Christian Thinking

The Apostles' godly motives are here enlarged upon.

1. Governed by Christ's love v14.
   The knowledge of Christ's love the spring of all obedience - assurance to be sought as a spur to holiness.

2. Obligation to and the power of Christ causes devotion to him v14,15.
   Christ's death and resurrection the efficient cause as well as the constraining motive of the believer's death to sin and life in righteousness.

3. New thinking towards all v16.
   The meaning of 'after the flesh'.

4. All in Christ are new creatures v17.
   To be in Christ brings rennovation which will be fully perfected in the resurrection and in the new heavens and the new earth.

Application

• encouragement for Christians in a hostile and unbelieving world -assurances as to our being in Christ.