Christ's Love Compels Us by the Spirit (1-12-2013)

January 12, 2013 - 2 Corinthians 5:13-17

5:13		我 們 若 果 顛 狂 、 是 為 　 神 ． 若 果 謹 守 、 是 為 你 們 。
5:14		原 來 基 督 的 愛 激 勵 我 們 ． 因 我 們 想 一 人 既 替 眾 人 死 、 眾 人 就 都 死 了 ．
5:15		並 且 他 替 眾 人 死 、 是 叫 那 些 活 著 的 人 、 不 再 為 自 己 活 、 乃 為 替 他 們 死 而 復 活 的 主 活 。
5:16		所 以 我 們 從 今 以 後 、 不 憑 著 外 貌 〔 原 文 作 肉 體 本 節 同 〕 認 人 了 ． 雖 然 憑 著 外 貌 認 過 基 督 、 如 今 卻 不 再 這 樣 認 他 了 。
5:17		若 有 人 在 基 督 裡 、 他 就 是 新 造 的 人 ． 舊 事 已 過 、 都 變 成 新 的 了 。

¹³ If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

   ¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

Paul proclaims that we are now new creation of God which exhibits characteristics of a new life in Christ. The most influential characteristic is that Christ's love compels how a Christian lives. When Paul behaves like "out of our mind" - of course this is only a critique from Paul's enemies, but nevertheless, Paul affirms that God's love compels him to forget his own benefit and lay down all his rights and even his life that people criticizes that he is our of his mind. And God's love also compels him that he restraints himself in his right mind for the glory of God and the benefit of others. Christ's love compels Paul to the point that he dies to his own sin and even dies for Jesus, and also at the same time he lives for Jesus everyday. This new life is effected by the Spirit in all believers that our lives have been radically changed from our previous. 

Thanks God that Christ is now the center of my life. By the Spirit, Christ is now indwelling in me as the "engine". I pray that Christ's love masters my life - His love transforms my mind, His love fuels my passion, and His love captures my will. My Spirit, I pray that You continue to work in my life to experience how real Christ's love is to me.