The Ministry of Reconciliation
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Knowing, therefore, k the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
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For l we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity m to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
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For n if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
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For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that o if One died for all, then all died;
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and He died for all, p that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
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q Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, r yet now we know Him thus no longer.
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Therefore, if anyone s is in Christ, he is t a new creation; u old things have passed away; behold, all things have become v new.
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Now all things are of God, w who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
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that is, that x God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
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Now then, we are y ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
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For z He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become a the righteousness of God in Him.
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We then, as a workers together with Him also b plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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For He says:
c "In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
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d We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
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But in all things we commend ourselves e as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
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f in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
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by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
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g by the word of truth, by h the power of God, by i the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
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as unknown, and j yet well known; k as dying, and behold we live; l as chastened, and yet not killed;
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as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many m rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
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O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, n our heart is wide open.
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You are not restricted by us, but o you are restricted by your own affections.
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Now in return for the same p (I speak as to children), you also be open.
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Cross References
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 3:1
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 1:14
(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Philippians 1:26
That your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
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Cross References
Mark 3:21
But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind.
2 Corinthians 11:1
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly - and indeed you do bear with me.
2 Corinthians 11:16
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
2 Corinthians 12:11
I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
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Cross References
Romans 5:15
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.
Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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Cross References
Romans 6:11
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
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Cross References
Matthew 12:50
"For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
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Cross References
John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
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Cross References
Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
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Cross References
Isaiah 43:18
Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Ephesians 4:24
And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
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Cross References
Romans 6:3 - 10
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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Cross References
Romans 5:10
For if when 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.
Ephesians 2:16
And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Colossians 1:20
And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
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Cross References
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
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Cross References
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Ephesians 6:20
For which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
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Cross References
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:9
And they made His grave with the wicked - But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
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Cross References
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
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Cross References
Isaiah 49:8
Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages.
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Cross References
Romans 14:13
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:14
For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
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Cross References
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 4:2
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 5:11
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:9
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
1 Corinthians 4:11
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
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Cross References
Psalms 118:18
The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:5
That you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
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Cross References
Isaiah 60:5
Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
2 Corinthians 7:3
I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:15
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:14
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.