2 Corinthians 5:16-21 English Standard Version

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

At what point do we stop regarding Christ according to the flesh?

There is no point in denying it, His Word says we did. This is why that statement is instantly followed up with a reference to being born again, becoming a new creation.

That comment is followed by words that indicate God did it for us because we could not do that for ourselves.

All this has been done to us by God via reconciliation in hope that we “might become the righteousness of God.” Might is no guarantee so there is a measure of flesh that remains insecure because the flesh still opposes the Spirit.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Romans 8:4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 he says “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” This indicates an ongoing process that only began at rebirth and is not yet finished.

God is not finished with us. Walking in the Spirit is a journey taken one step in time..

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Meanings of words change over time. Dictionaries change due to social use so in order to rightly understand stayed we must look to the original translation. Stayed in this context is most closely related to leaning upon that which is upright and unmoveable.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

We once again find the clear distinction between the mind and the heart.

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

The mind is the seat of reason, the heart is the seat of God’s love for those who believe by faith. Therefore trusting the Lord is leaning on the love that abides in our hearts rather than reasoning with our minds which are constantly being bombarded by worldly influences.