2 Corinthians 5:11-21

¹¹Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences. ¹²For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart. ¹³For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. ¹⁵He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. ¹⁶Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. ¹⁷Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, they have become new. ¹⁸But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.