2 Corinthians Week 8

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 

16 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! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

Paul told how he quit critiquing others based on human values. He cited Jesus as an example. When Jesus moved among humanity as the perfect God/man, He was thought of in one way. Now that Jesus is in a glorified body and sits on the right hand of the Father, He is thought of in another way. For those who believe in Jesus as Savior, their old Adamic nature lives are gone because they now have new spiritual lives. 

REFLECT 

Think about new life beginning when you trusted in Jesus as Savior. Consider the great contrast with your old life. 

RESPOND 

With a friend, talk about what Jesus’ life was like when He walked on earth. The creator of the universe walked on the earth He had created (see John 1:1-5). See also Philippians 2:5-11 that reveals people will either bow before Jesus now as believers or later as unbelievers. 

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

18 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. 19 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. 

Notice the “gift” God has given every believer in Jesus. It is the high privilege of being part of God’s plan in bringing others into fellowship with Himself. The Father had done this through His Son, but not all have believed. That is the reason present-day believers are to seek to bring others to Him. 

REFLECT 

Have you had the privilege of helping someone see the need for believing in Jesus? If not, pray you will have this privilege. 

RESPOND 

When Paul wrote to the Romans, he told what was necessary to reconcile others to God. Join with a friend in reading Romans 10:9-15 to see what must be done to take this wonderful message to others. Are you taking part in this? 

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 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. 

The heavenly Father appeals to people to trust in His Son as Savior, but He makes His appeal through believers. Jesus was the only perfect man who had ever lived—He “never sinned.” On the cross, however, He took the sin of all mankind on Himself and became sin for everyone. Jesus did this so “we could be made right with God.” Had there been another way, it would have been taken. 

REFLECT 

Think of every sin you have ever committed; Jesus became that sin when He died for you on the cross that you might become right with God. 

RESPOND 

Talk with another believer about what Jesus did for you. Read Romans 5:18-20 as you think about what Jesus did for you. Thank God for His marvelous grace.  

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 

1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 

Believers in Jesus have the privilege of being coworkers with God in seeking to reach others. Some to whom you witness may want time to think about the salvation message. They have no guarantee, however, that they will even be here later today or tomorrow. “Today is the day of salvation.” 

REFLECT 

Have you had some tell you they want to think about needing to trust in Jesus as Savior? What did you tell them? 

RESPOND 

Be aware of news items you might use as you talk to others about Jesus. If they say they will think about it, what will you say? You could say, “Sometimes storms and vehicle accidents do not give a person time to think about eternity, now is the day of salvation.” 

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 6:3-5 

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 

As Paul wrote this, he was not claiming to be perfect. As much as the power was within him, however, he did not want to do anything that would distract from his gospel message. He writes of some of the trials he went through to keep from being a spiritual block over which someone would stumble.  

REFLECT 

How are you doing in being careful not to be a stumbling block to others? Give a couple examples.  

RESPOND 

With a friend, study Ephesians 5:15-20 to see if there are some things you could be doing or avoiding so you can be a better witness for Jesus.