On Being Clothed

On Being Clothed

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Pro 29:18  Where there is no^H369 vision,^H2377 the people^H5971 perish:^H6544 but he that keepeth^H8104 the law,^H8451 happy^H835 is he.

Exo 32:25 KJV+  And when Moses^H4872 saw^H7200 that^{H3588 (H853)} the people^H5971 were naked;^H6544 (for^H3588 Aaron^H175 had made them naked^H6544 unto their shame^H8103 among their enemies:)^H6965

perish:^H6544

naked^H6544

H6544

פּרע

pâra‛

paw-rah'

A primitive root; to loosen; by implication to expose, dismiss; figuratively absolve, begin: - avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.

Lev 10:6  And Moses^H4872 said^H559 unto^H413 Aaron,^H175 and unto Eleazar^H499 and unto Ithamar,^H385 his sons,^H1121 Uncover^H6544not^H408 your heads,^H7218 neither^H3808 rend^H6533 your clothes;^H899 lest^H3808 ye die,^H4191 and lest wrath come^H7107 upon^H5921 all^H3605 the people:^H5712 but let your brethren,^H251 the whole^H3605 house^H1004 of Israel,^H3478 bewail^{H1058 (H853)} the burning^H8316 which^H834 the LORD^H3068 hath kindled.^H8313

Lev 13:45 KJV+  And the leper^H6879 in whom^H834 the plague^H5061 is, his clothes^H899 shall be^H1961 rent,^H6533 and his head^H7218 bare,^H6544 and he shall put a covering^H5844 upon^H5921 his upper lip,^H8222 and shall cry,^H7121 Unclean,^H2931 unclean.^H2931

2Ch 28:19 KJV+  For^H3588 the LORD^H3068 brought^{H3665 (H853)} Judah^H3063 low because of^H5668 Ahaz^H271 king^H4428 of Israel;^H3478 for^H3588 he made Judah naked,^{H6544 H3063} and transgressed^H4603 sore^H4604 against the LORD.^H3068

Pro 1:22-30 KJV+  How long,^{H5704 H4970} ye simple ones,^H6612 will ye love^H157 simplicity?^H6612 and the scorners^H3887 delight^H2530 in their scorning,^H3944 and fools^H3684 hate^H8130 knowledge?^H1847  (23)  Turn^H7725 you at my reproof:^H8433 behold,^H2009 I will pour out^H5042 my spirit^H7307 unto you, I will make known^H3045 my words^H1697 unto you.  (24)  Because^H3282 I have called,^H7121 and ye refused;^H3985 I have stretched out^H5186 my hand,^H3027 and no man^H369 regarded;^H7181  (25)  But ye have set at naught^H6544 all^H3605 my counsel,^H6098 and would^H14 none^H3808 of my reproof:^H8433  (26)  I^H589 also^H1571 will laugh^H7832 at your calamity;^H343 I will mock^H3932 when your fear^H6343 cometh;^H935  (27)  When your fear^H6343 cometh^H935 as desolation,^H7722 and your destruction^H343 cometh^H857 as a whirlwind;^H5492 when distress^H6869 and anguish^H6695 cometh^H935 upon^H5921 you.  (28)  Then^H227 shall they call upon^H7121 me, but I will not^H3808 answer;^H6030 they shall seek me early,^H7836 but they shall not^H3808 find^H4672 me:  (29)  For that^{H8478 H3588} they hated^H8130 knowledge,^H1847 and did not^H3808 choose^H977 the fear^H3374 of the LORD:^H3068  (30)  They would^H14 none^H3808 of my counsel:^H6098 they despised^H5006 all^H3605 my reproof.^H8433

Pro 4:7-19 KJV+  Wisdom^H2451 is the principal thing;^H7225 therefore get^H7069 wisdom:^H2451 and with all^H3605 thy getting^H7075 get^H7069 understanding.^H998  (8)  Exalt^H5549 her, and she shall promote^H7311 thee: she shall bring thee to honor,^H3513 when^H3588 thou dost embrace^H2263 her.  (9)  She shall give^H5414 to thine head^H7218 an ornament^H3880 of grace:^H2580 a crown^H5850 of glory^H8597 shall she deliver^H4042 to thee.  (10)  Hear,^H8085 O my son,^H1121 and receive^H3947 my sayings;^H561 and the years^H8141 of thy life^H2416 shall be many.^H7235  (11)  I have taught^H3384 thee in the way^H1870 of wisdom;^H2451 I have led^H1869 thee in right^H3476 paths.^H4570  (12)  When thou goest,^H1980 thy steps^H6806 shall not^H3808 be straitened;^H3334 and when^H518 thou runnest,^H7323 thou shalt not^H3808 stumble.^H3782  (13)  Take fast hold^H2388 of instruction;^H4148 let her not^H408 go:^H7503 keep^H5341 her; for^H3588 she^H1931 is thy life.^H2416  (14)  Enter^H935 not^H408 into the path^H734 of the wicked,^H7563 and go^H833 not^H408 in the way^H1870 of evil^H7451 men.  (15)  Avoid^H6544 it, pass^H5674 not^H408 by it, turn^H7847 from^{H4480 H5921} it, and pass away.^H5674  (16)  For^H3588 they sleep^H3462 not,^H3808 except^{H518 H3808} they have done mischief;^H7489 and their sleep^H8142 is taken away,^H1497 unless^{H518 H3808} they cause some to fall.^H3782  (17)  For^H3588 they eat^H3898 the bread^H3899 of wickedness,^H7562 and drink^H8354 the wine^H3196 of violence.^H2555  (18)  But the path^H734 of the just^H6662 is as the shining^H5051 light,^H216 that shineth^H215 more and more^H1980 unto^H5704 the perfect^H3559 day.^H3117  (19)  The way^H1870 of the wicked^H7563 is as darkness:^H653 they know^H3045 not^H3808 at what^H4100 they stumble.^H3782

Pro 29:18  Where there is no^H369 vision,^H2377 the people^H5971 perish:^H6544 but he that keepeth^H8104 the law,^H8451 happy^H835 is he.

Gen 9:20-23 KJV+  And Noah^H5146 began^H2490 to be an husbandman,^{H376 H127} and he planted^H5193 a vineyard:^H3754  (21)  And he drank^H8354 of^H4480 the wine,^H3196 and was drunken;^H7937 and he was uncovered^H1540 within^H8432 his tent.^H168  (22)  And Ham,^H2526 the father^H1 of Canaan,^H3667 saw^{H7200 (H853)} the nakedness^H6172 of his father,^H1 and told^H5046 his two^H8147 brethren^H251 without.^H2351  (23)  And Shem^H8035 and Japheth^H3315 took^{H3947 (H853)} a garment,^H8071 and laid^H7760 it upon^H5921 both^H8147 their shoulders,^H7926 and went^H1980 backward,^H322 and covered^{H3680 (H853)} the nakedness^H6172 of their father;^H1 and their faces^H6440 were backward,^H322 and they saw^H7200 not^H3808 their father's^H1 nakedness.^H6172

Lord God Almighty Prince of Peace, Life-giving Spirit, Abba, may every breath I am given move me to Love and to give love to You and to my neighbor. Let Love lead me and guide me and sanctify me. CAUSE me by Love to love, to love You and love my neighbor. You ARE Love and You ARE Jesus. You made us in Your Image and Likeness. Restore me and all your Body’s members to be the loving Body and the loving Bride who will and does love Love and love to love others! 

God is so profoundly Good. “…to be at Your right hand forever to me will be happiness ALWAYS!” In EVERY way and for ALL time God does make His own happy, blessed, full of joy, and glad, and exceedingly glad. We will be unwilling and unable to refrain from His courtship, His betrothal and the consummation of His even OUR Love. If a man and woman leave mom and dad and cleave becoming one flesh, how much more will we leave all else to cleave in spirit to the One who cleaves to US! “We are ONE in the Spirit we are ONE in the Lord…”

What things unsettle me? You? What moves me to the right or the left? It really can’t be God, can it?

Pro 4:25-27 KJVR  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  (26)  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  (27)  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

The devil never found anything of himself in Jesus. As my facebook friend pointed out, Jesus did not have a sin nature. Not ever. But I do, and all humans do. We were all born of Adam’s fallen nature. Eve was deceived. Adam listened to her forgetting what God had instructed Him NOT to do. The result? They were naked and ashamed.

The theme of being clothed started with fig leaves which were quickly replaced by animal skins. Certainly blood was shed when God clothed Adam and Eve. Noah was found naked. Ham gossiped it and his brothers humbly clothed Noah.

Leviticus 8 American Standard Version (ASV)

8 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bullock of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble thou all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting. 4 And Moses did as Jehovah commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the tent of meeting. 5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded to be done.

6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. 8 And he placed the breastplate upon him: and in the breastplate he put [a]the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he set the [b]mitre upon his head; and upon the [c]mitre, in front, did he set the golden plate, the holy crown; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

1 Chronicles 15:27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: and David had upon him an ephod of linen.

1 Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Jehovah standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

2 Chronicles 6:41 Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=clothed&qs_version=ASV

I will be looking for this theme as I read. Please pray for me as I want to read from cover to cover before I pass from this jar of clay. I have not done it yet.

Rhinos and Schtuff

“Rhinos” (establishment republicans) are distancing themselves from Donald Trump. Why? Could it be they really are that envious of this populist choice of the people? Humble people do not concern themselves with getting credit for success. It is enough that success is accomplished. If our nation turns away from evil and lawless behavior with Donald Trump as president or with Hillary Clinton I will rejoice. It is really God in the Highest who grants success.

What is success? Success in this world is when people do the right things. When enough people do the right things peace begins to flourish. Success is getting through this life with as little damage and loss as possible and as much good as possible. Success is not only personal, it is family, it is village, town, city and nation, and one day will overtake the whole world.

What are the right things? Here mankind suffers a great difficulty. Most have a pretty good idea of what is right but most want to get the credit for being right. We are right when we do right, but we are wrong when we do right to be “righter than thou.” To really be right we will not be right with arrogance. We will not brag of our being or doing right for we are so often only right because we have learned from God what is right and done what God says is right for us to do. We are not purely and wholly right when we do what is right, we have not yet become the flawless eternal souls we are destined to be. AND even when we do reach out destiny we will forever humbly give God ALL the glory, honor, praise and credit for being right! When I want the credit, I put my self forward as the supreme authority who decides what is right. God alone gets the credit. We insult God by anything more than humble surrender and submission to His righteousness.

Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches; But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord. [I Cor. 1:31; II Cor. 10:17.] (Jeremiah 9:23-24 AMP)

Whatever establishment group you or I identify with, we should keep in mind this: Our leaders who we wish to serve us will be greatly assisted when we do the right things. If we will only humble ourselves admitting that the one human race we belong to needs again and always to learn and do what is right. We are not born into this world knowing what is right. Who will teach us what IS right? If we will not learn this from God, what man or woman will teach us? Who CAN we trust?

READ the Bible. Why remain ignorant of it? Or do you prefer your own righteousness? How’s that working for you?

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The whole community of the people of Isra'el left the Seen Desert, traveling in stages, as Adonai had ordered, and camped at Refidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moshe, demanding, "Give us water to drink!" But Moshe replied, "Why pick a fight with me? Why are you testing Adonai?" However, the people were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, "For what did you bring us up from Egypt? To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?" Moshe cried out to Adonai, "What am I to do with these people? They're ready to stone me!"

(Exodus 17:1-4 CJB)

>>>>>>>>>>> 

So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet. For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them]. (John 13:12-17 AMP)

Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets. Why did He do that?

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

(Genesis 1:31 AMP)

What happened to the things God made?

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart.

(Genesis 6:5-6 AMP)

Would we wish to live in continual regret and grief? What we make belongs to us, and when it is displeasing to us, what do we do? We fix it, or we throw it on the trash heap.

What did God do with the things He made which had become evil entirely and continually?

The earth was depraved and putrid in God's sight, and the land was filled with violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power). And God looked upon the world and saw how degenerate, debased, and vicious it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true direction. God said to Noah, I intend to make an end of all flesh, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I will destroy them and the land.

(Genesis 6:11-13 AMP)

Would God’s creation be a failure? Would He throw it and mankind made in Hid image and likeness away?

But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord. This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God.

(Genesis 6:8-9 AMP)

What happened to Noah when God favored him? God put him to work. He built a big ship.

After the flood Noah got drunk and his son Ham saw him naked. Why did this happen? Did not God destroy all the wicked? Was Noah not “a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation;” ???

God promised Noah that never again would He drown the whole world. And yet we know that evil was not eradicated from the earth or from the hearts of men by the flood. Why? What IS God doing? Be assured it is something good!!!

"You are worthy, Adonai Eloheinu, to have glory, honor and power, because you created all things — yes, because of your will they were created and came into being!"

(Revelation 4:11 CJB)

Many others have been given favor from God. Can we name some? Can we readily give a dozen examples of those whom God favored along with the lesson their story teaches us? I fear I would be unable to meet that challenge well without a concordance.

Paul wrote of God’s giving him:

“…this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted” (Eph 3:8b AMP)

Like Noah, after God showed Paul favor He put him to work!

to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,”

(Eph 3:8c-11 AMP)

It is awesome that God’s plan, His will and purposes are somewhat now revealed here in Ephesians 3.  

[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. (Eph 3:10 AMP)

Are you church? Are you called of God? Have you received The Messiah Jesus? Are you highly and lowly favored by God? Is His grace your inheritance? Is Jesus your Lord, Savior and first Love? Watch out if you say yes, for He will surely put you to work!

What will your “job” be? Will it not be to participate with all those favored and called of God to:

make known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects?

Is this not a great part of God’s plan and purpose in sending Jesus to fulfill the law and the prophets? Was Jesus not a major worker in and of:

“the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects?”

Are you invited by God not only to go to heaven when you die, but even NOW invited to:

“make known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects?”

How do we do this? Surely this is something beyond what I, a mere man or woman, am able to do. Surely this is a job for pastors and prophets.

And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him [Moses], and took of the Spirit that was upon him and put It upon the seventy elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied [sounding forth the praises of God and declaring His will]. Then they did so no more. [Num. 11:29.] But there remained two men in the camp named Eldad and Medad. The Spirit rested upon them, and they were of those who were selected and listed, yet they did not go out to the Tent [as told to do], but they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran to Moses and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying [sounding forth the praises of God and declaring His will] in the camp. Joshua son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, My lord Moses, forbid them! But Moses said to him, Are you envious or jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them! [Luke 9:49, 50.] (Num 11:25-29 AMP) But Moshe replied, "Are you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of Adonai's people were prophets! I wish Adonai would put his Spirit on all of them!" (Num 11:29 CJB)

Have you surrendered your will to Father? Have you prayed: “God save me a sinner from sin?” Have you admitted that YOUR SINS are killing YOU, and is that not a grief to your soul. But moreover is YOUR sin not a grief to God who owns your soul? And now having believed God sent Jesus to save you from God’s judgment for your sins, can you not also believe that He will give you an assignment among your brothers and sisters, even to co-labor with them as we all: make known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects?

God’s wisdom is complicated, many-sided, infinite in variety and innumerable in its aspects. Be an aspect of God’s wisdom. Be even a complicated aspect! But BELONG to God and allow Him to make you one of His chosen and peculiar people. God takes man who will die of his own weight and breathes His Life Giving Spirit into Him, BLESSED BE THE NAME OF YAHWEH! Your work may not be flashy, well known or often seen or even acknowledged by man. But when you do it, I believe God will commend you for it and reward you. You will have laid up a treasure in heaven. There is no need to display it now to anyone. If God wants that wisdom known to your friends He will show it. But will the work you do and the reward reserved for you in heaven not be a real demonstration of  the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects and be  made known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places?

WOO HOO!!! Hallelu Yah!!! Thank You Jesus, Thank You Abba, Thank You HOLY SPIRIT GOD!

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. (Rom 12:1-3 AMP)

Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

(Php 2:4-16 AMP)

Remind of mirror talk.

(2Co 5:9 AMP)

Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.

(2Co 5:10 AMP)

For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].

(2Co 5:11 AMP)

Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment).

(2Co 5:12 AMP)

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but we are providing you with an occasion and incentive to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them.

(2Co 5:13 AMP)

For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit,

(2Co 5:14 AMP)

For 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;

(2Co 5:15 AMP)

And 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.

(2Co 5:16 AMP)

Consequently, 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].

(2Co 5:17 AMP)

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] 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!

(2Co 5:18 AMP)

But 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].

(2Co 5:19 AMP)

It 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 cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).

(2Co 5:20 AMP)

So 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.

(2Co 5:21 AMP)

For 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].