II COR 5:13-21 EXPOUNDED – NEW CREATION… A YOUTHFUL AND ALWAYS NEW HABITATION OF GOD.   INSANE FOR GOD   2 Cor 5:13 13 For if we are beside ourselves (insane, out of our mind), it is for God; if we are of sound (not insane) mind, it is for you.   Paul was saying that he was not commending himself but to check him out by looking at his heart (See verses 11 & 12). Paul said that we are insane for God yet we remain sane for you. Paul and his disciples were “madly” in love with God! This so called “madness” is explained in the next verses.   14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.   Is this revelation enough to compel one into “madness”? Though “insane” or out of control, Paul says that they are controlled and compelled by the love of Christ. One “crazily” in love with Christ oft times seems to be “insane”. (I recently received a word of knowledge confirming that which I knew. People have for years called me crazy…now I know why!)   INSANE TO THE WORLD REVELATION   Paul found out something profound about Christ’s love. Paul discovered that Jesus died for all, therefore all died. How are all dead? In Christ we are dead to sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). WE ARE NOT SINNERS! Paul goes on to say that living for one’s self brings death and that because we are dead to sin we are empowered to live for Jesus Christ (Gal 2:20-21) who died in our behalf and was resurrected in our behalf. Ho, ho, ho…ha, ha, ha…yes Lord!   LOVING EYES ARE EYES OF GOD – A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF MANKIND   This glorious revelation of Christ’s lavishing love compels us into a righteous view of all mankind and Gods creation.   16 Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know {Him} {thus} no longer.   My God, because of the love of Christ, we are now seeing with the eyes of God. We have been love empowered never to look at the flesh but now see only the Kingdom of God (Christ) in the flesh.  Jesus is the word made flesh. The hope of every individual to abide in the glory of God is Christ in them. This is explained in this next most profound verse.   17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.   The word new means youthful, fresh and regenerated. Creature means new creation, new building. To be a new creature is to be a youthful and always new habitation of God. Our bodies are the temples or habitations of God. My Lord and my God! Do you see this? We are in Christ never again to have anything to do with the old which in Christ has passed away. To hell with the “good ole times” and into the heavens with the “Good new now time”.   Do you see the wonderful loving heart of our God? He first sent Christ to reconcile us to Himself so that He could lavish His love upon us. Secondly we have been made ambassadors for Christ with THE MINISTY of RECONCILIATION. We as ambassadors of God and His Christ have all that our home country (Kingdom of God) and King Jesus embodies.   MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION…WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?   What doe the ministry of reconciliation look like? It looks exactly like Jesus…Glory to God. While we were yet sinners, God sent His Son to save us. The ministry of reconciliation does not take into account the trespasses of others. (Remember, as new creations we no longer see the flesh.) The ministry of reconciliation, as God did through Christ, entreats all to become reconciled to God.   18 Now all {these} things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.   We, being compelled by the love of Christ, are now in righteous relationship with all of creation. Note: I, and many others recently in Moravian Falls, North Carolina and other places are receiving a visitation of periodical Cicadas. God showed me that this is one of many signs of the symphony of Heaven by which God is speaking unity and reproduction. They are crying out along with all of creation for the revealing of sons of God i.e. those that are being led by the Spirit of God.   Note: It is interesting to note that the Greek word for Cicada is tzitzi, which is the Hebrew word for the ribbon of blue tassels attached to the four corners of the Jewish prayer shawl. Moses commanded these tassels of blue added so as to remind the Israelites of the commandments (word) of God. Many in the New Testament were healed as they touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.   Righteousness is the life of God. God is always right (eous). God made Jesus, Who knew no sin, to become sin on our behalf. Where sin brings death to all, Jesus vicariously took my place in physical death. If Jesus became my substitute in physical death, why would I agree with death? I am a new creation i.e. a forever youthful habitation of God.   21 He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NAS)   A New and Youthful Habitation of God Compelled By His Eternal Love   Gale Maiden