April 16, 2023 · 2 Corinthians 5:14–19

New Creation

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 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. 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.

“You love yourself more when you love other people. You're able to see the good when you're caring for other people. And it starts to destroy some of these parts of the old self. So make sure you don't get self-focused. That's another problem with all this self-talk. You are a new creation. … You're a new creation to do good for others. So it can't be self-obsessed. This isn't just self-help, right? … I really believe that. … The last thing I want to point on this is that you need to have confidence in God. He's the new creator. Do you trust your identity to Jesus? That he knows who you really are? … I think we have to be really honest. These are things that are going on in people's hearts. … Because we don't have to define ourselves. He's defining us.”