5:16-17 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
5:16-17 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
We learn from this that Christians must never judge anyone from a purely human perspective - evaluating them by worldly standards.
Our preconversion understanding of Jesus was limited to human reasoning, but it no longer is, and we must not judge anyone on that basis again. We must see them as God sees them. If they are in Christ they have become part of God's new creation.
The things that characterized their preconversion lifestyle, and bondage to sin, have been brought under subjection to the new authority of Christ in their life (CP Ro 6:3-11, 17-18; 1Cor 9:24-27; Php 3:4-8).
This is not to say that believers are perfect or faultless, but rather that they strive after holiness, doing all that lies within them to live according to God's word. If anyone does sin, God forgives them if they repent and confess it (CP 1Jn 1:8-10; 2:1).