November 1, 2003
Marriage is a serious covenant relationship for God’s people—one that often clashes with modern notions about convention or convenience. With specific application to seeking marital harmony, Alistair Begg delves into the apostle Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about the church’s ministry of reconciliation. Only after we grasp the wonder of Jesus’ sacrifice, which rescues us from alienation to reconciliation with God, can we learn to forgive and be reconciled with our wives or husbands.
11Therefore, knowing ythe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But zwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12aWe are not commending ourselves to you again but bgiving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we care beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ dcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that eone has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, fthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but gfor him who for their sake died and was raised.
16From now on, therefore, hwe regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is iin Christ, he is ja new creation.2 kThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us mthe ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling3 the world to himself, nnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us mthe message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, owe are ambassadors for Christ, pGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21qFor our sake he made him to be sin rwho knew no sin, so that in him we might become sthe righteousness of God.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.