The Ministry of Reconciliation
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Therefore, knowing y the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But z what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
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a We are not commending ourselves to you again but b giving 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.
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For if we c are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
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For the love of Christ d controls us, because we have concluded this: that e one has died for all, therefore all have died;
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and he died for all, f that those who live might no longer live for themselves but g for him who for their sake died and was raised.
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From now on, therefore, h we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
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Therefore, if anyone is i in Christ, he is j a new creation. k The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
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All this is from God, l who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us m the ministry of reconciliation;
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that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, n not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us m the message of reconciliation.
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Therefore, o we are ambassadors for Christ, p God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
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q For our sake he made him to be sin r who knew no sin, so that in him we might become s the righteousness of God.
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t Working together with him, then, u we appeal to you v not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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For he says,
w "In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, x now is the y favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
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We z put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
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but a as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: b by great endurance, c in afflictions, d hardships, calamities,
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e beatings, imprisonments, f riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
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g by purity, h knowledge, patience, kindness, i the Holy Spirit, j genuine love;
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by k truthful speech, and l the power of God; with m the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
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through honor and dishonor, n through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
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as unknown, and o yet well known; p as dying, and behold, we live; q as punished, and yet not killed;
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r as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; s as poor, yet making many rich; t as having nothing, u yet possessing everything.
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We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; v our heart is wide open.
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You are not restricted by us, but w you are restricted in your own affections.
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x In return (I speak y as to children) widen your hearts also.
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Cross References
Job 31:23
For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.
Acts 9:31
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Jude 1:23
Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 4:2
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 3:1
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 1:14
Just as you did partially acknowledge us - that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:1
I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!
2 Corinthians 11:16 - 17
I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
2 Corinthians 12:6
Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
2 Corinthians 12:11
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
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Cross References
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
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Cross References
Romans 5:15
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
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Cross References
Romans 6:11 - 12
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 14:7
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:10
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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Cross References
Galatians 2:6
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Philippians 3:7 - 8
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Colossians 2:11
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.
1 Timothy 5:21
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:2
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
Romans 16:7
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
Galatians 1:22
And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
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Cross References
John 3:3
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
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Cross References
Isaiah 43:18 - 19
Remember not the former things, nor consider th...
Revelation 21:5
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Beho...
Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I create new heavens and a new eart...
Ephesians 2:15
By abolishing the law of commandments expressed...
Ephesians 4:24
And to put on the new self, created after the l...
Hebrews 8:13
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the fir...
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Cross References
Colossians 1:20
And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 John 2:2
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
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Cross References
Romans 5:11
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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Cross References
Psalms 32:2
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Romans 4:8
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:18
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
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Cross References
Ephesians 6:20
For which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Galatians 4:14
And though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 6:1
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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Cross References
Romans 8:3
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" -
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
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Cross References
1 Peter 2:22
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
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Cross References
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith.
1 Corinthians 1:30
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
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Cross References
Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
Acts 15:4
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
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Cross References
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.
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Cross References
Isaiah 49:8
Thus says the Lord : "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.
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Cross References
Psalms 32:6
Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
Psalms 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
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Cross References
Luke 4:19
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
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Cross References
Isaiah 49:8
Thus says the Lord : "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 9:12
If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 3:2
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.
2 Timothy 2:24 - 25
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:12
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Timothy 3:10
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness.
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Cross References
Acts 9:16
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:10
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:23 - 27
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one - I am talking like a madman - with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
Acts 16:23
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
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Cross References
Acts 17:5
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:6
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
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Cross References
Romans 15:19
By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
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Cross References
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
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Cross References
Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:5
Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:5
That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Ephesians 6:11 - 17
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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Cross References
Romans 3:8
And why not do evil that good may come? - as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:6
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 4:10
Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
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Cross References
Psalms 118:18
The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
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Cross References
John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
2 Corinthians 7:4
I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Proverbs 13:7
One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
1 Corinthians 1:5
That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge -
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Cross References
Acts 3:6
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:30
And those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:3
I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
2 Corinthians 11:11
And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2 Corinthians 12:15
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
Psalms 119:32
I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:2
Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
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Cross References
Galatians 4:12
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:14
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.