The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,d we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.e 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,f but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,g so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”h as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.i 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselvesj but for him who died for themk and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldlyl point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,m the new creationn has come:a The old has gone, the new is here!o 18 All this is from God,p who reconciled us to himself through Christq and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.r And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.