The New International Version (1984) (The Ministry of Reconciliation)
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
What does it mean in verse 14 where it says the love of Christ “compels” us? To compel is to persuade or use a strong method to cause something to happen. So what is to happen in this verse and in this context? We are to obey and represent Christ well as His ambassadors. The force that is compelling us is His Holy Spirit within us and when we let God lead, we will represent Him well.
We must learn to submit, or surrender, to God the Holy Spirit when it comes to reconciling others to God and reconciling ourselves to God. Just remember that God once used a donkey to deliver His message to a prophet so He can use us also.
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