From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the death and resurrection of Christ? I guess most would point to such truths as the forgiveness of sins, or the fact that in his death the wrath of God was satisfied, or that we are redeemed, Satan is defeated and heaven is secured. All very true.
But what are the implications of the death and resurrection of Christ for how we relate to other people?
My reason for asking this is that as I approach that very famous verse namely 2 Corinthians 5:17 verse 16 seems to be quite overlooked. We are told in verses 14-15 of the love of Christ demonstrated in his death and in verse 17 that the achievements of this being, we are now, ‘a new creation’ in which the old has passed away, ended and the new has come.
So, we are told if there is a therefore, it is there for a reason. There is a conclusion to be reached and here in verse 16 we see another application to the cross and resurrection of Christ and of our redemption.
Let’s just step back for a moment. Christ’s death and resurrection has done far more for Paul than just alter his relationship with God. Yes, his sins are forgiven and all guilt is washed away. He is justified, adopted, and destined for eternal life. But it is also the case that, because of what Christ has done that Paul has experienced a radical and far-reaching transformation in his relationship with other people.
Paul no longer assess people according to the flesh. What does Paul mean by this?
The phrase, “according to the flesh,” has been interpreted in countless ways over the years. For me, I believe it has nothing to do with sinful nature, or fleshly sins, but rather means a value system drawn from the world around us.
Before his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul evaluated other people on the basis of external world driven standards.
Are you a Jew or a Gentile? Are you educated or uneducated? A Roman supporter or hater, male or female, free or slave, Barbarian or Scythian? (Colossians 3:11)
If we are honest, most of us have our own personal standards of judgement. We evaluate the worth of a person, we set criteria for them being our friend. It may be the colour of their skin or their financial position. How often do we draw conclusions based on physical attractiveness or style of clothes. (I was once criticised for not wearing enough yellow or pink). Then there is the political party we support, social influence, educational achievements, birth place, bloodline, speech and eloquence, athletic prowess, the music we like, the teams we support and the list could go on.
The tension with all of this is our response to such differences can be mocking, belittling, excluding, dismissive, even hate and more.
For Paul the most important distinction that governed his pre-Christian value system was whether one was a Jew or a Gentile but now the cross has forever obliterated any spiritual significance in that racial difference (see Ephesians 2:11-22).
While one’s ethnicity remains (I will always be a Gentile and Paul a Roman citizen with Jewish family) it has lost any value in determining one’s status with God or place within his kingdom. The only relevant factor is one’s relationship with Christ is indeed, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (vs 17), the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” One critical element of the “old” that has passed away is the approach to external, worldly, physical, or ethnic standards for determining who is qualified to inherit the promises of God.
I want to very clear here. I am white, I am English, I was born in Willenhall, God caused me to be born and live in this time zone, in those places. My father and mother (Jack and Nancy) were from a working class background, I was raised in a council house. I have a deep affection for my roots, but having said that my primary, foundational, and fundamental allegiance is to the universal body of Christ, the Church. I am first and foremost a citizen of heaven (Philip 3:20). My home is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22) and those are more important to me than anything that has described me previously.
Paul was born a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of the Hebrews (Philippians 3:5). That did not qualify his relationship with God, or affirm his ministry or enable him to secure the promises of God.
All that mattered to Paul was whether or not you are ‘in Christ Jesus’ by faith (Galatians 3:26), and if you are ‘in Christ’ then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29).
Everything must now be viewed in light of the “new creation” that has come with the redemptive work and resurrection life of Christ! This is the standard for assessing what is valuable.
In the second part of verse 16 Paul extends this principle to his relationship with Christ himself. “Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer”
Did Paul know of Jesus prior to his conversion? I guess he knew of him, knew the stories, we don’t know if he had ever met him. Whether or not he met him personally prior to his Damascus Road experience is not stated (but is doubtful, in my opinion).
But verse 16 has nothing to do with whether or not Paul had personal knowledge of Jesus during his earthly life or whether or not he was interested in the historical facts concerning Jesus’ existence in Palestine. Rather, Paul is telling us he was wrong in his pre-Christian evaluation of Jesus. Before his conversation he saw Jesus as a blasphemer, misguided, human, a heretic, a trouble maker. Now he sees him as the Son of God in human flesh whose death on a cross was the power of God unto salvation.
So, to what extent do worldly or merely human standards still govern and shape how we evaluate other people? What criteria do we use; ethnic, financial, physical, spiritual, biblical, or moral? Whom do you admire; the successful rogue, or the humble and rarely recognised servant of others? What matters to you, the colour of their skin or the character of their soul? What matters the most; the flag that flies over their country or the faith that they display?
If you are ‘in Christ’ then all things are new (vs 17), including how you think, feel, and act, as well as the basis on which you judge, assess, and evaluate other people. May the truth of the cross and the principles of the Spirit govern our perspective on others, rather than the distorted ways of this fallen and broken world that divides.
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