Kingdom Crier Ministries International
www.kingdomcrier.com
“As new creations in Christ, we are to know no man after the flesh”
By Tony Larussa
Tony’s notes & emphasis are italics. The scriptures are broken down using the Greek language to expound the text and to emphasize the richness of the context. Several translations are also used for this purpose as well. Enjoy! In light of verses 14 & 15, we are presented with a choice to properly respond in the love of Christ towards others because of what our Savior has done. This also affects how we see Christ. How we see Christ determines our ability to live as the new creation He has made us and therefore determines our authority as His ambassadors in the Earth.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (Amplified Bible) 14For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that if One died for all, then all died; 15And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.16Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh.17Therefore if any person is engrafted in Christ the Messiah he is a new creation a new creature altogether; the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold the fresh and new has come! 18But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.19It was God personally present in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against men their trespasses but canceling them, and committing to us the message of reconciliation of the restoration to favor. 20So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We as Christ's personal representatives beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God.21For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of the righteousness of God what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (New American Standard Bible) 14For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.16Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (King James Version) 14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Know: eidon: to see, to perceive with the eyes, to perceive, notice or discern by any of the senses, i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to, to pay attention, observe, to see about something, i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it, to inspect, examine, to look at, behold, to experience any state or condition, to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
No Man: oudeis: in no respect in nothing, no one, nothing – (greek root) ou- no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer (A cross examination)
After: kata: down from, throughout, according to, toward, along
The Flesh: sarx: the body, the body of a man, - born of natural generation, the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"- the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin without any suggestion of depravity, the physical nature of man as subject to suffering, the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God
From the word- saroô: to sweep, clean by sweeping
A derivative of- sairo: to brush off, akin to, to draw, drag of one before the judge, to prison or punishment
Yea Though: Indeed and moreover
We have known: ginôskô: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of, perceive, feel, to become known, to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to understand, Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, to become acquainted with.
Christ after the flesh: actually experienced his tangible presence in person and handled him, seeing his physical attributes and mannerisms.
Yet: alla: nevertheless, notwithstanding, yea, moreover, forms a transition to the cardinal matter
Now: nyn: the present, at this time
Henceforth: ouketi: no longer, no more, no further (see word breakdown)
Ou: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. (A cross examination)
Eti: of a thing which went on formerly, whereas now a different state of things exists or has begun to exist, of a thing which continues at present, even now - with negatives: no longer, no more - of degree and increase: even, yet, besides, more, further
Know we: ginôskô: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of, perceive, feel, to become known, to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to understand, Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, to become acquainted with.
Him no more: ouketi: no longer, no more, no further (see word breakdown)
Ou: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. (A cross examination)
Eti: of a thing which went on formerly, whereas now a different state of things exists or has begun to exist, of a thing which continues at present, even now - with negatives: no longer, no more - of degree and increase: even, yet, besides, more, further
2 Cor. 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
Therefore: Because of the preceding statement of fact (listed in the preceding verse)
If any man: whosoever
Be in Christ: Christos: the messiah, the anointed and his anointing - to anoint, consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration - enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
He is a new: kainos: new, recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn, as respects to substance of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.
(from the root Greek word) Neos: recently born, young, youthful, new
Creature: ktisis: the act of founding, establishing, building etc, the act of creating, creation i.e. thing created - of individual things, beings, a creature, a creation - the sum of things created, institution, ordinance
(from the Greek word) ktizô: to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island - to found a city, to create, to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform
(akin to the Greek word) ktaomai: (through the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer) to acquire, get, or procure a thing for one's self, to possess - to marry a wife
Old things: archaios- that has been from the beginning, original, primal, old ancient -of men, things, times, conditions
(from the Greek word) archç- beginning, origin - the first person or thing in a series, the leader - that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause - the extremity of a thing, the first place, principality, rule, magistracy
(rooted in the Greek word) archomai: to be the first to do (anything), to begin - to be chief, leader, ruler - to begin, make a beginning. (also rooted in) archô- to be chief, to lead, to rule.
Are past away: parerchomai: to go past, pass by - of persons moving forward - to pass by, to pass away, perish, to pass by, pass over, that is, to neglect, omit
Note* If old things are passed away, we cannot: transgress, be led by, be carried past, be averted - come near, come forward, or arrive at. (That nature which Christ put to death in His person for He has become our life and our life now and forever is hidden in Christ in God)
(word breakdown)
Para: from, of, at, by, besides, near. (Speaks to the point of origin of old things i.e. the nature we formerly walked in and were related to. This was our slavery to the old sin nature. In contrast our new man is created in true righteousness and holiness because of what Christ has done for us!)
Erchomai: to come, to come into being, arise, come forth, find place or influence, be established, and become known, to come, fall into, to follow one.
Behold: eidon: to see, to perceive: with the eyes, to perceive by any of the senses, to perceive, notice, discern, discover, to see - i.e. to turn: the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything, to pay attention, observe, to see about something - i.e. to ascertain: what must be done about it, to inspect, examine, to look at, behold, to experience any state or condition, to see - i.e. have an interview with: to visit, to know, to know of anything, - i.e. get knowledge of: understand, perceive of any fact, the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning, to know how, to be skilled in, to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12) ( Since old things have past away, see now how Christ is manifested in the full person of the child of God, Body, Soul and Spirit)
All Things: pas: individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything, collectively (The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts—some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted his redemption to either Jew or Gentile.)
Are Become: ginomai; to become, to come into existence, begins to be, receive being, come to pass, happen - of events: arise, appear in history, to come upon the stage (i.e. Christ’s work at Calvary)
New: kainos: new, recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn - as respects to substance of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.
(related Greek word) neos: recently born, young, youthful, new
Note* Because Christ has done a perfect work, we have great confidence and peace in His ability as our advocate and great shepherd. The following verse should burn the brighter in our hearts with such a great revelation of His love for us.
Hebrews 7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
Wherefore: hothen: from which, whence - of the place from which - of the source from which a thing is known, from which, whereby - of the cause from which, for which reason, wherefore, on which account
He is Able: dynamai: have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom - to be able to do something, to be capable, strong and powerful (All power has been given to Christ)
Also: kai: and, also, even, indeed, apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
To save them: sôzô: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, one (from injury or peril) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue to save in the technical biblical sense, to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment, to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
To The Uttermost: pantelçs: all complete, completely, perfect, perfectly, and utterly
(from the Greek word) telos: from a primary word tello: (to set out for a definite point or goal)
an end, termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time) the end - the last in any succession or series, eternal, that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue, the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose.
Note* The act was: Christ’s work of redemption at Calvary which has no end for it is an eternal work for all generations and the state of righteousness we receive is as eternal and permanent as he He is.
That come: proserchomai: approach, draw near to, to assent to,
(Greek word breakdown)
Pros: with regard to the advantage of denoting direction towards a person or thing from any position or state, of the limit or goal for which a movement is directed. To turn mouth to mouth, invoking, swearing, testifying with the intent of making known, signifies the mode of bearing ones self toward, to return, remain, dwell or tarry which require one to be conceived of as always turned towards one, of the relation or close connection entered into by one person with another, of ethical relationship, to turn to light or the things which tend toward the restoration of peace and attainment of safety,
Erchomai: to come: pertaining to persons: to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving and of those returning, to appear: make one's appearance, come before the public, to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto - to go, to follow one
Unto God: theos: the Godhead, trinity, God the Father, the first person in the trinity, Christ, the second person of the trinity, Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity, spoken of the only and true God, refers to the things of God, his counsels, interests, things due to him, whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way, God's representative or vice regent.
In all their inflections, HE is the definite article.
Now we are getting to the core of what is at hand here. We are heirs of a covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. We DO NOT have a contract with God. We have a covenant with God and He himself assumes all of the responsibilities and liabilities of the covenants enforcement and its validation. Christ is the only person to ever rise from the dead to oversee and execute the performance of His own will on the behalf of the beneficiaries. That’s us Folks!!! The beneficiaries are bankrupt with nothing to offer and nothing to perform to secure the benefits of the covenant. The only position the beneficiaries are to assume is that of a seated receiver. The benefits are received without merit and received in a posture of rest because another has done the work to procure the benefits. The only response to the provider of the benefits is a thankful believing heart. We have a diathçkç covenant with God and Christ is our perfect representative and High Priest!
By: dia: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act.
by the means of: the ground or reason by which something is or is not done, by reason of or on account of, because of and for this reason, therefore on this account with the adverbial phrase top to bottom (i.e the torn veil), who believe through un-circumcision, while we were clothed with our earthly body, are clothed with glory. The Place: (Calvary) The means: (The Cross) On account of: (His Blood)
This is where we get the word diathçkç: a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will.
Primarily signifies "a disposition of property by will or otherwise." it is the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning a "covenant" or agreement (from a verb signifying "to cut or divide," in allusion to a sacrificial custom in connection with "covenant-making," In contradistinction to the English word "covenant" (lit., "a coming together"), which signifies a mutual undertaking between two parties or more, each binding himself to fulfill obligations, it does not in itself contain the idea of joint obligation, it mostly signifies an obligation undertaken by a single person. For instance, in Galatians 3:17 it is used as an alternative to a "promise." God enjoined upon Abraham the rite of circumcision, but His promise to Abraham, here called a "covenant," was not conditional upon the observance of circumcision.
Christ assumes all responsibility for the validity and enforcement of the covenant. He assumes the oath and also assumes the penalties for any and all violations of the covenant. One party supplies the power or righteousness of the covenant (Christ) The other party (us) receives the benefits of what is provided, trusting in the righteousness of the one providing the avenue of those benefits. It is an uneven covenant where one does all the labor and the other completely rests. Rests as one limp, void of tension or stress, as one in a peaceful sleep or state of bliss. To rely on the faithfulness of the other without any care or concern that what is promised can and will be done or provided for.
Him: autos: himself, from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of Strong’s Lexicon G109 through the idea of a baffling wind] açr- from aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow) the air,
Seeing He ever: pantote: at all times, always, ever, while, as long as
Liveth: zaô: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead) to enjoy real life, to have true life and worthy of the name, active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God, to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting, living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, active, powerful, efficacious
To make Intercession: entygchanô: to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication, to pray, entreat make intercession for any one.
(beginning root Greek word) En: a primary preposition denoting a fixed position, (in place, time or state), and by implication instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest, at the right hand, of the person or thing on whom or on which some power is operative.
Note** Are we not seated with Christ in heavenly places? Are we not supposed to rest in the finished work of Christ seated at the right hand of the Father since we are all sons of God in Christ? Is not His power operative and effective to keep us rested?
For: hyper: in behalf of, for the sake of another
Them: autos: himself, from the particle au [perhaps akin to the Greek word) açr: the idea of a baffling wind from (another Greek word) aemi: (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow) the air.
Note** Christ identifies Himself with us as the son of man. He identifies with our humanity fully but empowers us by the breath of His Spirit. He is the breath of life in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit blows as a wind where He wills and the natural man understands Him not.
For 4 years, in our fellowship, we have been talking about walking in the spirit of Sonship, God’s perspective on things, the embrace of superior realities in light of inferior realities, and who Christ is and what He has done. We have studied about His role as our High Priest and even why he said to Martha “one thing is needful”. By the Spirit we have felt His heartfelt desire to reveal Abba to us. We have learned the difference between how the Law of Moses was given signifying distance verses how Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, signifying His desire for intimacy and fellowship and we have focused like a laser beam on Grace and Peace is multiplied to us through the knowledge of Christ.
The sole purpose of our fellowship and ministry is to lift up Christ. He alone is our Counselor and Attorney by the power of the Holy Spirit, guiding us in the revelation of who He is. In our fellowship, The Holy Spirit is imparting life and Christ will continue to remain our focus. The Holy Spirit searches the intents of the heart and knows the dividing lines between our soul and spirit. He has declared; we are constantly transfigured into Christ’s very own image in ever increasing splendor from one degree of His glory to another as we continue to behold Him. We must rest in Him and trust His finished work. He is the mirror and if we will stand with unveiled faces in our liberty, He Himself, The Spirit, The Lord will confirm, ensure and make real to us our emancipation from bondage and slavery. This is the theme The Lord wants us to stay on and He is making this message stronger and clearer.
We could all get together and share our problems and discuss our failures and shortcomings and sometimes we do just that but the focus of our fellowship is going to be on Christ, what He is saying and who we are in Him. I believe that life’s issues are answered and changed by the focus of Who and what we worship. The questions that arise concerning our study are questions that will find their answers in spending time with Him and through personal one on one fellowship with each another; He alone knows the origin of the questions we ask. Christ is the merry good news that makes a man fairly leap for joy! That joy will be the compass that directs our local gathering and website connection. Anything that does not foster or spark that joy is not the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 declares, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to e very one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
As we have studied, “the gospel” is the news of Christ; it’s the news of who He is and what He has done. It’s the news that offers us His Yoke with a lowly meek and humble heart and asks us to unload ours. It makes no difference if there are 5 or 5000 people here on this website or in our fellowship. If we can’t get excited about making Him our focus and getting our eyes off ourselves and our problems and instead fixing them on Him, than we are refusing the answers and outcomes we seek because of unbelief and self occupation. Christ, our High Priest, has availed himself to us for every single thing we need. He is the righteous man who fervently prays for us on our behalf and His prayers avail much. Are we turned toward Him on the basis of our covenant or turned toward Him on the basis of our feeling? Are we fighting for victory of fighting from victory? Is the battle the Lord’s and the victory ours? Yes or no? Do we believe Him, or do we believe things we’ve heard about Him that have no basis in truth? These are important questions you need to answer.
It matters to Him what we believe our condition to be. If we are falling short in receiving grace in our time of need, He is not ashamed of us in the least but when we come to Him, are we approaching Him in faith as these verses describe. Is our opinion of Him a good opinion, one of trust in His faithfulness? Are we receiving Him as He is and responding in faith to the office he holds on our behalf and is our approach - proserchomai as defined in the context of this message? Read the definition above again and ask yourself if you are. Words are important and carry power in them. These are important and weighty things we are handling. It is vital that we rightly divide and discern the truth because it is the only way we can partake of what has been given to us. As I meditated on this message, I believe the Lord gave me a word to paraphrase what He was saying to me and I’d like to share it with you. I want you to know that you are intensely loved by Him and that He only has good thoughts toward you. The issue is: Are you convinced in His love?
HAS THE LOVE OF GOD CONVINCED YOU YET?
Has the love of God convinced you yet? It has convinced us and so we plead His judicial case with you all. We were all dead in sin, wretched and alienated from Life. He died to reconcile us all. And if He died, we all thus died in Him because he came to us to re-present us to the Father as Holy in Him. He is indeed the vessel we all find ourselves housed in and have you reckoned the fact, that you yourselves are now dead to this world? And now that He is raised, have you realized that you are now apprehended and captured by His indwelling life, and that Life now possesses you? Have you basked in Love long enough to realize what Love did for you and do you not have a heart full of worshipful gratitude and reverential awe for who Life is and what Love accomplished on your behalf? Is it so unjust to suggest that we no longer live for ourselves but rather live to the praise and glory of the One who endured such suffering, died and rose again? I stand here as His ambassador and vice regent with full legal justification and authority to claim these facts. And in light of these facts, we therefore no longer regard or consider the flesh of a man as constitutionally relevant to the judicial claims and decrees of the New Covenant.
We no longer appraise a man or woman based upon temporal conditions, attitudes and situations that stem from the curse of the law or from natures law in general. Christ himself is no longer what He was as a man in the flesh for He too was changed upon resurrection from the dead and as the firstborn from among the dead we no longer see Him as a man of flesh but as The Life giving Spirit that He is. He as our representative has bound himself to the same judicial decrees of the New Covenant for He is the avenue of its ratification. Therefore and because of this plain fact, if any man is in Christ, seized and apprehended by Love, he too is a new creation, a new species of man in the same exact likeness and nature of who Christ is, just as if he too was raised from the dead when Christ Himself was risen 3 days after His crucifixion. Behold, come and see, inspect closely my claim and view for yourselves through the lenses of Love that indeed, all old things of the past are decayed and wasted away as dust, that the vague smoky dream of an empty lifeless past is now gone and that deaths power no longer has dominion over you. Have you put on the lenses of Love? Are you looking at life through the one who is your life? Are you looking through His eyes? In His eyes old things have past away and now in Him all things are as fresh as a newborn babe, as a new sunrise, as if sin had never entered the Earth. A new Covenant is established and eternal reconciliation and redemption has finally come.
In Christ all things are of God and find their purpose for being and in Him we find ourselves fitted for ministry to reconcile a remaining world, telling them this same judicial decree that never dims or lacks enforcement, explaining and proclaiming that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, restoring brotherly affection and family ties through convincing and provoking Love. And this Love doesn’t hold a man’s sins against him or over him but reaches out to make whole and free the object Love extends itself to without any sense of recompense or payment. This is the word committed to us. This is the truth that God desires reconciliation with man and He will never, no not ever change His mind about it, never! He has already demonstrated His intention by giving up all that He is. Because, we know these things as fact, and consider Christ as He is, seated in heavenly places with all authority, dominion and power, we as His appointed and anointed ambassadors and vice regents stand before you as if the King of the universe is standing before you. That confidence comes from him and is secured by His love. We plead with you on behalf of the King who has sent us to you, be reconciled to Him, accept Him in your hearts and believe the Love He has for you!
The sum of these statements is this and they are true. He who never ever sinned, nor even had the nature of sin became the full measure of what sin was, and is. He did this so that He could completely and utterly absorb the horror of its effects on our minds bodies and spirit. He removed the fence that penned us up in the torturous death camp of satan’s miserable darkness so that by His death, could exchange our death for His life and all that accompanies relationship with the Father of Heaven where full joy, ecstasy, health and peace beyond comprehension never wanes or ceases, where His righteousness becomes ours, as a free gift of love. We know Him as He is now and we boldly announce to you His heart and can confidently say that He offers this to us with a twinkle in His eye, a smile on his lips, and with joy in His heart. We are now righteous even as He is righteous.
I ask you again………….. Has the love of God convinced you yet?
