2 Cor 5:11-8:15 Seeing as God sees

Paul's was to persuade people about Jesus.  Christ's love compelled him.  He viewed everyone from Christ's perspective, rather than his own worldly perspective.

God has made those in Christ new creatures - the old has gone & the new has come.  And then, they have been given a ministry of reconciliation - we are Christ's ambassadors, with God making His appeal through us.

We therefore implore people "Be reconciled to God!"

28 particulars describing Paul's life and ministry experience:

Great endurance
Troubles
Hardships
Distresses
Beatings
Imprisonments
Riots
Hard work
Sleepless nights
Hunger
Purity
Understanding
Patience
Kindness
In the Holy Spirit
Sincere love
Truthful speech
In the power of God
With weapons of righteousness in the right hand & left
Through glory & dishonour
Bad report & good report
Genuine, but regarded as impostors
Known, but unknown
Dying, yet we live on
Beaten, yet not killed
Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
Poor, yet making many rich
Having nothing, yet possessing everything

Is this my Christian life & experience?

6:14-16

As Christians, we are not called to sameness, but difference.  We are to come out and be separate.  We have nothing in common, we cannot have fellowship together, we have no harmony.  We are to separate completely.

Have I/am I doing this in my life?

Paul is clear that the Corinthians bring him great joy and encouragement.  He is pleased to see how their sorrow has produced earnestness in them to see the Christian life lived out - as a result of this, there has been encouragement for Paul & his fellow believers.

Paul talks of both godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.  Godly sorrow brings repentance and leads to salvation & leaves no regret, worldly sorrow brings death.

ch 8

The Macedonian churches were in a situation of severe trial, but had overflowing joy, they had extreme poverty, but showed rich generosity.  Paul describes their behaviour as excellence in everything - faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and love.

Paul urges them to complete the job they have started - to continue in generosity and to provide for other's needs.