Conversion to Christ brings about a great change, a radical shift in our thoughts, words, and deeds. This change is one of the evidences of genuine conversion. If nothing has changed, then nothing has changed; you are still dead in trespasses and sin. The reality of a great change in your thoughts, words, and deeds gives evidence of genuine conversion.

This is especially true of those converted as teenagers or adults. Little children converted at a young age or those raised in church might not experience a radical reorientation of life. But even little children experience a great spiritual change when they are born again. That changed spiritual status will have consequences for the rest of their lives.

In the previous section of 2 Cor, Paul exhorts us to live for him who died for us. (Read vs. 15).

What does that kind of life look like? What does it mean to live for Christ? How would your life change if you really lived for him?

Note vs. 16a—“therefore, from now on …” These words introduce several consequences or results of vss. 14-15. Since Christ loved us, died for us, and rose again, we should live for him and not for ourselves. What would it look like if we did that? What would be the consequences if we lived for Christ “from now on”? That’s what this passage tells us.

Before getting into the text, we should recognize that this passage is absolutely jam-packed with profound theological truth. We could take several messages to unpack the meaning and significance of everything Paul says here. So the depth of the material requires that we go slowly and try to gain a good understanding of these words. This is part one of our study of this passage.

What are the consequences of living for Christ? What kind of great change does it make?