2 Corinthians 5:11–21

¹¹Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, but have been manifested to God, and I hope also that we have been manifested in your consciences.

¹²For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but we are giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have such with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart. ¹³For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or are sober, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

¹⁶So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer. ¹⁷So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new: ¹⁸and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation: ¹⁹how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their offences; and putting in us the word of that reconciliation. ²⁰We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God. ²¹Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in him.