Looking at People in a New Way

Look at all the people in the world who don't know who they are! The gospel enables you to look at them in a new way. Even those who do not acknowledge God at all are enjoying life because Christ gave it to them, in Himself. They don't know it, but they would be dead at this very moment if He had not given His life for them. He is the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Christ says He gave Himself "for the life of the world" (John 6:51). In verse 33 He says He "giveth life unto the world." And, according to a wise writer, verse 53 says that all these people who don't know about Jesus and His sacrifice, even the atheists, are eating the Lord's Supper without realizing it: "Never one, saint or sinner, eats his daily food, but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ."

Is this why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 that "henceforth [he] knows no one according to the flesh" (vs. 16)? He looks at people in a new way! He has just said in verses 14 and 15 that when Christ died for all, that means that when He died, "all died." They may not know it, but it's still true. For you and me to know something doesn't make it true; it was true before we knew it! Every one of these people out in the world is enjoying what he enjoys of life totally as the result of Christ's sacrifice for him--even his mashed potatoes and gravy today!

Paul's point in 2 Corinthians 5 is that it's time these people know Who they have to thank for all these blessings! So he says, "God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (vs. 18). In other words, we are to tell people who they are--they are people already redeemed from the grave by His sacrifice; at this moment, they belong in the grave, but they are alive because of Him.

Now, says Paul, "Be ye reconciled to God"! Believe it! Say "Thank You Lord for saving my soul!" And when you understand it and believe it, you simply cannot go on living for yourself, but now you're constrained to live unto Him who died for you and rose again.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 7, 1997.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.

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