2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that, when our earthly house of this habitation is dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.2 And for this reason also, we groan, desiring to be clothed from above with our habitation from heaven.3 If we are so clothed, then we will not be found to be naked.4 Then too, we who are in this tabernacle groan under the burden, because we do not want to be stripped, but rather to be clothed from above, so that what is mortal may be absorbed by life.5 Now the One who accomplishes this very thing in us is God, who has given us the pledge of the Spirit.6 Therefore, we are ever confident, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are on a pilgrimage in the Lord.7 For we walk by means of faith, and not by sight.8 So we are confident, and we have the good will to be on a pilgrimage in the body, so as to be present to the Lord.9 And thus we struggle, whether absent or present, to please him.10 For it is necessary for us to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according to his behavior, whether it was good or evil.11 Therefore, having knowledge of the fear of the Lord, we appeal to men, but we are made manifest before God. Yet I hope, too, that we may be made manifest in your consciences.12 We are not commending ourselves again to you, but rather we are presenting you with an opportunity to glory because of us, when you deal with those who glory in face, and not in heart.13 For if we are excessive in mind, it is for God; but if we are sober, it is for you.14 For the charity of Christ urges us on, in consideration of this: that if one died for all, then all have died.15 And Christ died for all, so that even those who live might not now live for themselves, but for him who died for them and who rose again.16 And so, from now on, we know no one according to the flesh. And though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer.17 So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new.18 But all is of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.19 For certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not charging them with their sins. And he has placed in us the Word of reconciliation.20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, so that God is exhorting through us. We beseech you for Christ: be reconciled to God.21 For God made him who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the justice of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in,s is dismantled,t we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.2 For in this earthly houset we groan, because we desire to put ont our heavenly dwelling,3 if indeed, after we have put ons our heavenly house,t we will not be found naked.4 For we groan while we are in this tent,s since we are weighed down,t because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purposet is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.t6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on eartht we are absent from the Lord –7 for we livet by faith, not by sight.8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be awayt from the body and at home with the Lord.9 So then whether we are alivet or away, we make it our ambition to please him.t

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,s so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.t

The Message of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,t we try to persuadet people,t but we are well knownt to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.12 We are not trying to commendt ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us,t so that you may be able to answer those who take pridet in outward appearancet and not in what is in the heart.13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.14 For the love of Christt controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christt died for all; therefore all have died.15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.t16 So then from now on we acknowledget no one from an outward human point of view.t Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view,t now we do not know him in that way any longer.17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed awayt – look, what is news has come!t18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given ust the message of reconciliation.20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His pleat through us. We plead with yout on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

21 Godt made the one who did not know sins to be sin for us, so that in hims we would become the righteousness of God.