2 Corinthians 5:11-17

11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.

15And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

16So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.

17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!