For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that [Rom. 5:15; 6:6; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3] if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, [Rom. 6:11] that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 (2 Cor. 10:3) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, [Matt. 12:50] yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone [John 6:63] is in Christ, he is [Rom. 8:9] a new creation; (Is. 43:18; 65:17; [Eph. 4:24]; Rev. 21:4) old things have passed away; behold, all things have become [Rom. 6:3–10; Col. 3:3] new.
18 Now all things are of God, (Rom. 5:10; [Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20]) who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that [Rom. 3:24] God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not (reckoning) imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are (Mal. 2:7; Eph. 6:20) ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For (Is. 53:6, 9) He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become ([Rom. 1:17; 3:21]; 1 Cor. 1:30) the righteousness of God in Him.
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.
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