly, because it is very good – and, I couldn’t express Selwyn’s ideas any better. His words follow on from the point I’m making,  in being able to identify those who are ‘in Christ’.

“Look around you today at people who do not know Christ. Many experience moments of happiness but lack lasting satisfaction. Catch their expression in the moments when their faces are in repose and what do you see? Dissatisfaction, unhappiness, often despair.

The lives of modern men and women seem so full, but if you investigate, below the surface you will find a sense of emptiness and meaningless. One contemporary describes this as ‘outer happiness, inner decay’. There is no doubt in my mind that the words ‘without form’, ‘void’ and ‘darkness’ sum up the condition of men and women today unless they have discovered the life which Jesus Christ gives.”

Now, back to the verses which Selwyn has selected for today’s reading, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NLT): “… Because we (Paul, and his helpers) understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you (the Corinthians) know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us.

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

Like Paul, we too are controlled by God’s love – and, we are called to spread this amazing message of reconciliation – we can have a good relationship with God through Jesus - and this is all, a gift from God. Now – that must fill you with infinite joy!