Therefore,  anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:  we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The second letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul. There had been significant problems in the church at Corinth and in this letter Paul is – among other things – addressing  his integrity and authority as an apostle. Paul writes that he has renounced “hidden things of shame” and is preaching the truth of the light of the gospel.  Paul writes that his transformation into a new man is not by himself but by God – he teaches that God uses weak vessels to show His power – “that the life of Jesus also at be manifested in our mortal flesh”.

This second letter to the Corinthians is also an intensely personal letter. Paul writes of his personal suffering and trials for the gospel but he counts his suffering as “light afflictions” knowing that “while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord”.  He tells them further that he no longer regards anyone according to their fleshly present appearance; he sees them as men/women as new creations in Christ. All things are seen in the light of Jesus Christ and the reconciliation of this world to God.

Verse 21 of our study today is the heart of gospel and Paul implores the Corinthians to accept Christ and to be reconciled to God.  For he made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.