2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ALL [THE, GREEK] THINGS - all our privileges in this new creation (2 Corinthians 5:14). RECONCILED US, [ katallaxantos (G2644)] - restored us ("the world," 2 Corinthians 5:19) to His favour by satisfying the claims of justice against us. The aorist implies that the reconciliation is a past accomplished fact. Our position judicially considered in the eye of the law is altered, not as though Christ's mediation made a change in God's character, nor as if the love of God was produced by it: nay, the mediation...

18._All things are of God. _He means, all things that belong to Christ’s kingdom. “If we would be Christ’s, we must be regenerated by God. Now that is no ordinary gift.” He does not, therefore, speak here of creation generally; but of the grace of regeneration, which God confers peculiarly upon his elect, and he affirms that it is _of God _— not on the ground of his being the Creator and Artificer of heaven and earth, but inasmuch as he is the new Creator of the Church, by fashioning his people anew, according to his own image. Thus all flesh is abased, and believers are admonished that they must now live to God, inasmuch as they are a _new creature. _(2 Corinthians 5:17.) This they cannot do, unless they forget the world, as they are also no longer _of the world, _(John 17:16,) because they are of God...

16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot...

Verse 18. _AND ALL THINGS_ ARE _OF GOD_] As the thorough conversion of the soul is compared to a new _creation_, and _creation_ is the proper work of an _all-wise, almighty Being_; then this total change of heart, soul, and life, which takes place under the preaching of the Gospel, is effected by the _power_ and _grace_ of God: this is _salvation_, and salvation must ever be of the Lord; and therefore men should apply to him, who alone can work this wondrous change. _WHO HATH RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST_] Having given Jesus Christ to die for sinners, they have through him access unto God; for his sake and on his account God can receive them; and it is only by the _grace_ and _Spirit_ of Christ that the proud, fierce, and diabolic nature of men can be changed and reconciled to God, and _by_ and _through_ this sacrifice God can be propitious to them. There is

AND ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD - This refers particularly to the things in question, the renewing of the heart, and the influences by which Paul had been brought to a state of willingness to forsake all, and to devote his life to the self-denying labors involved in the purpose of making the Saviour known. He makes the statement general, however, showing his belief that not only these things were produced by God, but that all things were under his direction, and subject to his control. Nothing that he had done was to be traced to his own agency or power, but God was to be acknowledged everywhere. This great truth Paul never forgot; and he never suffered himself to lose sight of it. It was in his view a cardinal and glorious truth; and he kept its influence always before his mind and his heart. In the important statement which follows, therefore, about the ministry of reconciliation, he deeply...

EXPOSITION Continuation of the topic that hope is the chief support of the preacher of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:1). Their self-sacrifice in preaching the gospel of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 _The hope of the future rife is the great support of our efforts._ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 FOR. A further explanation of the hope expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:17. WE KNOW. T

AND ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD,.... A man's being brought into a Gospel church state is of God; the causing all old things to pass away, whether in the Jewish or Gentile world, is of God; the shaking of the heavens and the earth, and the removing of those things that are shaken, the abrogation of the ceremonial law, the putting an end to all the Mosaic rites and sacrifices, the ejection of Satan out of the Heathen temples, and the abolition of Gentilism, with every thing else that comes under the names of old, and new, are of God: it is he that causes old things to pass away, and makes all things new, see Revelation 21:1. Moreover, as all things in the old creation are from him, all creatures owe their beings to him, are supported in them by him, and all are made for his pleasure, and his glory so all things in the new creation are of him; the work of renovation itself is his; all the grace

1. _For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens._ Is not this grand courage on the part of the apostle? With all the world against him, and himself «alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,» he looks at the new body, the new house that God is making for him, and he reckons that, to shuffle off this mortal coil will be no loss to him, since, when he loses the tent in which he lives here, he will go to «a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.» 2-4. _For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed,_ We are not impatient to enter the disembodied stat...

6. CONCERNING THE FUTURE. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Earthly and the Heavenly House. (2 Corinthians 5:1 .)_ 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:9 .) 3. The Constraint of Love. (2 Corinthians 5:13 .) 4. The Ministry of Reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17 .) The certainty of the future things is brought more fully in view. The apostle had given the great doctrines concerning the resurrection of the body, the coming of the Lord and the blessed hope in his first epistle (chapter 15). In the closing verses of the prece

The emphasis is on the opening words of 2 Corinthians 5:11. Among the clouds of misrepresentation to which he was exposed was the sneering assertion that in some unworthy sense he persuades or gets round men (_cf._ Galatians 1:10). If it can be said of him with any truth at all, this, which he has just stated, is the reason. In any case both his motives and his methods are plain to God and (he will never let go the hope) plain also to the inward judgment of the Corinthians. This does not mean that he is justifying another charge made against him, the charge of commending himself. He is really inviting them to be proud of him, as they will be if they do him justice. So will they be able to face his opponents, who found their claim on outward things such as eloquence ...