1. God’s Hedges 2 Corinthians 5

2. I Certainty Of Death, Judgment, 1-10 A tent is temporary, 1 Feast of Tabernacles Permanent dwelling follows this life, 2 Do you long for heaven? Our ambition, 9 “The whole life of a good Christian is holy longing” His judgment seat, 10 The divine subpoena A reversal of roles

3. II Fear Of The Lord, 11 Fear Fear ranges in meaning from panic and fright to awe and reverence When we face a divine Judge, fright and awe unite into one Hb.10:27, 31; Hb.12:29 Ph.2:12, the effect “You may juggle human laws, you may fool with human courts, but there is a judgment to come, and from it there is no appeal”

4. III Love Of Christ, 14-21 1. Compels us, 14 To hem in; no other option, thus it impels, urges on Fear is a good motivator, but nothing compares to love * Lk.4:38; 8:37; 19:43; 2 Co.5:14 * Ac.18:5 The Love Of God

5. 2. Controls us, 14-15 One for all (14) causes all for One (15): live for Him.... Every man for himself changes into live no longer for themselves

6. 3. Creates us, 17 New creature (ASV) “A new creation”: a common rabbinical description of a converted proselyte “In Christ, he becomes a new person altogether” (Phillips) Old things have passed away He has given us a new way to look at things

7. All things have become new born Jn.3:3, born again created Ep.2:10, created new Ep.4:23-24, new man, Existence turns into life Swords turn into plowshares A house turns into a home The Rule of gold turns into the golden rule

8. 4. Claims us, 18-19 We were His enemies (Ro.5:10) He brought us back to Himself by Christ Hellenistic religion Hellenistic religion: the man seeks restoration of the gods’ favor Christianity Christianity: God seeks the sinner, using His Son’s death to bring about reconciliation

9. 5. Cleanses us, 21 Jesus “knew no sin” The idea of a man w/o sin was alien to Jewish thought nota sinner God did not make Jesus a sinner He would not make anyone a sinner, much less His own Son A sinner cannot be a Savior

10. He made Him “sin” for us sin He bore our sin punishment He bore the punishment we deserved He did this to deliver us (1 Pt.2:24) God treated Him as if He were the embodiment of sin

11. Isa.53:6; Ga.3:13 “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins” (Chrysostom) “The Father made Him a victim for the sins of the world” (Cyril of Alexandria) requires makes God requires satisfaction because He is holy, but He makes satisfaction because He is love

12. Paradoxes Man sinned, but God suffered God made Himself the sin of men, and men are made the righteousness of God

13. IV Lessons: 1.God gave us what we need *If our greatest need had been worldly knowledge, God would have sent us an educator * If technology... programmer * If money... a rich man * If fun... an entertainer forgivenessSavior * If forgiveness... a Savior

14. 2. God understands our greatest need Reconciliation Men refuse it; do not understand: The horror of sin * The horror of sin “Those who have committed no fault want no pardon” The enormity of guilt * The enormity of guilt, 10-11 “Sin is a clenched fist and its object is the face of God”

15. Consequences * Consequences: Eternity in hell Separation from God Evil associations The love of Christ * The love of Christ, 14. Mt.26 The debt we owe * The debt we owe, 15

16. 3. Christ died to save us Mt.27:40, 42 To save others, He did not save Himself

17. 4. We must show our appre- ciation for His sacrifice We show it by – * Gladly assembling. Ps.122:1 * Saving others. 1 Co.9:22 * Giving thanks. 1 Co.15:57 “Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns”