Do you ever feel like God is angry with you—even as a believer? In this powerful and theologically rich sermon, Pastor Jeffrey Johnson unpacks one of the most essential verses in Scripture: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). With clarity and depth, Johnson addresses the heart-level struggle many Christians face: feeling condemned, guilty, and distant from God even though they know they are justified.

This message tackles the profound mystery and challenge of substitutionary atonement—how the innocent Christ could bear the wrath of God in place of the guilty, and why that is not only just but necessary. Drawing on historic theological debates and alternative atonement theories, Johnson makes the case that divine election is the key to understanding how Christ's sacrifice truly secures our righteousness. It’s not make-believe or a legal fiction—Christ actually bore our sins, and His perfect righteousness has been legally and lovingly imputed to us.

This sermon will leave you with a deeper assurance of your salvation, a greater love for Christ's work on the cross, and a renewed confidence that in Christ, God delights in you—fully, eternally, and without any trace of condemnation.

In this sermon, Pastor Jeffrey Johnson unpacks Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians to show that every believer is called to be an ambassador for Christ. God has chosen to speak through redeemed people, entrusting us with the ministry of reconciliation. As ambassadors, our duty is not only to proclaim the truth but to persuade, to share, to plead, and to serve as God’s mouthpiece, urging the world: “Be reconciled to God.”

Pastor Johnson emphasizes both the fear of the Lord and the heart of God as motivations for this calling. He reminds us that ambassadors must reason with others from the Scriptures, proclaim the message entrusted to them, and sincerely plead with the lost on Christ’s behalf. The heart of the gospel is clearly seen in verse 21: our sin transferred to Christ, and His perfect righteousness given to us by grace through faith. With personal stories of providential gospel conversations, he shows how God opens doors when His people faithfully speak His Word.

The sermon closes with an urgent appeal from Scripture: “Now is the favorable time… now is the day of salvation.” God is making His appeal through His ambassadors even today. The question is—will you respond?

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Jeffrey Johnson challenges the worldly standards we often use to determine our value and identity. Preaching from 2 Corinthians 5:11–17, he contrasts the fleeting approval of man with the eternal opinion of God. Through vivid illustrations and deep scriptural insight, Johnson shows how our true worth is not found in appearance, performance, or public opinion—but in our identity as new creations in Christ.

Drawing from the Apostle Paul's defense against superficial judgment, the message redirects our focus toward what truly matters: God's opinion, the condition of our hearts, and a life driven by the love of Christ. Whether you're struggling with self-worth or tempted by worldly metrics of success, this sermon offers a liberating perspective: your value is rooted in the gospel, not the flesh.

This message is a heartfelt call to live for Christ, not for self-glory or societal validation. It's a reminder that in Christ, the old has passed away—and the new has come.