More Than Skin Deep

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2Co 5:14-16 AV)

Knowing that Jesus Christ died that all people everywhere might enjoy the pleasures of eternal life should change how we view our fellow mankind.  In light of the universal offer of salvation, Paul says that he no longer views people skin deep.  He sees them beyond the mere temporal observation which most seem to see.  He doesn’t see his mechanic as a mechanic.  He doesn’t see his doctor as a doctor.  He doesn’t see his neighbor as a pleasant soul with whom he can have a conversation.  He doesn’t see his kin as mere offspring who share the same parents.  He doesn’t see the police officer as merely an enforcer of the law.  He no longer knows people after the manner of the flesh.  That is, he no longer sees people as temporal beings that perform a function on earth and then pass away.  He sees people as spiritual beings for whom Christ died.

 Imagine a doctor who enters a small village and notices right off the bat these poor natives are suffering from a deadly, but curable, disease.  He looks into their eyes and notices they are yellow.  He notices muscle atrophy.  He sees their teeth are falling out.  He notices their hair seems to be prematurely turning white.  Their fingernails have a distinct pattern.  All these symptoms point to a fatal, yet curable, disease.  All of a sudden, the part they play in their society does not matter.  The relationships they share among themselves has little meaning.  Their personalities or quirks are of no significance.  The social status or net worth is of no consequence.  The fact they have this disease and the doctor has the cure is all that matters.

 We go through our busy lives and know people after the flesh.  We speak to, and know, the waitress who cares for our need while dining at our favorite restaurant.  We know her name because she wears a tag.  We know the bank teller that manages our accounts.  We may even speak to him or her in a friendly and cordial manner.  We know our doctor who we pay to read results and tend to our health.  We know the refuge collector, the electrician, and the city worker.  We know the police officer, the fireman, and the emergency room technician.  We know our teachers, our lawyers, and our politicians.  We know them after the flesh.  But do we know them as a soul for whom Christ died.  This is the point of Paul’s testimony.  This is the anchor of a true soul-winner.  He does not know people after the flesh.  What they do for a living may be interesting.  But it has no bearing on their eternal soul.  Whichever of the four personality types he may be has no bearing on a soul’s eternal destiny.  How much they make, what they have accomplished in life, or what part they fulfill in the function of society has no eternal value to their salvation.  What matters is they are a soul for whom Christ dies and needs a faithful witness to testify to them of the forgiveness which can only come by faith in Jesus Christ.