II Corinthians 5:11-17
“We Persuade Men”

Introduction
1. Why do so few Christians ‘persuade men’?
2. II Corinthians 5:11-17 we see why we do not persuade men:

Why do so few Christians ‘persuade men’?
I. THE REASONS IN NOT PERSUADING 5:11-14a
A. Soul Conscience 11a
We do not realize the awesomeness of God and an eternity without Christ
1. The Spirit of God…the grace of God…the goodness of God there is an
eternality in the believer. We will give an account at the Bema Seat. (v.
10) Bema Seat is for rewards and recognition.
2. There is the Great White Throne for the lost. There is an eternality for the
lost. Everyone is going to live forever somewhere!
3. Terror (KJV) is Fear or awe of the Lord we persuade men to be
reconciled to God. Persuade is to endeavor to convince men of this
truth…the Gospel. We stop giving out the Gospel when we are no longer
soul conscious…when we stop realizing the awesomeness of God!
B. Self-Conscious 11b-13
We live for man’s approval.
1. ‘Crazy (some said) or Sane it is for God and others’
2. Paul had met opposition as he stood for Jesus. Paul had not external credits or associations, but he had a lifestyle!
3. Paul wasn’t concerned about his reputation or popularity…was his message received? Most lost look on the external…the outward, but not on the heart. Your heart is the key!
4. It’s for God and for you. 13 Only a crazy person would go through what Paul did and then go back for more! OR Only a person so totally given to God would show so little regard for himself. IT WASN’T NATURAL FOR A MAN TO LIVE LIKE PAUL!
5. Paul wasn’t looking for applause. His desire was to please Christ. “Our sole business is soul business.” Our business is to bring glory to God and seek the lost.
6. We are so full of SELF: “What will they think?” “How will I look?” “What if I am rejected?”
C. Self-Constrained 14a
We are not constrained by the love of Christ.
1. It is not my love for Him…For the love of Christ controls us. It is His love produced by the Holy Spirit. For God so loved the world…(Jn. 3:16) Jesus in us produces this love if we get out of the way.
2. This love constrained Paul…supernaturally produced by the Holy Spirit. That is what made him the man he was. The church at Ephesus…you have left your first love. (Rev. 2:4b) This can happen to us. Your heart has grown cold. How is your love life? It is an indicator to the condition of your heart and your desire to share.

Why do so few Christians ‘persuade men’?
II. THE REALIZATION IN NOT PERSUADING 5:14b-16
A. Self-Crucified 14b-15
We do not realize the extent of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Christ not only died for me. He died as me…that identification!! With such
love you can’t help but love Him!
1. He died that we might die. Then we are all dead. Note the verb tense: then all died…therefore all died. (NASV) (Galatians 2:20) I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. (Romans 6:11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God. When Christ died… “I” died. Dead men do tell tales!
2. He died that we might live. 15a We died…we were also raised that we might walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) Now we can live for Him…as “I” die!
B. Self-Contained 15b
We live for ourselves.
1. He died for me. I should live for Him.
2. We should not henceforth live for ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and lives!
3. We do what we want. We live as we please, and before we know it, we’ve wasted a lifetime!!
C. Soul Conscious 16
We look at man like the world (on the external).
1. Now we do not see men after the flesh. We have different eyes than those that belong to the rest of the world. Whether billionaire, PhD or homeless immigrant they are lost if they do not know Christ! Christ died for the up and outer or down and outer!
2. Christ is not merely a historical figure. He is risen, seated at the right hand of God! Be careful…the fine suit, shined shoes, polished manners will fool you. It is hard for us not to be struck by the externals!

Why do so few Christians ‘persuade men’?
III. THE REALITY IN NOT PERSUADING 5:17
We forget what the Gospel can do.
Everything becomes “new”:
A.New Challenge
1. If any man…no matter who you are.
2. “Communion will put a new suit on that man. Christ will put a new man
in that suit.
B.New Creation
In Christ…that is our position and is used 130 times in the New Testament.
New Creation: This describes something that is created at a qualitatively new
level.
C.New Character
1. Old things have passed away…After a person is regenerate, old value systems, priorities, beliefs, loves and plans are gone. Evil and sin are still present, but the believer sees them in a new perspective, and they no longer control him.
2. All things…new The Greek grammar indicates that this newness is a continuing condition of fact. The believer’s new spiritual perception of everything is a constant reality for him, and he now lives for eternity, not temporal things.

Knowing the awesomeness of God, we persuade men!!