The young 1st century church @ Corinth was facing many obstacles as they advanced the Gospel. Confusion and competing ideas from Jewish tradition and pagan philosophies influenced by the Greek culture abounded. Besides that they struggled simply with the “newness” around this “Good News.” In reality, they faced many of the same issues we still wrestle with today. Paul provided a voice of clarity (inspired truth) that provides us with help and handles as we “get the Gospel right” in our generation.
In a very familiar text, II Corinthians 5:17-21, we find 3 major themes regarding the Core Conviction of God’s Solution to man’s sin. First, Paul speaks of the promise related to the Gospel. In verse 17, he celebrates the inclusive nature of the Gospel using the “if any man” language. This same beautiful promise is found in other NT passages – John 3:16; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:13, and II Peter 3:9 just to list a few. The promise is also relational in nature – captured in the beautiful words “In Christ.” The Gospel is not about religion or man’s good works, but about God’s work of redemption in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Finally, Paul celebrates the transformational nature of the Gospel when he asserts that we become “a new creation” in Christ (Ephesians 2:1).
The Gospel masterpiece continues to be explained in this text as Paul displays the process and the privilege of God’s work in Christ. This coming Sunday morning, I will be proclaiming a clarifying and convictional message around this passage and this glorious theme. Whatever else we may miss in life, we must be sure to get the Gospel right!
