17. So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
18. All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
19. In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation.
20. So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, "Be reconciled to God!"