The Tuesday after Cantate Sunday
Posted on May 20, 2025 by under
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NKJV)
5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Devotion
Christ’s death compels St. Paul and all the Apostles to live their lives for Christ. The gift of the Gospel is so great that they cannot think of their own lives as if they were somehow separate from Christ’s life. Christ died for all. St. Paul tells us this twice.
Our Lord didn’t just die for the elect, but for all the world. The universal atonement is extremely important for us to confess in our worship. This is why in the English translation of the Nicene Creed we say: “Who for us men and for our salvation…” “Men” is not sexist. It means all humans. When it was proposed by some to render it, “Who for us and for our salvation…,” it was ambiguous. Was the “us” the elect or all men? In trying to eliminate “sexism” they threw universal atonement into question. Faithful Lutherans unwaveringly confess the universal atonement. Christ “died for all.” Those who live in Him by faith find eternal life; and it is the Office of the Ministry that brings to us the life giving Word and Sacraments.
Collect: O God, Who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will: Grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest, and desire what Thou dost promise; that, among the manifold changes of this world, our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
