These small group study notes on the book of 2nd Corinthians contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications. Feel free to print them, copy them, or share them. I only ask that you remember these are are personal study notes and are only meant as a supplement to your own study, not a replacement. May God be glorified! Visit our inductive Bible study main page for more studies on this and other books of the Bible. See the bottom of the page for the rest of the study on 2 Corinthians chapter five.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Inductive Bible Study - Outline, Key Words, Cross References, and Discussion Questions
Ambassadors for Christ
Chapter 5:11-21
2 Cor 5:11-21
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 Forthe love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Key Words
· Reconcile 5
· Therefore 5 V11,14,16,17,20
· Died 4
· Behalf 3
· Christ 7
· God 7
· Manifest 2
· Flesh 2
· Sin 2
· Ambassadors 1
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Titles
Responding to His Love
Our Job Description
Bartering with God
The Best Deal Ever!
Reconciliation
Under the Right Control
Ambassadors for Christ!
Outline
I. Fear of the Lord à We persuade men
II. Christ loved us à We live for Him
III. In Christ à New life
IV. Reconciled to God à We are His Ambassadors
V. He took our sin à We received His righteousness
Cross References, Questions, Observations
11. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
Matt 10:28
28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Heb 10:31
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Acts 19:26
26 "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.
Col 1:28-29
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
a) Is it our job to persuade men?
1) The fear of the Lord is a motivation for evangelism.
12. We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
Prov 27:2
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
Prov 25:27
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one's own glory.
1 Sam 16:7
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Matt 23:12
12 " Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
1 Peter 5:6
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
Matt 6:1
1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Gal 6:12-13
12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
a) Why did Paul want the Corinthians to be proud of them?
b) What should you say to those who take pride in outward appearance?
1) Bragging or boasting is worldly, not godly.
13. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
Rom 14:6-8
6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord , and he who eats, does so for the Lord , for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord , or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Col 3:23
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
Acts 26:24
24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad."
1 Cor 4:10
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
1 Cor 9:22
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
a) Give some examples when God may ask you to look foolish for him.
1) Being a fool for God is the greatest wisdom of all.
14. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
Matt 10:37
37 " He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
1 Cor 16:22
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
Isa 53:6
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Eph 2:1-2
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
a) What controls your life? What is the greatest desire of your heart that you will sacrifice all for?
b) Who do the two “alls” refer to?
1) Something will be my master! I should choose to have the kind and compassionate love of Christ control me.
15. and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
1 Cor 6:20
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Gal 2:20
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
1 John 4:9
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
a) Compare the “masters” of verses 14 and 15.
b) Since Christ died for me, what should I be willing to do for Him?
c) What are some practical ways we can live for Him?
1) There is no more worthy or loving master than Jesus Christ.
16. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Matt 12:48-50
48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
a) How does the world “know” others?
b) What does it mean that they recognize no one according to the flesh?
c) What does Paul mean when he says that, “we have known Christ according to the flesh”?
d) What is better than knowing Christ according to the flesh?
1)
17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Rom 8:1
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:9
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
1 Cor 1:30
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Eph 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Eph 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
a) Tell us what it means to be a new creature.
b) What old things passed away?
c) How quickly does this transformation take place?
1)
18. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
1 Cor 8:6
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Col 1:16
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.
James 1:17
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Rom 5:1
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 5:10-11
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
1 John 4:10
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Mark 16:15
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
a) Why didn’t God use angels, Jesus Himself, or some miraculous method to communicate the message of reconciliation? Why would He entrust something as important as this to sinners?
b) Why do most people fail to reconcile with God?
c) Instead of reconciling with us, why didn’t God simply destroy us?
d) What tools did God give us to reconcile people to Himself?
1)
19. namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Rom 11:15
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Rom 4:8
8 "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
2 Cor 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels , so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
a) What is the word of reconciliation?
b) If God can forgive us, why do we have a difficult time forgiving others?
1)
20. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
John 20:21
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
Prov 1:23
23 "Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Luke 14:23
23 "And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
1 Cor 9:19-22
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
Col 1:28
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
a) Describe the function of an ambassador.
· Resides in a foreign land, not in his home country.
· His allegiance is to the government of his home country.
· He has full authority to act on behalf of his government.
b) What is the balance between begging and boldly proclaiming? (an ambassador may have occasion to do both)
1)
21. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Isa 53:4-6
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
Isa 53:10-12
10 But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
Rom 4:3-5
3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Rom 8:3
3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
a) What does it mean that Jesus became sin on our behalf?
b) Some people say that this is not fair. What would you say to that?
c) How would you reply if you were asked if you are now righteous?
1) Jesus never became sinner. God simply dealt with Him as if He were a sinner. Our sin was imputed to Him. Similarly, we are not now righteous, but Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us.
2)
Key Verse
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Central Teaching
Because God has graciously poured out His love on us in the death of Christ, we should be His faithful ambassadors in reconciling the world to Him through Christ!
Application - Make Your Own!
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